Inverness, Scotland

Inverness, (Inbhir Nis, in Gaelic), is the most northern city in the UK.  One of only seven cities in Scotland, status is only received in 2000, it sits on the River Ness.  It is considered the capital of the Scottish Highlands.

The River Ness

While it's only home to about 47,000 people it is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe.  Last year is was ranked at the happiest place to live in Scotland, and the second happiest place in the entire United Kingdom.

Inverness Castle was built in 1835.  Only the castle grounds are open to the public and the castle itself is now a sheriff court.

The Georgian tollbooth steeple was built in 1791and is located on the high street.

The Victorian Gothic Town House was completed in 1882.  It is the local office of the Highland Council and is currently under renovation.

The Ness Bank Church was built in 1901. 

The church is home to the Faith, Hope and Charity statues.  The statues used to be on the roof of a drapery store but the building was demolished in the 1950s and they were bought by a collector in Orkney.  After the collector passed away the city purchased the states for £55,000 in 2011.

The WWI monument is dedicated to all of the local men who died in 1914 - 1918.   

High Street

St. Andrew's is the cathedral for the Scottish Episcopal Church which was completed in 1869.  The spires are squared off because funding ran out before they could be built.  St. Andrew's was the first new cathedral built in the UK since the Reformation and it's the northernmost cathedral in mainland Britain.