Inverness Blog

3 Days in Orkney

September 26, 2021/in Blog, Tourism /by Alison BC

Orkney is really worth a visit and easily reached from Inverness. Although it is possible to take a day trip from here, it is a very long day. As I’ve just experienced, there is so much to see so I recommend going for at least 3 days. I also recommend going on a tour so you get the full experience of all Orkney has to offer. My tour was 3 days in Orkney from Inverness with Rabbies. They organise the travel, ferry, timings and bookings at attractions. So it is great to be able to relax in a very comfortable minibus and enjoy the spectacular views without having to organise a thing. There are a lot of places off the typical tourist route on the trip, which are very memorable.

World Heritage Site

Orkney is a collection of islands just off the coast of northern mainland Scotland, which is reached by air or ferry. There are about 70 islands, about 20 of them are inhabited. People have lived on Orkney for over 5000 years. It contains some of the oldest and best preserved Neolithic sites in Europe. The Ring of Brodgar dates from around 2500 BC and is the third oldest stone circle in Britain. This Ring plus Skarra Brae, the Stones of Stenness, Maeshowe, Barnhouse Stone and the Watch Stone make up the Heart of the Neolithic Orkney World Hertitage site.

More Recent History

The Royal Navy had a base at Scapa Flow, which played a major part in both WWI and WWII. The German fleet scuttled their boats at the end of WWI at Scapa flow and a German U boat sank HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow. After this huge loss prisoners of war built barriers across the water to close access to the channels. As a result these barriers became causeways linking islands, allowing travellers to move easily between islands without the need of a ferry. The prisoners of war also built the amazing Italian Chapel.

Kirkwall and Stromness

The capital is Kirkwall and about one third of Orkadians live there. Stromness is on an inlet of Scapa Flow and is the main port. Both are pretty towns full of character. The centre of Kirkwall is dominated by St Magnus Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace, so they are well worth visiting. There is an impressive amount of local food suppliers throughout Orkney and many independent shops. The land is very fertile and as a result award winning local produce is available. Check out JP Orkney’s site for some delicious examples available, with deliveries to the rest of the UK. As well as offering the fabulous little honesty box pictured below, they run tours of the islands.

This is a rich and fertile land. Full of history, culture, nature and stunning scenery, Orkney is well worth a visit. After a busy 3 days in Orkney I’m sure there is still a lot more to see. To find out more about all there is to see read more at Orkney.com. Read more on the journey to John O’Groats from Inverness on your way to the ferry port. You can start your adventure to the northern isles with a break in Inverness. This is an ideal starting point to explore the Scottish Highlands. Read more on why you should stay at Bannerman Bed and Breakfast and how to travel to Inverness.

Highland Archive Centre

September 8, 2021/in Blog, Tourism /by Alison BC

The Highland Archive and Registration Centre is a fantastic resource, which is near here. The Highland Archive Centre collects and preserves historical records about the Highlands, so they are accessible to the public. Scots have travelled the world for centuries, so it’s not surprising international guests flock to Scotland to find out about their past. Generations of people living thoughout the globe have Scottish roots. If you are looking into your family history, the Highland Archive Centre is the place to start.

The centre includes a Family History Room, which has a wealth of information for anyone exploring their family tree. The staff are experts in researching Scottish genealogy. They are available for one to one consultations, which is worth booking. You can also get their help by remote contact so you don’t have to visit in person.

Highland Collections

The fascinating collections held by the Highland Archive Centre go back centuries. These include maps, property valuations, education records and poor relief records. If you haven’t done any digging into your history before, there are many useful guides here.

Conservation Services

The Conservation Studios provide a range of treatments for conservation and preservation of documents and artefacts. Services include cleaning, re-construction and repair of archaeological objects. They also bind and repair volumes, parchment paper, seals, photographs and plans. The highly trained staff advise institutions on how to conserve their precious artefacts.

Highland Registrar

Also on the site is the Highland Registrars, continuing the theme of record keeping for now and the future. This is the registration service where births, deaths and marriages are recorded. The centre regularly holds civil marriage and civil partnership ceremonies for up to 130 guests.

Highland Bed and Breakfast

If you need the services of the Highland Archive Centre, then this is your perfect base. If you’re looking into your family tree or your a history lover, Bannerman Bed and Breakfast is ideally located. Looking for wedding accommodation in Inverness? If you’re attending a wedding at the Highland Regitrars’ office in Inverness, book your accommodation at Bannerman Bed and Breakfast. We are a short drive or 10 minutes walk from the Highland Archive Centre, which includes the Registrars. We’re also ideally located for getting into town as well. Drop us a line for more details. Read more about why you should stay here.

You might like to learn more about What’s Happening at Inverness Castle.

How to travel to Inverness

September 1, 2021/in Blog, Tourism /by Alison BC

There are many ways to travel to Inverness. The journey from every direction is beautiful, so worth savouring if you can. If you’ve never been to Inverness take a look on a map. It’s on the north east coast of Scotland but it’s situated more west than the west coast of England. It sits at one end of the longest loch in Scotland, Loch Ness, the Great Glen Way and the Caledonian Canal which stretches to Fort William on the west coast. It’s at sea level but surrounded by hills and mountains.

By Train

Scotrail run the train service and provide all information on timetables and tickets. The journey from Edinburgh or Glasgow is about 3 hours 20 minutes and from Aberdeen it’s 2 hours and 15 minutes. From London it takes about 8 hours. How about taking the Caledonian Sleeper so you can leave the busy city in the evening and wake up in the beautiful Scottish Highlands feeling refreshed about a good night’s sleep. Have a look at The Trainline website to help plan your journey with live running times and facility information.

By Bus

There are a few coach companies running bus services to Inverness. Check my bus give you details on the best prices and routes available.

By Car

From the south the most direct route to Inverness is up the A9, taking in the Grampian mountains with plenty of interest along the route. The House of Bruar is a good stopping point. It’s 2 hours from Inverness and is an excellent opportunity for refreshments, toilets and a stretch of the legs. From Glasgow and the west coast you can also take the A82, which is a very scenic route, passing Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland.

By Plane

Inverness airport is 7 miles from the city and it’s small, so it’s an easy connection, Most flights are internal with a few international exceptions including Amsterdam and Dublin. The flight time from London is about one hour and thirty minutes. Easyjet and British Airways fly most of the flights with Loganair providing vital connections to the Scottish islands.

Whichever way you get here, you’ll discover Inverness is a perfect base for exploring the Scottish Highlands. Read more in my blog on why you should stay in Inverness and in particular, why you should stay at Bannerman Bed and Breakfast. For help in planning your next trip, please get in touch.

Our Inverness Blog

Information on Inverness, the Highlands and places of interest while staying at our Inverness B&B