Top Hidden Gems Day Trips from Inverness
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The top Hidden Gems Day Trips from Inverness include Loch Duntelchaig, Dolphin spotting at Chanonry Point, Loch Ruthven, Macfarquhar's Bed, Fyrish Monument, Dulsie Bridge, Foyers Falls and Loch Glass.
Inverness makes a fine base for exploring the Highlands, with quiet lochs, dramatic coastline and curious landmarks all within an easy day's reach. Head southwest into the hills and you will find swimming lochs and rare birds around Loch Duntelchaig and Loch Ruthven.
Cross north onto the Black Isle for wild dolphins at Chanonry Point and the hidden cove of Macfarquhar's Bed near Cromarty. Push further north into Easter Ross for the strange hilltop arches of the Fyrish Monument and the lonely waters of Loch Glass beneath Ben Wyvis.
To the east, toward Nairn, an old military bridge spans a gorge at Dulsie, while down the southeastern shore of Loch Ness a wooded waterfall tumbles at Foyers. Some of these spots sit close to the city, others reward a longer drive along single-track roads, but each offers something a little out of the ordinary, away from the usual tourist trail.
Pack walking boots, a swimming towel and a flask, and set aside a full day to enjoy them at a gentle pace. Here are eight hidden gems for a day trip from Inverness.
Loch Duntelchaig
Photo: Mike Pennington via Geograph.org.uk
Loch Duntelchaig Just 13 kilometres southwest of Inverness, and lying east of Loch Ness, this large freshwater loch stretches for several miles between low crags. Its clear water draws wild swimmers, while the gneiss crags along the shore have become an established rock-climbing venue, with seasonal restrictions in spring and summer to protect nesting peregrines.
The loch also forms part of the water supply for the city, so its water stays notably clean. Quiet minor roads run along either side, giving easy access without the crowds.
If you fancy a swim, a scramble or simply a peaceful drive close to town, this makes an easy first stop.
Dolphin spotting at Chanonry Point
Photo: Bill Harrison via Geograph.org.uk
Dolphin spotting at Chanonry Point Reaching into the Moray Firth from the Black Isle, this low shingle spit sits between Fortrose and Rosemarkie, only a short hop from Inverness. It ranks among the best places in Britain to watch wild dolphins straight from the shore.
On a rising tide, bottlenose dolphins come close in, chasing fish through the narrows opposite Fort George, and they can pass just yards from the beach. A small white lighthouse marks the tip of the point.
Do arrive early, since parking is limited and fills quickly whenever the dolphins are running. Bring a flask and settle in for the show.
Loch Ruthven
Photo: Anne Burgess via Geograph.org.uk
Loch Ruthven Tucked among heather hills to the southwest of Inverness, this quiet freshwater loch is fringed with sedge beds and run as an RSPB reserve. It is one of the most important sites in Britain for the Slavonian grebe, a small crested diving bird best seen in spring in its breeding colours from a hide at the end of a short, mostly level trail.
Willow warblers and tree pipits flit about the water too, and the remains of an old crannog occasionally break the surface when the level drops. A small car park sits by the start, with a walk of roughly half a kilometre to reach the hide.
Macfarquhar's Bed
Photo: Julian Paren via Geograph.org.uk
Macfarquhar's Bed Out on the South Sutor headland, a couple of miles along the coast from Cromarty on the Black Isle, lies this rocky cove where cliffs enclose a small bay. A natural arch has been cut clean through the rock, with a cave alongside, and the ruined huts of an old salmon-fishing station still stand at the shore.
You reach it on a coastal walk from Cromarty, the path dropping steeply through a beech avenue down to the sea, with views over the Cromarty Firth where dolphins often appear. Its curious name comes down from a smuggling tale whose details have long since been lost.
Fyrish Monument
Photo: Julian Paren via Geograph.org.uk
Fyrish Monument A short drive north into Easter Ross brings you to Alness, above which this row of stone arches and pillars stands on the open top of Fyrish Hill, set starkly against the sky. It was built in the 1780s for General Sir Hector Munro and shaped to resemble the gateway of an Indian town his troops had taken.
Reaching it means a walk of a few miles up through forestry and onto the bare hill, so bring sturdy boots. From the summit the view opens out over the Cromarty Firth toward the bulk of Ben Wyvis.
It is a rewarding climb with a story behind it.
Dulsie Bridge
Photo: Richard Webb via Geograph.org.uk
Dulsie Bridge Head east toward Nairn and you will find this old military-road bridge throwing a single high arch across a narrow rocky gorge on the River Findhorn. Built in the 1750s, it stands well above deep, still pools where the river runs green between the crags.
Those pools, along with a small sandy shore below, draw wild swimmers and picnickers through the summer months. A layby beside the bridge offers a way down to the water.
It is a lovely spot for a dip or a riverside lunch on a warm day out from Inverness, with the old stonework adding real character to the scene.
Foyers Falls
Photo: Anne Burgess via Geograph.org.uk
Foyers Falls A drive down the southeastern shore of Loch Ness leads to these wooded falls on the River Foyers, which drop through a gorge toward the lochside. A steep path from the village descends through forest to viewpoints over an upper and a lower fall, the main plunge measuring around thirty metres.
Flow is often reduced because water is drawn off upstream for hydro-electric power, so the falls run fullest after rain. A power scheme has drawn on the river here since an aluminium works arrived in 1895, and the poet Robert Burns wrote some lines about the falls back in 1787.
Loch Glass
Photo: John Ferguson via Geograph.org.uk
Loch Glass Set deep in Glen Glass in Easter Ross, below the steep eastern face of Ben Wyvis, this remote loch rewards those willing to make the effort north from Inverness. Single-track roads lead toward it, and the final stretch is on foot or by bike across rough, boggy ground, which keeps it quiet and little visited.
A lodge stands on the south shore, and the water is used for walking, cycling, kayaking and fishing for trout and pike. The great view here is Ben Wyvis rising sheer above the loch, a fitting reward for the journey in.
FAQs
Which hidden gems near Inverness are best for wild swimming?
For a dip close to the city, Loch Duntelchaig offers clear, quiet water in the hills southwest of Inverness, while Dulsie Bridge, over toward Nairn, has deep green pools below its old arched bridge on the River Findhorn.
When is the best time to see dolphins at Chanonry Point?
Bottlenose dolphins at Chanonry Point, on the Black Isle across the Moray Firth from Inverness, come closest on a rising tide, when they chase fish through the narrows opposite Fort George. Arrive early, as parking is very limited.
Are these day trips suitable without a car?
Many of these spots, such as Loch Glass and the Fyrish Monument in Easter Ross, sit down single-track roads or require a walk in, so a car makes them far easier to reach from Inverness than public transport would.
Conclusion
From the dolphin-watching shingle of Chanonry Point to the lonely shores of Loch Glass, Inverness proves an ideal springboard for a day in the Highlands. Some of these gems, like Loch Duntelchaig and Loch Ruthven, sit close enough for a gentle morning out, while others reward a longer drive north into Easter Ross or east toward Nairn.
You could spend a day chasing waterfalls at Foyers, another watching rare grebes, and a third simply wandering a wild stretch of coast on the Black Isle. Whatever the weather, there is something here for walkers, swimmers, birdwatchers and history lovers alike.
Pack a picnic, keep an eye on the tides and the light, and take your time exploring. Whether you head for the hills, the coast or the water, these are the hidden gems for a day trip from Inverness.
