History

Inverness has evolved from an ancient fort to being the Capital of the Highlands. The city and the surrounding area is now home to 65,000 people, but it was much smaller when St Columba visited the Royal Court of the Pictish King Bridei in 560AD. Legend has it that, in 1040, Macbeth, of Shakespeare fame, built his stronghold in Inverness. In 1158 King David of Scotland awarded Inverness its charter as a Royal Burgh.

Robert the Bruce, of spider fame, seized the first of the city's five castles from English forces in 1307 and, in 1562, Mary Queen of Scots had the Governor of Inverness Castle hanged for refusing her entry to the Burgh. Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite troops were defeated in the famous Battle of Culloden, the last battle on British soil- in 1746. Thereafter, Fort George, now considered the finest 18th century fort in Europe- was established just outside the city.

In 1862 the spectacular Caledonian Canal was completed by Thomas Telford, linking Inverness to the west coast of Scotland. In 1921 Inverness Town House hosted a historic meeting of the British Cabinet, the only Cabinet meeting of the British Government ever held outside London. A momentous day for Inverness came in 2001 when it was formally declared Scotland's newest city. For more information about this historic city, visit or contact Inverness Museum where a wealth of information awaits you.