Summer in Inverness
With access to some of the best hiking in Scotland and a host of seasonal festivities, there’s no end of things to do in summer in Inverness; the Highlands capital is at its best when the sun is shining. Summer is the ideal time to explore the outdoors, so opt for a boat or cycling tour of Loch Ness, go hiking around Inverness or take a day trip to the historic Orkney Islands or ruggedly beautiful Isle of Skye.
Summer is also festival time, and the highlight is the two-day Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival in August — one of Scotland’s biggest and most popular open-air music festivals, featuring over 90 local and international bands. There’s also the Happyness Inverness Comedy Festival and Blas Festival — devoted to traditional Gaelic music — in September.
One of Scotland’s biggest summertime events is the annual Highland Games, a world-renowned tradition that sees local sportsmen battling it out in a series of ancestral clan games, including tug-of-war, caber tossing and hammer throwing. Events are staged throughout the Scottish Highlands, but the Inverness Highland Games is typically held in July and features the unique Stonemason’s Stone Challenge, as well as Highland dancing and piping competitions. Additional sporting events include the Loch Ness Monster Swim in August, Highland Field Sports Fair and annual Loch Ness Marathon in September, plus Highland Games in nearby Nairn, Glengarry and Glenurquhart.
- Contributed by Zoe Smith
