Friday Favorites: Living the High Life in the Highlands

Ness Walk This Way

There are soooo many reasons to visit Scotland—its scenery, culturally rich cities, unique history, outdoor activities, beautiful drives, locally produced food, friendly locals, epic whisky experiences, and wildlife to name but a few. Also, it’s easy to travel to and around Scotland, and it remains one of the world’s safest destinations. We can now add to this list the recently opened Ness Walk, a beautiful hotel in the heart of Inverness. As popular as Scotland has become, the vast Scottish Highlands doesn’t have many 5-star hotels, so this is a much welcome addition.

Ness Walk is built around a restored 19th-century home with beautiful gardens and a canopy of trees along the River Ness in the “capital” of the Highlands. Each room and suite—there are 47—features bespoke furnishings, organic toiletries from the Isle of Arran, and spacious bathrooms. And, of course, you can expect a warm Scottish welcome from the staff.

The Highlands is home to some of the world’s best seafood, beef, game, and produce so it’s no surprise that Ness Walk has a strong focus on cuisine. We’re hearing rave reviews of their Heavenly Afternoon Tea, best enjoyed amidst the hotel’s bucolic surroundings. Lunch and dinner in their restaurant, Torrish (named for a type of fly used in fly-fishing), are served in the original Drawing Room. The Torrish Bar is a hot spot for locals with craft cocktails and whisky flights.

Inverness is a strategic base for exploring the region. Favorites sights include: Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle, Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness, Speyside distilleries, Golf at Royal Dornoch and Castle Stuart, prehistoric Clava Cairns, Johnston’s of Elgin for cashmere, and leisurely drives along the North Coast 500.

Let us plan a Highlands adventure for you with a stay Ness Walk!