Inverness River and Ness Islands Walk
Enjoy a short stroll along the River Ness on this popular waterside walk in Inverness. The route starts at the impressive riverside castle and follows the riverside path along the Great Glen Way to the delightful Whin Park. It's a lovely area with peaceful woodland next to the river and the delightful Ness Islands in Whin Park at the end of the walk. The islands are a natural beauty spot with attractive woodland with otters and deer to look out for. In the park you can also enjoy a ride on the Ness Islands Railway. The super miniature railways runs in the summer months and includes a crossing of a 140-foot iron bridge dating from 1837.
It's easy to extend your walk by picking up the Caledonian Canal and following the to path to Loch Dochfour.
River Ness Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
River Ness Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
River Ness OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
River Ness Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The WaterFront pub is located in a great riverside spot. You can enjoy a fine meal with a view over the water after your walk. It was previously known as The Friars Shot, a pub with a history spanning over a century. It was originally named in honour of the Dominican Friars known for casting or "shooting" their fishing nets across the River Ness.
It has since been renamed a couple of times, first as the Black Bull, and more recently as Waterfront. After a significant kitchen fire in December 2011, the Waterfront re-emerged as a popular spot, reputedly offering some of the best value pub food in Inverness. Among its unique dishes is "The Highland Tapas," allowing patrons to sample a variety of local specialties. Located at the end of Huntly Street near the A82 Bridge over the River Ness, the pub is accessible via a pedestrian suspension footbridge from the town centre, offering picturesque upstream views. While there is vehicular access, navigating the one-way system outside the pub can be challenging. The Waterfront is known for its one hand pump serving Cairngorm ales, with Santa's Sledgehammer being a seasonal favourite around Christmas.
You can find them at 70-71 Huntly Street, IV3 5JN.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The Inverness Canal and Forest Walk will take you along the canal before heading to Craig Phadrig Forest, which lies just to the west of the city. The forest is a peaceful place for walks and includes a viewpoint with an Iron Age Hillfort.
Near Inverness you could head a short distance north east to visit one of the historic highlights of the area at Culloden Battlefield. There's a circular walking trail here which explores the site of the famous battle of 1746. The site includes an informative visitor centre where you can learn all about this fascinating conflict. On the south eastern side of the battlefield there's also the Clava Cairns and the Culloden Viaduct. The ancient Bronze Age site includes prehistoric burial monuments and the remains of a medieval chapel. It's also a short walk from the eye catching Culloden Viaduct which carries the Highland Main Line over the River Nairn.
A few miles to the west there's the popular village of Beauly. It's a lovely place to visit with a number of independent shops, cherry blossom trees, a pretty square and the ruins of the 13th century priory to see. The Beauly River Walk will take you along the River Beauly with fine views across the Beauly Firth.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Scottish Highlands Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
River Ness, Inverness. The river flows from Loch Dochfour, at the northern end of Loch Ness, north-east to the mouth of the Beauly Firth at Inverness, a distance of about 6 miles (10 kilometres). The river is the origin of the name of Inverness which is from Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Nis, meaning "Mouth of the Ness".
In the background, the castle is in prime position to survey the river and all approaches to the town. Although not very old - it was built in 1835 - the castle occupies the site of an earlier fortress, dominating the River Ness
Inverness Cathedral and the River Ness from the Castle with Dunain Hill top right
Inverness, four spires
River Ness daffodils in spring
View of the Ness bridge
River Ness from Inverness Castle. A fine viewpoint over Inverness on a bright winter's day with snow lying.
Ness Islands. Upstream of Inverness city centre lie the Ness Islands which are popular for nature walks and have many fine tree specimens. The first bridges to the islands were built in 1828; prior to their construction the only access to the islands was by boat. The original bridges were washed away in the flood of 1849 and were replaced in 1853-1854 by two suspension bridges designed by William Dredge. The islands are a walking spot on the Great Glen Way and are home to a number of imported species of trees and wildlife such as bats, otters and occasionally deer. The area includes play facilities for children, and the Ness Islands miniature railway.