BLOG: Love, in the Highlands is never just one thing 💙

💙 It’s not loud or showy. It’s steady. Deep-rooted. It’s the kind of love that grows from knowing a place, from belonging to it, or from being drawn back to it time and time again. It’s found in the land and the people, in the language and the stories that connect them. It lives in vast landscapes shaped by time, in music that stirs something familiar, and in a sense of connection that stays with you long after you’ve gone.

This is the Spirit of the Highlands, and it sits at the heart of The Inverness Castle Experience. 💙

So, what do we really mean by the Spirit of the Highlands?

Is it the land - Mountains, rivers and coastlines that shape daily life and demand respect?

Is it the people - communities built on resilience, creativity and care for one another?

Is it the sights and sounds - music, storytelling, and language shared, protected, and passed on?

The answer is simple. It’s all of these, held together by love 💙.

The Spirit of the Highlands is carried through its stories. Stories of place and identity, of loss and joy, of leaving and returning. Stories that reflect a deep love for the land and the people who call it home. At The Inverness Castle Experience, these stories come together, offering visitors not just information but an emotional connection to what makes the Highlands so meaningful.

Rising above the River Ness, Inverness Castle has long been one of Scotland’s most recognisable landmarks. Despite its name, it was never a castle but built as a prison and court, a place once associated with separation rather than connection. Today, following an extraordinary transformation, the building has been reimagined with a very different purpose.

Formally opened on 9 February 2026. The Inverness Castle Experience marks a bold new chapter - one rooted in celebration, reflection and pride. Inspired by hundreds of stories shared by people from across the Highlands, the experience is shaped by personal connections and collective memory. Whether you are local, visiting Inverness for the first time, or returning to a place you love, it offers a meaningful introduction to the region. 💙

Designed as a true gateway to the Highlands, the experience is a starting point for exploration, for understanding, and for falling in love with the region in your own way. Through interactive displays, dynamic visuals and powerful storytelling, visitors uncover the stories that have shaped the Highlands and are inspired to seek out the places where those stories began.

💙 At the heart of the journey is the seanchaidh, the traditional Gaelic storyteller. Through many voices, the seanchaidh guides visitors across the Highlands, celebrating the enduring love of language, memory and oral tradition and the care taken to keep them alive.

Throughout the experience, moments of culture, community and creativity bring the Spirit of the Highlands vividly to life. In the South Tower, the iconic Rose Window, rescued from demolition in Inverness, is reimagined through a dramatic light and sound display, symbolising renewal, continuity and care for the past.

Nearby, a bespoke frock coat by renowned artist-couturier Sandra Murray offers a bold, contemporary expression of Highland identity - a modern act of love for tradition. 💙

In the North Tower Gallery, the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands tells a powerful story of collective care. Created by more than 600 stitchers from communities across the region, each stitch represents time, pride and affection for place.

💙 Music lovers can also explore the legacy of Runrig in the Cèilidh Rooms, a band whose songs carried love for the Highlands far beyond Scotland’s shores.

From the rooftop terrace, visitors can pause and take in sweeping views across Inverness and the surrounding Highland landscape, a quiet moment to reflect, to breathe, and to feel connected.

Food and drink inspired by the region are served in the Saltire Bistro and North Tower Bar.

The Castle Shop offers thoughtful mementoes that celebrate stories of Highland creativity.

For the best value, we encourage visitors to book timed tickets in advance. Inverness is well connected by air, rail and road, making it easy to visit or return. Sustainable travel options are encouraged, helping to protect the landscapes that people love so deeply.

The Inverness Castle Experience is more than a castle - It is a celebration of love for people, place and story. 💙