Drumbeg to Pitlochry

Inverness & Riverside Walk

The capital of the Highlands, Inverness, is a surprisingly compact, green, and walkable city.  

If you’d like to stretch your legs, the walk along the banks of the River Ness to the leafy Ness Islands is a must. You can walk one side of the river and retrace your steps (the quicker option, around 20 minutes) or cross over one of the many bridges to complete the river loop (around 45 minutes).

You’ll pass Inverness Cathedral and a viewpoint over Inverness Castle (currently closed) on the way. And Inverness Botanic Gardens are easily accessible from the trail (free to enter; the glasshouse is very pretty, however, not dog-friendly).

Parking: This car park is the best option.  

Inverness coffee, cakes or lunch

• XOKO – one of the very best cafes, you’ll love the menu and food here. Coffee, cakes, small plates and larger lunches. Dog friendly on outdoor terrace.

• Birch – fantastic coffee, cakes, and small plates (to takeaway).

• The Victorian Market – a bustling food market, where you’ll find all sorts of delicious eating options. Dog friendly.

• The Mustard Seed – for something a little more formal if you’re here at lunch time. Dog-friendly at lunch (please let them know when booking).

   

Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre

Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, operated by the National Trust for Scotland, just east of Inverness, offers a deeply atmospheric and educational experience.

Within a thoughtfully designed building, you’ll find exhibits that present both the Jacobite and Government perspectives, and discover artefacts ranging from weapons and letters that have survived through the ages. Ticket prices are £12.50 per person (pay on the day).  It is dog-friendly (lead required).

Clava Cairns

If you enjoy history and heritage, it’s worth adding nearby Clava Cairns to your itinerary. This Bronze Age cemetery complex, just a few minutes from Culloden, features well-preserved chambered cairns and standing stones in a peaceful woodland setting, and is free to visit year-round with a small parking area on-site.

Dalwhinnie Distillery

Easily one of Scotland’s most recognisable distilleries, this is an easy stop on your journey south. You can book a tour; however, if you pop in and ask for an impromptu tasting, the staff are always on hand to share a dram (and a mini to take away for the designated driver!)

Directions: Dalwhinnie Distillery car park  

Faskally Forest

Another easy stop and opportunity for a short but very pretty walk is Faskally Forest. The easy-to-follow path meanders to create a loop around Loch Dunmore and takes around 45 minutes. This is located just outside of Pitlochry.

Directions: Faskally Forest

Evening stop: Pitlochry / Perthshire

Tucked into the heart of Highland Perthshire, Pitlochry is a charming town that combines scenic beauty with a welcoming, small-town feel. It’s long been a popular stop for travellers, thanks to its walkable high street, surrounding forest trails, and rich Victorian heritage.

Before dinner, take a stroll to the dam and fish ladder, where you might spot salmon leaping upstream.

Visit Blair Athol Distillery — one of Scotland’s oldest (and prettiest) working distilleries — for a taste of traditional Highland whisky and a behind-the-scenes look at the craft. And enjoy dinner in one of the town’s excellent eateries (or in your hotel restaurant). I can update this section once you have accommodation in place.