Inverness Shopping and Districts

(Inverness, Scotland, UK)

If you are a fan of Scottish kilts, then you've come to the right place for a spot of kilt shopping. Inverness has some of the country's finest kilt and tartan shops, along with lots of other wonderful local handicrafts that make perfect gifts to bring back from your visit to Scotland. And of course, being so near to Loch Ness and its world-famous monster, many tourists choose to bring back the obligatory cuddly Nessie.

Boarstone Tartans at the indoor Victorian Market shopping arcade is one of the main kilt makers in Inverness, specialising in every kind of traditional Scottish garment, from tweed caps to shooting coats and woollen scarves. Duncan Chisholm and Sons on Castle Street is another family owned kilt-making icon. Here you can find the tartans from more than 50 of Scotland's biggest clans, along with a wealth of traditional Scottish gifts.

When to Shop and Where

Jewellery is another excellent purchase in Inverness. Using traditional styles along with motifs like Celtic patterns, you can find some really amazing pieces of silver and gold in the city's shops. Silvercraft in the Market Arcade is amongst the best. It is been around the Victorian Market since 1960 and has a wonderfully friendly atmosphere inside. D&H Norval is another good choice for jewellery, especially if you are looking for something a little more unique and creative.

Inverness has two excellent shopping venues right in the heart of the city. Offering something to do on a wet day, the Victorian Market on Academy Street is the traditional one, and absolutely worth a visit. This charming complex was built in 1890 and has a really great vibe that matches the full range of shops inside. Among the more interesting spots is Heraldic Art Design, which crafts hand-embroidered coats of arms from around the UK. Most stores in the market's Arcade, Inner Hall and Outer Hall open from Monday to Saturday.

The modern face of shopping in Inverness is at the flashy Eastgate Shopping Centre. Here you will find all of the usual chain shops, along with a bunch of interesting independent stores. Eastgate stands right at the end of the fun High Street pedestrian strip, which itself is packed with uniquely Scottish shops.

If you really enjoy shopping you need to explore the old part of Inverness, where hundreds of small shops ply their trade along Church Street, Castle Street, Academy Street, Union Street and Bridge Street. This spot is easily compact enough to properly wander around in an afternoon.