October 2012
Once one of Scotland's largest castles, Urquhart's ruins includes a tower house that looks over the famous Loch Ness and Great Glen. Visitors can relax in the café and visit the shop with its local crafts. The visitor centre contains retail stores and tearoom with stunning views of the loch from the veranda (A82 near Drumnadrochit; tel: 01456 450551).

July 2012
The Inverness Highland Games take place on Saturday 21 July in the Northern Meeting Park. The fun begins at 1pm when a pipe band marks the beginning of the event. Highland dancing, caber tossing and many other traditional Scottish games will take place throughout the afternoon. Situated in the heart of Inverness and close to the picturesque Inverness Cathedral, the near 200-year-old summer tradition is a must see for all the family.

April 2013
At over 40m high, Plodda Falls is the most spectacular waterfall in the area. A natural beauty not to be missed, it is easily accessible by car or by the number 17 bus - but don't forget your walking boots.

January 2013
The Cairngorm Mountain is just a 30-minute drive from Inverness and offers a huge selection of winter sports for all the family. Day schools and equipment hire are all available from the mountain, just visit the website for more details (cairngormmountain.org).