Northern Highlands
Walks Near Inverness
53 hills within 50km — 12 Munros, 16 Corbetts, 25 Grahams, . Sorted by straight-line distance.
Inverness is the capital of the Highlands and a base for walks across the northern and eastern Highlands. The Cairngorms are 50 minutes south; Torridon, Glen Affric and the Black Isle are all within day-trip range. The city's position at the nexus of the Great Glen, Strathspey and the northern glens makes it the most versatile Highland base for exploring a wide range of hill terrain.
ScotRail trains to Inverness from Edinburgh (3h30), Glasgow (3h30) and Aberdeen (2h15). Local buses serve the Black Isle and Beauly Firth. The A9 south gives access to Aviemore and Cairngorms (40 min). A car is essential for most hill walks — Torridon, Glen Affric and the northern hills have no practical public transport access. Inverness Airport connects to London and European cities.
Top walks near Inverness
Meall Fuar-mhonaidh (Glen Urquhart)
Underrated Corbett (699m) above Loch Ness with excellent views of the Great Glen. 30 min drive from Inverness. Good path, moderate ascent — a rewarding Inverness day walk.
30km from Inverness
Cairngorm from Aviemore
Drive 40 min south to Aviemore, then 14km to the Cairngorm ski car park at 635m. Cairn Gorm summit (1,245m) is then 4.5km and 600m above — outstanding plateau walking.
50km from Inverness
Ord Hill (Black Isle)
Local Inverness viewpoint (237m) above the Beauly Firth — woodland and moorland walk with views over the city and the Moray Firth. Accessible by local bus to Muir of Ord.
15km from Inverness
When to go
Inverness has a more continental climate than the west coast — drier but colder in winter. The eastern Cairngorms (accessible from Inverness) can have reliable snow cover December–March, making them good for winter hillwalking. The northern hills (Torridon, Affric) are at their best May–June and September. Midges are significant June–August throughout the region — plan accordingly. Glen Affric is outstanding in autumn (October–November) with Caledonian pine colour.
All hills within 50km of Inverness
Distance is straight-line (as the crow flies) from Inverness city centre — not drive or walk distance. Radius: 50km.
Current conditions near Inverness
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:18
- Sunset
- 22:17
- Civil dawn
- 03:07
- Civil dusk
- 23:28
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What is the nearest Munro to Inverness?
- Carn Gorm (1,029m) in the Monadhliath above Newtonmore is approximately 60km south of Inverness (50 min by car via the A9). Glen Affric Munros (Mam Sodhail, Carn Eighe at 1,183m) are around 50km west. The eastern Cairngorms (Cairn Gorm, Ben Macdui) are 55km south via Aviemore.
- Can I walk in Glen Affric from Inverness without a car?
- Practically, no — there is no regular public bus service to Dog Falls or the main Glen Affric car parks from Inverness. The Citylink coach to Cannich (closest village) runs infrequently. A car hire from Inverness is the most practical option for Glen Affric. The round trip from Inverness by car is approximately 1h15.
- What are the best walks near Inverness that don't require a car?
- Ord Hill on the Black Isle is accessible by local bus (Stagecoach 26A to Muir of Ord). The Great Glen Way long-distance route starts at Inverness and follows the canal and loch-side paths south-west. The Ness Islands riverside walk in Inverness itself is a pleasant local option.
- Is it worth hiring a car in Inverness for hillwalking?
- Absolutely — Inverness is the best-connected Highland city but car hire dramatically expands your options. From Inverness with a car you can access Torridon, Glen Affric, Knoydart approach roads, the Cairngorms, Ben Wyvis, and dozens of northern Munros that are otherwise inaccessible.
Walks near other towns
Eat, drink and stay in Inverness
The SCOT network covering the same town — travel context, food and drink, and non-hill alternatives.
Inverness
Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTNearby distillery: Glen Ord
Muir of Ord — Black Isle distillery; the Singleton range's Highland anchor
15km from Inverness
tastescot.co.uk
On Birdie BraeInverness while they golf
Highland capital — Culloden, Cawdor Castle, Black Isle dolphin watching
birdiebrae.co.uk