Ness Islands Walk

The Ness Islands Walk is a beautiful, easy riverside stroll through the heart of Inverness, taking in a cluster of small wooded islands linked by elegant Victorian suspension footbridges — a genuinely tranquil escape from the city just minutes from the centre.

The route starts near Ness Bridge in Inverness city centre, a short walk from the train station via Church Street and Bank Lane. Heading upstream along the east bank of the River Ness on the tree-lined Ness Walk, the path soon passes the striking Inverness Cathedral, a Victorian Gothic building designed by the renowned architect Alexander Ross and the most northerly Anglican cathedral in the UK. Continuing along the riverbank, with the water constantly to one side, the path passes Eden Court Theatre and the Inverness Botanic Gardens before reaching one of several small white footbridges leading onto the Ness Islands themselves.

Once on the islands, the city feels remarkably distant — winding paths thread beneath towering mature pines and other old trees, with the river flowing on all sides and a series of Victorian suspension footbridges linking each island to the next. There's a carved bench sculpture shaped like the Loch Ness Monster hidden among the trees, a popular photo spot for families, and plenty of wildlife to watch for, including dippers, kingfishers, herons, and the occasional otter, along with salmon fishermen often seen working the river.

For a full circular route, the path crosses to the far bank via one of the footbridges and returns downstream along the Great Glen Way, passing the poignant war memorial at Cavell Gardens before rejoining the city centre near the start; the walk can also be extended south to Bught Park and the sub-tropical Floral Hall, with its café, for those wanting a longer outing.

This is a flat, level, and pushchair-friendly walk throughout, suitable for all ages and abilities, though the river can run high and fast after heavy rain, so care is worthwhile with young children near the water's edge.

The walk is free and starts in central Inverness, with the train station and bus services all within easy walking distance.