One of the most famous and best loved hotels in Scotland

The Royal Highland Hotel is the oldest hotel in the centre of the Highland capital, Inverness. In 2000, the property was carefully restored, retaining its unique character associated with the bygone age. As soon as you enter the hotel you will appreciate this. In the foyer the grand staircase, the inspiration for the Titanic's staircase, leads to the 84 spacious refurbished bedrooms - all with very high ceilings. The decor is rich with traditional furniture and deep colours. The rooms all have soft furnishings and antique style furniture. The excellent bathrooms are generally medium to large in size.

For over 151 years, the hotel has been looking after travellers from all over the world. Perhaps its popularity stems from the fact the hotel is a grand place to stay. Large bedrooms, large lounge areas, quiet meeting rooms, good food, prime location and friendly staff all play their part. All local amenities close to hand, but within a 5 minute drive you are out into the dramatic Highlands. Loch Ness is only 7 miles from the hotel.

Expect and enjoy 84 meticulously clean, cared for, spacious quiet bedrooms. The rooms have been tastefully contemporised whilst retaining their unmistakeably traditional feel. Pleasantly 'old fashioned', yet unobtrusively modern, thoughtfully appointed, offering a classical ambience, yet with every contemporary comfort, including bathroom, satellite television and direct dial telephones and even a choice of pillows.

Ash is our new cafe/bar/restaurant situated right in the heart of Inverness city within the Royal Highland Hotel. Done out in rich cherry wood and taupe colours it is the place to be seen. Ash is where you come to enjoy good food with an even greater atmosphere and superb prices. The restaurant has something to offer for everyone with a wide variety on the menu with over 100 choices for you to choose from, whether traditional Scottish cuisine or something a little more exotic, from Paninis to steaks.

Gallery Cafe
To the right of the spacious lobby and grand staircase is the Gallery café. Ideal for those mainly wanting a lighter bite or snack, although an extensive menu does cater for more substantial meals too as a relaxing alternative in a completely different and more classical ambience to that of the more contemporary, chic Ash Restaurant.

The grand wallace ballroom / the royal magnus meeting room
For smaller conferences and events, the Grand Ballroom is perfectly complemented by the smaller, yet very comfortable and spacious Royal Magnus Room. Perfect for that more mid-sized conference or training event for up to 50 people. Or for smaller celebrations, weddings and dinners where perhaps a more intimate atmosphere than that of the Wallace Ballroom is required.

Full business and secretarial services are available, as well as a full conference/meeting catering service – and there is a small bar adjacent to the room.

Inverness is the best place to base a visit to all the many attractions of the surrounding highlands.
Inverness was designated a city in the millennium year 2000. However, settlements in the area date back several thousand years and can be seen at sites such as Clava Cairns a few miles from Inverness, a place definitely worth a visit and Craig Phadrig, an Iron Age hill fort nearby, from which there are splendid views of Inverness. Read oin in this section to discover all the delights and visitor highlights of Inverness, capital of the Scottish highlands.

And there are very few people in the modern world who have not heard of Loch Ness! The Loch Ness Monster, ‘Nessie’, is a recurrent figure in modern literature, television movies and games. Loch Ness, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles, is twenty four miles long and, at one point, one and a half miles wide. It has an average depth of four hundred and fifty feet and at times plunges close to a thousand. It is cold and murky, with dangerous currents. In short, it is the perfect place to hide a monster from even the most prying eyes of science.

Inverness & further afield

Drive to Fort William and let the striking scenery of the Great Glen unfold ahead of you –first Loch Ness, then Loch Oich finally Loch Lochy, then Ben Nevis.. Visit the attractive village of Fort Augustus. Stop at Urquhart Castle - visit the castle and perhaps enjoy a cruise on the loch.

Take a full day excursion to the beautiful island of Skye. Make a photo-stop at Eilean Donan Castle, perched on its island at the head of Loch Duich. Marvel at the views when you stop at this most picturesque of castles. Soon you’ll cross "over the sea to Skye" and visiting the beautiful gardens of the Clan Donald Centre before enjoying the dramatic scenery of the famed Cuillin Mountains. Leave some time for some ‘beach combing’ before returning to Inverness.

Take an excursion to nearby Culloden Moor where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s dreams came to a bloody end. Carry on south for a spectacular drive south through the Highlands. From the Spey Valley and the Cairngorm Mountains, travel through Glen Garry to the pretty Victorian resort of Pitlochry. Haver a break there then travel back to Dalwhinnie and take the Laggan Road through Monarch of the Glen Country to Spean Bridge, and homeward bound via Loch Ness.

Not only is Inverness truly "the city in the Highlands" - a well-resourced small city and an ideal highland holiday or short break destination, but it is also a fantastic touring centre with plenty to see and do all around by way of sport and leisure activities.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Kingussie, Carrbridge, Grantown-on-Spey
• Loch Ness, Culloden and Cawdor
• Nairn, Fort George, Dingwall and Around
• The Tain Peninsula, North of Bonar Bridge, Dornoch