With human settlement dating back to at least 5,800 BC,[9] Inverness was an established self-governing settlement by the6th century with the first Royal Charter being granted by Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim (King David I) around 1160. Inverness and Inverness-shire are closely linked to various influential clans, including Clan Mackintosh, Clan Fraser and Clan MacKenzie.[10]
The population of Inverness grew from 40,969 in 2001 to 46,969 in 2012, according toWorld Population Review.[11] The Greater Inverness area, includingCulloden andWesthill, had a population of 56,969 in 2012. In 2016, it had a population of 63,320.[12] Inverness is one of Europe's fastest growing cities,[13] with a quarter of the Highland population living in or around it.[14] In 2008, Inverness was ranked fifth out of 189 British cities for itsquality of life, the highest of any Scottish city.[15]
Much of what is known about Inverness's prehistory comes from archaeological work that takes place before construction/development work as part of the planning process.
Between 2009 and 2010, archaeological work in advance of the creation offlood defences to the south of the city at Knocknagael Farm by GUARD Archaeology discovered anarchaeological site that showed humans had been living in the Inverness area from at least 6500 BC, the LateMesolithic period. That same site showed people living/working in the area from the mid-7th millennium BC into the Late Iron Age (1st millennium AD) with most activity taking place in theEarly Neolithic (4th millennium BC). The archaeologists also found a piece of flint from Yorkshire that showed that people in Inverness may have been trading with Yorkshire during the Neolithic.[16]
Between 1996 and 1997, CFA Archaeology (then part of theUniversity of Edinburgh) undertookexcavations of crop marks in the west of Inverness in advance of the construction of a retail and business park. ABronze Age cemetery was discovered in 1996 and in 1997 the archaeologists found the remains of a Bronze Age settlement and anIron Age settlement, with an ironsmith. It is one the earliest examples of iron smithing in Scotland. The Iron Age settlement had Roman brooches from the AD 1st–2nd centuries, indicating trade with the Roman Empire. Similarly, the Bronze Age site showed signs of metal production: finds included ceramic piece-moulds designed for the casting of Late Bronze Age leaf-shaped swords.[17] A 93 troy ounces (2.89 kilograms) silver chain dating to 500–800 CE was found just to the south of Torvean, during the excavation of theCaledonian Canal, in 1809.[18]
Inverness was one of the chief strongholds of thePicts. In AD 569, it was visited bySt Columba with the intention of converting thePictish kingBrude, who is supposed to have resided in thevitrified fort onCraig Phadrig,[19] on the western edge of the city.[20] A church or a monk's cell is thought to have been established by early Celtic monks on St Michael's Mount, a mound close to the river, now the site of theOld High Church[21] and graveyard.
The first royal charter was granted by Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim (King David I) in the 12th century. The Gaelic king Mac Bethad Mac Findláich (MacBeth) whose 11th-century killing ofKing Duncan was immortalised inShakespeare's largely fictionalised playMacbeth, held a castle within the city where he ruled asMormaer of Moray and Ross.[22]
The strategic location of Inverness has led to many conflicts in the area. Reputedly there was a battle in the early 11th century between Malcolm III andThorfinn the Mighty at Blar Nam Feinne, to the southwest of the city.[23]
Inverness had four traditional fairs, including Legavrik or "Leth-Gheamhradh", meaning midwinter, and Faoilleach.William the Lion (d. 1214) granted Inverness four charters, by one of which it was created aroyal burgh. Of the Dominican friary founded byAlexander III in 1233, only one pillar and a worn knight's effigy survive in a secluded graveyard near the town centre.[20]
Engraving of Inverness fromA Tour in Scotland byThomas Pennant, 1771.
Medieval Inverness suffered regular raids from the Hebrides, particularly by the MacDonaldLords of the Isles in the 15th century. In 1187, one Dòmhnall Bàn (Donald Ban) led islanders in a battle at Torvean against men from Inverness Castle led by the governor's son, Donnchadh Mac an Tòisich (Duncan Mackintosh).[24] Both leaders were killed in the battle, and Dòmhnall Bàn is said to have been buried in a largecairn near the river, close to where the silver chain was found.[25] Local tradition says that the citizens fought off theClan Donald in 1340 at the Battle of Blairnacoi on Drumderfit Hill, north of Inverness across theBeauly Firth.[26] In the late 14th-early 15 century, Inverness was a symbol of the Duke of Albany's power. On his way to theBattle of Harlaw in 1411,Donald of Islay took the town and burned the bridge over the River Ness. Sixteen years later,James I held a parliament in the castle to which the northern chieftains were summoned, of whom three were arrested for defying the king's command.Clan Munro defeatedClan Mackintosh in 1454 at theBattle of Clachnaharry just west of the city.[27]Clan Donald and their allies stormed the castle during theRaid on Ross in 1491.
In 1562, during the progress undertaken to suppress Huntly's insurrection,Mary, Queen of Scots, was denied admittance intoInverness Castle by the governor, who belonged to the earl's faction, and whom she afterwards caused to be hanged.[20] TheClan Munro andClan Fraser of Lovat took the castle for her.[28] The house in which she lived meanwhile stood in Bridge Street until the 1970s, when it was demolished to make way for the second Bridge Street development.
Beyond the then northern limits of the town,Oliver Cromwell built a citadel capable of accommodating 1,000 men, but with the exception of a portion of the ramparts it was demolished at theRestoration.[20] A clock tower today called Cromwell's Tower is located in the Citadel area of Inverness but was actually part of a former hemp cloth factory built c. 1765.[29]
Inverness played a role in theJacobite rising of 1689. In early May, it was besieged by a contingent ofJacobites led by MacDonell of Keppoch. The town was actually rescued byViscount Dundee, the overall Jacobite commander, when he arrived with the main Jacobite army, although he required Inverness to profess loyalty toKing James VII.[30]
In 1715 theJacobites occupied the royal fortress as a barracks. In 1727 the government built the firstFort George here, but in 1746 it surrendered to the Jacobites and they blew it up.[31]Culloden Moor lies nearby, and was the site of theBattle of Culloden in 1746, which ended theJacobite rising of 1745–46.
In 1783, the year that saw the end of theAmerican Revolution and the beginning of theHighland Clearances inInverness-shire, Coinneach MacChoinnich (1758–1837), a poet fromClan MacKenzie who was born at Castle Heather, then known as Castle Leather (Caisteal Leothair),[32] composed the Gaelic poemThe Lament of the North. In the poem, MacChionnich mocks the Highland gentry for becomingabsentee landlords,evicting their tenants en masse in favor of sheep, and of "spending their wealth uselessly", inLondon. He accuses KingGeorge III both oftyranny and of steering theship of state into shipwreck. MacChionnich also argues that truth is on the side ofGeorge Washington and theContinental Army and that the Scottish Gaels would do well to emigrate to the New World before the King and the landlords take every farthing they have left.[33]
Inverness has experienced rapid economic growth in the 21st century - between 1998 and 2008, Inverness and the rest of the central Highlands showed the largest growth of average economic productivity per person in Scotland and the second-greatest growth in the United Kingdom as a whole, with an increase of 86%.[36] It was awarded the Nicholson Trophy (class 2 category) for the best town with between 20,000 and 50,000 inhabitants atBritain in Bloom contest in 1975.[37] In 2014, a survey by a property website described Inverness as the happiest place in Scotland and the second-happiest in the UK.[38] Inverness was again found to be the happiest place in Scotland by a study conducted in 2015.[39]
Residents of Inverness expressed their disapproval ofPrince Andrew, Duke of York, known by the title "Earl of Inverness", followingsexual assault allegations being made against him byVirginia Giuffre. In 2019, Inverness residents started a campaign to strip him of that title, stating that "it is inappropriate that Prince Andrew is associated with our beautiful city."[40]
Inverness is often regarded as the Capital of the Highlands
Inverness and its immediate hinterland have a large number of originally Gaelic place names, as the area was solidly Gaelic-speaking until the late 19th century.[41]
Several springs which were traditionally thought to have healing qualities exist around Inverness.Fuaran Dearg, which translates as the "Red Spring", is achalybeate spring located near Dochgarroch.Fuaran a' Chladaich("The Spring on the Beach") near Bunchrew was once accessed by a causeway from the shore. Although submerged at high tide it continues to bubble and was traditionally known for treating cholera.Fuaran Allt an Ionnlaid ("Well of the Washing Burn") at Clachnaharry, where theMarquis of Montrose was allowed to drink while on his way from his capture in Sutherland to his execution in Edinburgh, was known for treating skin conditions. Also at Clachnaharry,Fuaran Priseag ("The Precious Well") was said to have been blessed by Saint Kessock and could treat weak and sore eyes, as well as expelling evil and shielding curses if a silver coin was offered.Tobar na h-Oige ("Well of the Young") is located near Culloden and was known for curing all ailments.Fuaran a' Chragan Bhreag ("Well of the Speckled Rock") is located near Craig Dundain andFuaran na Capaich ("The Keppoch Well") is located near Culloden.[42] Inverness is also home to the MunlochyClootie Well.[43]
The use ofpreaspiration in different Scottish Gaelic dialects throughout the Highlands, from 1 (strong) to 6 (absent). Preaspiration was used in the dialect of Inverness Gaelic and is still evident in both the Gaelic and English spoken in Inverness today.
Although a Gaelic name itself,Craig Phadraig is alternatively known asLàrach an Taigh Mhóir, or "the place of the Great house".[44] Several Gaelic place names are now largely obsolete due to the feature being removed or forgotten.Drochaid an Easain Duibh ("Bridge by the Small Dark Waterfall"), referred to in the taleAonghas Mòr Thom na h-Iubhraich agus na Sìthichean ("Great Angus of Tomnahurich and the Fairies") has not yet been located within Inverness andSlag nam Mèirleach (meaning "Robbers' hollow"), adjacent to Dores Road in Holm is no longer in use. Until the late 19th century, four mussel beds existed on the delta mouth of the River Ness:Scalp Phàdraig Mhòir ("Scalp of Great Patrick"),Rònach ("Place of the Seals"),Cridhe an Uisge ("The Water Heart") andScalp nan Caorach ("Scalp of the Sheep") – these mussel beds were all removed to allow better access for fishing boats and ships.[45]
Allt Muineach (The Thicket River) now runs underground between Culcabock Roundabout and Millburn Roundabout.An Loch Gorm (The Turquoise Loch), a small sea loch which was situated beside Morrisons supermarket, was filled in during the 19th century and lives on only in the name of Lochgorm Warehouse. Abban Street stems from the wordàban, a word of local Gaelic dialect meaning a small channel of water.
Many prominent points around Inverness retain fully Gaelic names.
Beinn Bhuidhe Bheag – "Little Yellow Hill"
Beinn Uan – "Lamb Hill"
Cnoc na Mòine – "The Peat Hill"
Cnoc na Gaoithe – "The Hill of the Wind"
Cnoc an t-Seòmair – "The Hill of the Room"
Creag Liath – "Grey Crag"
Creag nan Sidhean – "The Crag of the Fairies"
Doire Mhòr – "Great Oakwood"
Carn a' Bhodaich – "The Old Man's Cairn"
Meall Mòr – "Great Hill"
In the colonial period, a Gaelic-speaking settlement namedNew Inverness was established inMcIntosh County, Georgia, by settlers from in and around Inverness. The name was also given by expatriates to settlements inQuebec,Nova Scotia,Montana,Florida,Illinois, andCalifornia. The name Inverness is also given to a feature onMiranda, a moon of the planet Uranus, as well as a 2637 m tall mountain inBritish Columbia, Canada.[46] Inverness is also known by its nicknamesInversnecky orThe Sneck, with its inhabitants traditionally known asClann Na Cloiche ("Children of the Stone" in Gaelic) owing to the importance of the Clach Na Cudainn stone in the city's history. This large flat stone is now located outside the town hall, by the historic Mercat Cross. The stone was originally at the river Ness, where the towns women took their laundry. They would rest their tubs on the stone, thus it became known as the stone of the tubs - 'clach na cudainn'.
TheNess Islands, a publicly owned park, consists of two wooded islands connected by footbridges and has been used as a place of recreation since the 1840s.[63]Craig Phadraig, once an ancient Gaelic and Pictish hillfort, is a 240 m (790 ft)[64] hill which offers hikes on a clear pathway through the wooded terrain.
Inverness lies on theGreat Glen Fault. There are minor earthquakes, usually unnoticed by locals, about every 3 years. The last earthquake to affect[65] Inverness was in 1934.[66]
Panorama of Inverness looking downstream to the Greig St Bridge with Huntly Street (left), theRiver Ness and Bank Street (right)Panorama of Inverness from theBlack Isle, withMoray Firth to the left andKessock Bridge in the centre
Like most of theUnited Kingdom, Inverness has anoceanic climate (Köppen:Cfb).[67] The climate here is cooler than in more southerly parts of Britain. The highest temperature recorded was 29.7 °C (85.5 °F) in July 2006 and June 2018, and the lowest temperature recorded was −18.7 °C (−1.7 °F) in January 2010. Typically, the warmest day of the year rises to around 25 °C (77 °F) and the coldest night falls to around −11 °C (12 °F).[68] The climate in this area is characterised by relatively small differences between annual high and low temperatures, as well as adequate rainfall year-round.
Climate data for Inverness, elevation: 13 m (43 ft), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1960–present
Raigmore Hospital is the main hospital in Inverness and the entire Highland region.[71] The present hospital opened in 1970, replacing wartime wards dating from 1941.[72]
Raigmore is a teaching hospital for the universities ofAberdeen andStirling. A Centre for Health Science (CfHS) is located behind the hospital. This is funded byHighlands and Islands Enterprise, theScottish Government andJohnson & Johnson. Phase I of this opened in early 2007, with phase II and phase III housing The Diabetes Institute opening in 2009. The University of Stirling moved its nursing and midwifery teaching operations from Raigmore Hospital to the CfHS. TheUniversity of the Highlands and Islands also has strong links with the Centre through its Faculty of Health.
Most of the traditional industries such asdistilling have been replaced by high-tech businesses, such as the design and manufacture ofdiabetes diagnostic kits (byLifeScan).Highlands and Islands Enterprise has principally funded the Centre for Health Science to attract more businesses in the medical and medical devices business to the area.[73] Inverness is home toScottish Natural Heritage following that body's relocation from Edinburgh under the auspices of theScottish Government's decentralisation strategy. SNH provides a large number of jobs in the area.
Inverness City Centre lies on the east bank of the river and is linked to the west side of the town by three road bridges – Ness Bridge, Friars Bridge and the Black (or Waterloo) Bridge – and by one of the town's suspension foot bridges, theGreig Street Bridge.[74]
The traditional city centre was a triangle bounded by High Street, Church Street and Academy Street, within which Union Street and Queensgate are cross streets parallel to High Street. Between Union Street and Queensgate is the Victorian Market, which contains a large number of small shops.[75]
The mainInverness railway station is almost directly opposite the Academy Street entrance to the Market. From the 1970s, theEastgate Shopping Centre was developed to the east of High Street, with a substantial extension being completed in 2003.
UHI Inverness is a partner of theUniversity of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), an integrated university encompassing both further and higher education. The university partnership is made up of 12 colleges and research institutions located across the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Perthshire.
In 2015, the college moved to a new location, on theInverness Campus. The original outline planning application forms a vision for the development over the next thirty years. The application includes:
Academic buildings – up to 70,480 m2
Business and incubation units – up to 49,500 m2
Indoor sports complex – up to 9,000 m2
Student and other short term residences – 44,950 m2
Associated landscape, open space, outdoor recreation, infrastructure and services necessary to support the development phases
The 80-hectare (200-acre) campus at Beechwood, just off the A9 east of Inverness, is considered to be one of the most important developments for the region over the next 20 years. The principal of UHI, James Fraser, said: "This is a flagship development which will provide Inverness with a university campus and vibrant student life. It will have a major impact on the city and on the Highlands and Islands. UHI is a partnership of colleges and research centres throughout the region, and the development of any one partner brings strength to the whole institution."[78]
It is estimated that the new campus would contribute more than £50m to the economy of the Highlands because it could attract innovative commercial businesses interested in research and development, while increasing the number of students who study within the city by around 3,000.[79]
Inverness is linked to theBlack Isle across the Moray Firth by theKessock Bridge. Threetrunk roads link Inverness with the rest of Scotland – theA9 north to Thurso and Wick, and south to Perth (carryingEuropean Route E15) and theCentral Belt, theA82 to Glasgow via Fort William and theA96 to Elgin and Aberdeen. Plans are in place to convert the A96 between Inverness andNairn to a dual carriageway and to construct a southern bypass that would link the A9, A82 and A96 together involving crossings of the Caledonian Canal and the River Ness in the Torvean area, southwest of the town.[80] The bypass, known as theInverness Trunk Road Link (TRL), is aimed at resolving Inverness's transport problems and has been split into two separate projects, the east and west sections.
In late 2008 the controversial decision by the Scottish Government not to include the full Inverness bypass in its transport plan for the next 20 years was made. The government's Strategic Transport Projects Review did include the eastern section of the route, which will see the A9 at Inshes linked to the A96. The absence of the TRL's western section, which would include a permanent crossing over the Caledonian Canal and River Ness, sparked dismay among several Highland councillors and business leaders in Inverness who feel the bypass is vital for the city's future economic growth.[81] Ultimately both sections received funding from the Inverness and Highland city-region deal.[82][83] The eastern section now also includes a commitment to upgrade the Longman Roundabout to a grade separated interchange.[83]
Cars passing through Millburn Road in Inverness
The east section will bypass Inshes Roundabout, a notorious traffic bottleneck, using a new road linking the existing Southern Distributor with the A9 and the A96, both via grade separated interchanges. This proposed new link road would separate strategic traffic from local traffic. It will also accommodate the proposed developments at Inverness Shopping Park, West Seafield Business Park, Inverness Campus and housing developments at Ashton Farm, Stratton and Culloden West.[84] An indicative timescale for completion of this section is the dualling of the A96 from Inverness to Nairn.[84] The west section is intended to provide an alternate route connecting the A9 with the A82. This will bypass the city centre by providing additional crossings of the River Ness and Caledonian Canal. At the west end, two options for crossing theRiver Ness andCaledonian Canal were developed. One involving a high level vertical openingbridge which will allow the majority ofcanal traffic to pass under without the need for opening. The other involved a bridge over the river and anaqueduct under the canal. Both of these designs are technically complex and were considered in detail along by the key stakeholders involved in the project.
Ultimately it was decided that a bridge would be constructed over the River Ness and a second swing bridge be constructed over the Caledonian Canal. This second swing bridge would operate in tandem with the current swing bridge enabling a constant flow of traffic. The works started on site on the 10 June 2019 and include a roundabout, realignment of General Booth Road onto the A82, and a second bridge across the Caledonian Canal.[85] The works were programmed to be complete in December 2020. However, due to a number of construction delays the section was opened in August 2021.[86]
The section leading to Inverness of theA82 road, dubbed "The Inverness Road"
In late 2008 the Scottish Government's transport plan for the next 20 years was announced. It brings forward planned improvements to theA9 in an attempt to stimulate the economy and protect jobs. Work costing a total of £8.5 million was undertaken atMoy,Carrbridge, andBankfoot. Northbound overtaking lanes were created and the carriageway was reconstructed at both Moy and Carrbridge. Junction improvements were also made at Moy. In November 2011 the Scottish Government announced that it willupgrade the entire road from Perth to Inverness to dual carriageway. Work on this project is expected to start in 2015 ws scheduled to be completed in 2025, at a cost of £3 billion.[87] However, in 2023, this project was announced to be an impossible deadline, with a mere 11 miles having been dualled since it was announced in 2011, to severe uproar from people across the Highlands, as well as neighbouringMoray, subsequently, the project was extended by a further 10 years to 2035, withMichael Gove stating that the A9 had to be dualled north of Inverness toNigg in order to assist with the UK Government's "Levelling Up" programme at the port.
In July 2013, the Scottish Government announced a plan to install average speed cameras on the A9 between Perth and Inverness. This has been undertaken with an aim to reduce accidents and fatalities on the road, and will be the second permanent average speed camera scheme in Scotland.[88] As of October 2021, 2 sections of the upgraded route have been opened.[89] In August 2021 the procurement process for the Tomatin to Moy section was started. Once this section is completed, there will be 20 miles (32 km) of continuous dual carriageway south of Inverness.[90]
In December 2011, The Scottish Government announced its intention to dual the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen.[91] The project will include upgrading the remaining 86 miles (138 km) of single carriageway along the route to dual carriageway at a cost of £3 billion. The first section to be dualled will be the section between Inverness andAuldearn. This will include a bypass ofNairn and the construction of a number ofgrade separated interchanges along the route.[92]
Inverness bus station is situated at Farraline Park and can be accessed from Academy Street and Margaret Street. The bus station is managed byThe Highland Council and is a short walk away from theInverness railway station and the main shopping area. Permission was granted to demolish the existing bus station in 2000. It was then replaced with a new terminal building in the early 2000s. The bus station's main operators includeStagecoach in Inverness and Stagecoach in Lochaber. Buses operate from the bus station around the town of Inverness and toInverness Airport and to places as far afield asFort William,Ullapool,Thurso, andAberdeen.Megabus andScottish Citylink operate a regular coach service to the Scotland's capitalEdinburgh with connections toGlasgow atPerth.
National Express Coaches operate an overnight service from Inverness toLondon (Victoria) via Edinburgh taking 15 hours 5 minutes.[93]Stagecoach Highlands is the division of theStagecoach Group which covers most of the former Rapson Group operations after the take-over by Stagecoach. It covers the following depots of the Stagecoach Group.
Fort William (Ardgour Road, Caol) (t/a Stagecoach in Lochaber)
Kirkwall (Scott's Road Hatston Industrial Estate) (t/a Stagecoach in Orkney)
Thurso (Janet Street) (t/a Stagecoach in Caithness)
There are variousoutstations over the division area due to the rural nature of the area covered. The operation fromAviemore depot comes under the East Scotland division as it trades asStagecoach in Inverness.
There are two tiers of local government covering Inverness. Most functions are provided by theHighland Council, which is based in the city. There is also a lower tier ofcommunity councils, with the urban area of Inverness straddling several communities.[96]
From when it was made aroyal burgh in the 12th century, Inverness was governed by the town council of the burgh until 1975. It was also the seat of theSheriff of Inverness, who had responsibility for administering justice acrossInverness-shire. When elected county councils were introduced in 1890 under theLocal Government (Scotland) Act 1889, Inverness was considered large enough for its existing town council to provide county-level local government functions, and so it was excluded from the administrative area of Inverness-shire County Council.[97][98]
Inverness was subsequently brought within the administrative area of the county council in 1930, but classed as alarge burgh, allowing the town council to continue to provide most local government services.[99]
The burgh of Inverness was abolished in 1975 under theLocal Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which abolished Scotland's counties, burghs andlandward districts and replaced them with a two-tier system ofregions and districts. Inverness therefore became part of the largerInverness district, which was one of eight districts within theHighland region. The Inverness district covered the area of the former burgh plus an extensive rural area around the city, being the area of the two former landward districts of Inverness (covering the rural area generally east ofLoch Ness and Inverness itself) andAird (covering the area generally west of Inverness and Loch Ness.[100][101] Inverness District Council was based atInverness Town House on the High Street in the centre of Inverness, which had been completed in 1882 for the old Inverness Town Council.[102][103]
The Highland Council has a number ofarea committees for debating local matters. One of the committees is called the City of Inverness Area Committee, comprising the councillors who represent the wards which broadly correspond to the pre-1996 Inverness District.[105][106] The area committee choses one of its members to take the title ofProvost of Inverness.[107]
In 2001,city status was granted to the "Town of Inverness", andletters patent were taken into the possession of the Highland Council by the convener of the Inverness area committee.[108][109]
These letters patent, which were sealed in March 2001 and are held byInverness Museum and Art Gallery,[110] create a city of Inverness, but do not refer to any defined boundaries for the city. In January 2008 a petition to matriculatearmorial bearings for the City of Inverness was refused byLord Lyon King of Arms on the grounds that there is no legal body (such as a council) to which arms for Inverness can be granted.[111]
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire (first established in 2024 and replacing the previousInverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, which existed between 2005 and 2019) currently represented by Angus MacDonald of the Scottish Liberal Democrats[112]
These existing constituencies are effectively subdivisions of theHighlandcouncil area, but boundaries for Westminster elections are now very different from those for Holyrood elections. The Holyrood constituencies are also subdivisions of theHighlands and Islandselectoral region.
Historically there have been six Westminster constituencies:
Inverness Burghs was adistrict of burghs constituency, covering theparliamentary burghs of Inverness,Fortrose,Forres, andNairn. Inverness-shire covered, at least nominally, thecounty of Inverness minus the Inverness parliamentary burgh. As created in 1918, Inverness covered the county minusOuter Hebridean areas, which were merged into theWestern Isles constituency. The Inverness constituency included the former parliamentary burgh of Inverness. As created in 1983, Inverness, Nairn and Lochaber was one of three constituencies covering the Highlandregion, which had been created in 1975. As first used in 1997, the Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, and Ross, Skye and Inverness West constituencies were effectively two of three constituencies covering the Highlandunitary council area, which had been created in 1996.
The main theatre, cinema and arts centre in Inverness is called Eden Court Theatre. Other venues in the city includeInverness Museum and Art Gallery, The Iron Works, The Northern Meeting Park and Wasp Studios. Inverness is an important centre forbagpipe players and lovers, since every September the city hosts theNorthern Meeting. TheInverness cape, a garment worn in the rain by pipers the world over, is not necessarily made in Inverness.
Another major event in calendar is the annual City of InvernessHighland Games. The event can trace its roots back to one of the first Highland Games staged in the modern era; the True Highland Games which was staged in 1822 by members of the Northern Meeting Society. In 1864 the Northern Meeting Society built the world's first Highland Games stadium, the Northern Meeting Park. The last Northern Meeting Highland Games was staged in 1938 and following the second world war, responsibility for the organisation of the annual event passed to the Town Council who moved the event to Bught Park in 1948. In 2006 Inverness hosted Scotland's biggest ever Highland Games over two days in July, featuring the Masters' World Championships, the showcase event for heavies aged over 40 years. The first year that the Masters' World Championships had been held outside the United States was 2006, and it attracted many top heavies from around the world to the Inverness area. The Masters World Championships returned in 2009 when it was staged as part of the Homecoming celebrations. In 2010, the City of Inverness Highland Games returned to Northern Meeting Park where it remains to this day. ActressKaren Gillan is the ambassador for Theatre Art Education.
Inverness has gained notoriety as well for being featured in theOutlander novel series by authorDiana Gabaldon. TheTartan Heart Festival in the nearby village of Kiltarlity, is a summer festival that brings a variety of music to the area.BFBS Radio broadcasts on 87.7FM as part of its UK Bases network.
In 2007, the city hostedHighland 2007, a celebration of the culture of theHighlands, and will also host the World Highland Games Heavy Championships (21 & 22 July) and European Pipe Band Championships (28 July).[116] 2008 saw the firstHi-Ex (Highlands International Comics Expo), held at theEden Court Theatre.[117][118]
Inverness is the location ofMacbeth's castle in Shakespeare's play. Inverness Library is located in Farraline Park, housed in what was originally the Bell's school, designed by William Robertson in the Greek Revival style. The school was built with help from a £10,000 donation fromDr Andrew Bell in 1837.[119]
Historically, Inverness had a solidlyScottish Gaelic speaking population, with the majority of the population having Gaelic as their first language. From approximately the end of the 19th century, particularly following the1872 Education Act, which made school attendance compulsory and required that only English be taught and tolerated in the schools on pain ofcorporal punishment, Inverness suffered a decline in the number of Gaelic speakers in line with the rest of the onceGaidhealtachd / Scottish Highlands. Despite the local dialect of Scottish Gaelic gradually falling out of use (although it continued to affect the localHighland English dialect), the language is still spoken locally in other dialects and themain standardised form. By the end of the 19th century, some rural areas to the south east of Inverness still had completely Gaelic-speaking populations, such as Strath Dearn where almost 100% of the population were still Gaelic speaking.
1677: Inverness was described as "overwhelmingly" Gaelic speaking by the traveller Thomas Kirk.
1704: Close to 100% of the population was fluent in Gaelic with over 75% of the population only able to speak Gaelic.[125]Edward Lhuyd published major work on Inverness Gaelic and after collecting data from between 1699 and 1700, his findings showed a distinct dialect in the area.[126] The clear dialect of Inverness Gaelic was held in high regard by speakers of other forms, such as those from Lewis, Sutherland and Ross.[127] Gaelic remained the principal language of Invernessians for the rest of the 18th century, despite growing pressure from outwith the Highlands in both political and social contexts.
1798: Thomas Garnett (Professor of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in the Royal Institution of Great Britain) observed that Inverness had become largely bilingual with Invernessians using Gaelic as the language of the home but English as the language of foreign trade – however, the older generation at the time generally only had the Gaelic. Speaking of those in the countryside immediately surrounding Inverness, Garnett stated that although in Inverness both Gaelic and English "are spoken promiscuously...the language of the country people is Gaelic."
1828: John Wood praised the standard of both the Gaelic and English spoken in Inverness stating that both languages were spoken with "utmost purity." He noted that children would casually flit between the two languages while playing, asking questions in Gaelic while receiving answers in English and vice versa.
1882:The Celtic Magazine, published in Inverness, complained that enumerators of the 1881 census who assessed whether families were Gaelic speaking, English speaking or both, had supplied false information. The magazine wrote that "whole families .... scarcely any member of whom can express the commonest idea intelligently in English – who are in every sense Gaelic-speaking people only – were returned by the enumerators as English-speaking."
1901: Inhabitants of Inverness voiced regret at the very swift decay of the native language in the short space of twenty years following a complete absence of bilingual education and disregard for Gaelic.[128]
Inverness Gaelic Primary School, opened in 2007.
The number of Gaelic speakers has fluctuated over the last century. In 1881, the census reported 4,047 Gaelic speakers in Inverness (23.3% of the population) which by 1891 had risen to 6,356 speakers (30.47%).[129] By 1901 this figure had dropped to 5,072 speakers (23.88%) of the population, from which it continued to drop to present day numbers throughemigration andlanguage shift.[129]Scottish Gaelic is slowly re-appearing in thelinguistic landscape, appearing on some signs around Inverness.Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, which opened in August 2007 as a primary school ofScottish Gaelic-medium education, is nearing full capacity and was extended to allow for more pupils in August 2010.[130]
For a city of its size, Inverness today has a relatively high density of Gaelic speakers and a relatively lively Gaelic scene, making it one of the centres of theScottish Gaelic Renaissance. According to the 2011 census, 4.8% of residents of greater Inverness over age 3 speak Gaelic compared to 1.1% nationally. At 2,800 Gaelic speakers, onlyGreater Glasgow andEdinburgh have a higher absolute total.[131]Bòrd na Gàidhlig, an organisation responsible for supporting and promoting the use of Scottish Gaelic nationwide, has its main office in Inverness.[132] Other Gaelic related groups include the Inverness Gaelic Choir which has existed for over 70 years.[133] Inverness also hosted theRoyal National Mòd in 2014, a festival, inspired by the WelshEisteddfod, celebrating Scottish Gaelic culture,literature, andmusic.[134]
Important buildings in Inverness includeInverness Castle, and various churches. The castle was built in 1835 on the site of its medieval predecessor. Until 30 March 2020, it housed InvernessSheriff Court: this has now been moved to theInverness Justice Centre.[135][136]
The oldest church is theOld High Church,[137] on St Michael's Mount by the riverside, a site perhaps used for worship since Celtic times. The church tower dates frommediaeval times, making it the oldest surviving building in Inverness. It is used by theChurch of Scotland congregation ofOld High St Stephen's, Inverness,[138] and it is the venue for the annual Kirking of the council, which is attended by local councillors.
There is noCatholic cathedral in the area as theDiocesan cathedral (St Mary) is atAberdeen. The Catholic population is served by two parish churches:St Mary's, Inverness founded in 1837, is the older of the two and the first Catholic parish founded and built in Inverness after nearly three hundred years ofreligious persecution was ended byCatholic Emancipation in 1829.[139] St Ninian's was built during the 1960s and 1970s.[140]
PorterfieldPrison, officiallyHMP Inverness, serves the courts of the Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney Isles and Moray, providing secure custody for allremand prisoners and short-term adult prisoners, both male and female, who are segregated.[141]
The South Loch Ness Trail – connects toFort Augustus along the southeast side of Loch Ness
Inverness has been home to many football clubs, mainly in theHighland League due to the inaccessibility to be promoted into theSFA Pyramid until 2013.Inverness Union,Inverness Citadel,Clachnacuddin,Caledonian andInverness Thistle were all founder members of the Highland League in 1893, withInverness Celtic joining in 1897 before disappearing a few years later. Inverness Union merged with Inverness Thistle in 1895, and Inverness Citadel folding in 1937, with the team name being revived at amateur level in 2010. In 1994, Caledonian and Inverness Thistle merged to form Caledonian Thistle, laterInverness Caledonian Thistle, to gain election into theScottish Football League, before going on to gain promotion to theScottish Premier League in 2004, and winning theScottish Cup and playing in theUEFA Europa League in 2015. After the cup win, the club went into a swift, but steady, decline, and eventually intoScottish League One andadministration in 2024, despite this, they've proven themselves to be the dominant side in the highlands.Clachnacuddin remain in the Highland League, winning the league as recently as 2004. In 2006,Inverness City was founded, playing in theNorth Caledonian League and theNorth Region Junior Leagues until being folded in 2019. In 2016, the city's third active, and ninth total, team,Inverness Athletic was founded and are currently playing in the North Caledonian League. In 2020,Loch Ness joined the North Caledonian League, making the step up from theInverness and District League, before withdrawing in 2024. A fourth club is expected to join the active list, with a newInverness Thistle being brought forward in hopes to join the North Caledonian League for the 2025–26 season.
Shinty is an integral part of the Highlands and Islands. As the capital of the Highlands,Camanachd Association is based in Inverness and the city often hosts a wealth of Shinty finals such as theCamanachd Cup Final (the pinnacle of Shinty) as well as the international game of Shinty andIrish hurling. DespiteInverness Shinty Club not being particularly successful in recent years, some of the towns and villages that surround the city have been, such asKiltarlity who are the home ofLovat Shinty Club (recent winners of theMacTavish Cup 2013) andGlen Urquhart.
Highland HC is the local hockey team, it consists of two men's teams, two ladies teams and a junior team.[142] with both Men's & Ladies' 1st teams in Scottish National Division 2. The Men's 1st team successfully gained promotion from Scottish National Division 3 in 2011.[143]
Inverness Blitz is a charity that promotes the development ofAmerican football in Inverness and the surrounding area.[144] Bught Park, located in the centre of Inverness is the finishing point of the annualLoch Ness Marathon and home ofInverness Shinty Club.
In2011, Inverness hosted professionalgolf with theScottish Open on theEuropean Tour, played at Castle Stuart the week beforeThe Open Championship. Cricket is also played in Inverness, with both Highland CC and Northern Counties playing in the North of Scotland Cricket Association League and 7 welfare league teams playing midweek cricket at Fraser Park. Both teams have been very successful over the years.
Stock car racing was staged in Inverness circa 1973. Inverness has a mixed basketball team, the Inverness Giants, who play exhibition games against local teams throughout the North and Islands.
Ryan Christie – Footballer for English Premier League side, Bournemouth, and Scotland
Charles Fraser Mackintosh (Teàrlach Friseal Mac An Toisich) – Lawyer, author and politician. Born and raised in Inverness and represented the Highlands in Westminster.[145]
Mary Macpherson – (Màiri Nic a' Phearsain) poet and political activist, "Great Mairi of the Songs" raised her children in Inverness, where she wrote much of her work.[146]
^"Torvaine, Caledonian Canal".CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved17 April 2009.. Silver chain was found atgrid referenceNH65424346 when digging the Caledonian Canal in 1809.
^"Blar Nam Feinne".CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved17 April 2009.. Blar Nam Feinne is on Cnoc na Moine (grid referenceNH595433).
^"Torvaine, Torbane".CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved17 April 2009.. RCAHMS locate the battle of Torvean atgrid referenceNH65414346
^"Torvaine".CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved17 April 2009.. The cairn atgrid referenceNH65424346 disappeared in the 19th or 20th centuries, it has also been claimed to mark the resting place of St Bean(Beóán) theCuldee.
^Edited by Michael Newton (2015),Seanchaidh na Coille: Memory-Keeper of the Forest,Cape Breton University Press. Page 517.
^Edited by Michael Newton (2015),Seanchaidh na Coille: Memory-Keeper of the Forest,Cape Breton University Press. Pages 52-59.
^"Inverness Burgh Directory 1908-1909". Retrieved27 June 2017. (The 1:2500, 2nd edition, Ordnance Survey Plan, published in 1904–1905, does not show the drill hall)
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