The Beauly Firth is part of the Moray Firth Special Area of Conservation for Bottlenose dolphins, and is an important area for wildlife, with year-round feeding for resident and migrant wildfowl.

Beauly has the remains of an impressive 13th Century Priory. Nearby, Moniack Castle produces a range of wines and Muir of Ord has its own whisky distillery.

Inverness became the Highlands’ only city in 2000. The river Ness runs through the city, with the stunning backdrop of Inverness Castle and Cathedral. There are beautiful walks along the riverbank and you can sometimes spot otters and ospreys. Inverness Museum and Art Gallery is well worth a visit.

The Caledonian Canal, opened in 1822, links Inverness on the East coast, via Loch Ness to Fort William on the West coast. The towpath along the south side of the canal provides easy and interesting walks between Muirtown Lock and Dochgarroch.

The Great Glen Way, a long distance walk between Fort William and Inverness, officially starts (or ends) at Inverness Castle.

Walk round the emotive Culloden Battlefield and discover the fate of Prince Charles Edward Stewart and his Jacobite army crushed by Government forces in 1746. The military barracks at Fort George, built after the battle of Culloden, is one of the outstanding artillery fortifications in Europe, and well worth a visit.

You can actually stay in 17th century Castle Stewart near Inverness. Cawdor Castle, linked by Shakespeare to Macbeth, is a 14th century fairytale fortress, still home to the Cawdor family.Nairn has fine, sandy beaches, a traditional “fishertown”, two championship golf courses, and a fascinating museum, as well as a network of paths around town.

Culbin Sands is a special area of shifting dunes with fine walks along the shore to the RSPB bird reserve and in Culbin Forest.