Car Rental Inverness Airport

Inverness’s narrow streets and magnificent scenery make it a relaxed Scottish city with a peaceful pace of life. Speed limits are signed in miles per hour, and are typically either 20mph (32km/h) or 30mph (48km/h) around the town.

You can park up at one of the many car parks or on-street zones to explore the Old Town and the delights of the quaint centre, paying by the hour if required, before heading out into the Highlands. Car rental from Inverness Airport opens up a world of opportunity here. 

Take a drive along the riverside, enjoying the views before heading south along the B862 and B852 roads towards the famous shores of Loch Ness, where you can spend an afternoon looking for the elusive monster.  

As you leave Inverness, expect the single lane roads to continue through the stunning scenery as there isn’t much in the way of motorways in northern Scotland. This means the maximum speed limit is often 60mph (96km/h), but with winding roads and sharp corners, it can be sensible to take things a little slower. Sometimes the limits will be lower anyway, so keep your eyes on signs.

For those who want to see more of the lochs in the area, drive south of Inverness on the A82 to see Ness, Duntelchaig and the smaller Ruthven all offering pretty walks around their waters, and opportunities to spot local birds of prey including golden eagles, red kites and peregrine falcons.

To head further afield, embark on a road trip along the North Coast 500 route, taking you up to Scotland’s most northern point and back again. This epic drive takes around five days to complete, so you’ll need to find accommodation along the route. It offers you the opportunity to experience the wilder side of Scotland and the Highlands from the comfort of your rental car, before returning to Inverness.

Inverness’s spectacular mix of man-made and natural wonders make it an amazing place to visit.

Easy to reach by rental car and offering a rich slice of Scottish history and culture, create memories to last a lifetime on your trip.

Take flight at the Highland Aviation Museum

If you’re an enthusiast of planes then a trip to the fascinating Highland Aviation Museum is a must.

It features an impressive collection of aircraft, from the shells of former British military planes to full-sized light aircraft, and you even have the opportunity to climb into the cockpit and imagine yourself as a high-flying pilot.

The museum is located extremely close to the airport, so is a great place to visit first on your trip.

Marvel at castles, cathedrals and local cuisine

Inverness Castle sits atop a hill overlooking the city, with some incredible views of the Scottish Highlands. It is now used as the Courthouse but you can still walk the grounds and spend a sunny afternoon sitting on the green looking out on the river.

There is also a viewpoint you can book tickets for which gives access to a magnificent 360-degree vantage point of the surrounding landscape. 

Inverness’s stunning cathedral meanwhile also looks out over the river, offering an idyllic spot to spend an afternoon strolling around the grounds, simply enjoying its beauty. With its elaborate Gothic architecture carefully carved out and constructed in the 1800s, walk through its doors and take a moment to soak in the elegance of the stained-glass windows and its serene atmosphere.

Scotland serves up some great-tasting food, so you can also make a point of exploring the many mouth-watering eateries in and around Inverness. Loved by the locals, Fiddler’s at Loch Ness has been serving up delicious local salmon, haggis and steak for many a year, and also offers an enviable selection of whisky if you’re staying nearby and parked up for the night.

The Waterfront Restaurant in Inverness is another firm favourite – try a sharing platter featuring traditional Scottish flavours and locally caught seafood.

Head out to the Highlands

Inverness is stunning, but it’s the wider area’s natural beauty that steals the show. Plodda Falls, next to the village of Tomich, is a spectacular waterfall, around an hour’s drive from the city centre.

At 46 metres tall, you’ll hear its might roar as you walk through the woodlands to reach it. Be sure to plan ahead for your trip, as there’s usually no phone signal in the glen as you get closer to the falls. Loch Ness itself is situated on the journey back to the city, and offers another picturesque stop to break up the adventure.

Urquhart Castle is a well-known tourist attraction perched on Loch Ness’s shores. This ruined structure looks over the water and is believed to date back to the 13th century. Take a peek at the abandoned prison cell and soak up the view from the battlements during your visit.

Car rental at Inverness Airport lets you explore all the wonderful sights of the city, and the spectacular landscape beyond.