From golden beaches and friendly dolphins to dramatic castles and a particularly mysterious monster, Inverness, Loch Ness and Nairn are sure to captivate any visitor.

Inverness, the bustling, attractive capital of the Highlands and Scotland’s millennium city, makes an ideal base for exploring the area. The city sits on the picturesque River Ness, which flows into the Moray Firth – probably the best place to see dolphins in Europe. To the east is the traditional seaside resort of Nairn with its golden sandy beaches and championship golf courses, and to the north the pretty Highland village of Beauly.

There is an impressive castle at Cawdor, while you can marvel at the Caledonian Canal at Fort Augustus. Explore the natural world in the ancient woodlands of Glen Affric and around the Great Glen – indeed, the scenery in the area is amazing. Loch Ness is probably the best-known Scottish loch, thanks to its famous resident – Nessie, the friendly Loch Ness monster. You can find out all about her in Drumnadrochit, and say hello if you see her from the ruins of picture-postcard Urquhart Castle.