Top five things to do in Invergordon
By Gordon Pearson on 22nd January 2024
Tens of thousands of cruise ship passengers disembark in the Port of Invergordon every year (it’s worth noting that you are not docking in Inverness/Loch Ness – this confusion is due to the creative naming of the port by the cruise companies!)
Once in Invergordon, most people will choose to join a shore excursion to visit places including Loch Ness and Culloden Battlefield, or perhaps get public transportation into Inverness. However, for those deciding to spend the day in Invergordon, we’ve highlighted the top five things to do!
Tom and Luke Stoltman are giants in the world of strongmen and hail from Invergordon. They are the strongest brothers in the world, and perhaps the strongest brothers ever to have lived! Tom was crowned the World’s Strongest Man in 2021 and 2022. At 6ft 8 in and 408 lbs you are not likely to miss him if you see him on the street. At “just” 6 ft 2 in and 352 lbs Tom’s older brother Luke has won Europe’s Strongest Man competition in the past and has finished seventh in the World’s Strongest Man competition on three occasions. When you are in Invergordon you can check out the Stoltman Store. Alternatively, if you fancy a work out, why not train in the Stoltman Strength Centre, where a day pass will set you back just £20.
Our favourite thing to do in Invergordon is the mural trail. The murals tell the story of the local area and the app brings the trail to life. It’s a good way to spend an hour or so and something that kids will enjoy too. Best of all, it’s entirely free! Download the ‘Invergordon Off the Wall’ app before you set sail and save money on those pricey onboard internet packages! You can download the app on the Google Play Store or the App Store for Apple devices. P.S Don’t miss the murals at the Invergordon Distillery – these aren’t included in the trail but are well worth a visit!
The museum takes a look at Invergordon’s past, with a particular focus on its naval history, including the sinking of the HMS Natal in 1915 with the loss of 421 sailors. You can also study relics from Invergordon’s old hospital, plus there are various other exhibits exploring the oil industry, the old castle and many other aspects of local life. During the cruise season the museum opens from 10am until at least 2.30pm and is a good place to spend around 45 minutes. This small, volunteer-run museum is free to enter and relies on donations to stay open so please be sure to contribute a little something on the way out!
The Saltburn Woodland Walk offers a little oasis within Invergordon. Two local men, Sandy and Bob, built the trails and now maintain them too; it is very much a labour of love. The trails are a good place to visit if you are looking for some peace and quiet and you can easily spend an hour here enjoying both the trees and the birdsong. The woods are also of interest to families with children, as there are lots of interesting things to look at on the way round including a, “rubber duckie trail”.
Despite the heavy industry of the area, the Cromarty Firth is a haven for a wide range of wildlife. Birds such as heron and oyster catchers are commonly seen on the shore line. In May and early June you may be lucky enough to spot one of the 300 pairs of nesting Artic and common terns. From April to August there is always a chance of seeing osprey, and eiders can be seen year round. Harbour porpoises and bottlenose dolphins are always a possibility and, for those who are really lucky, you might catch sight of an otter. You can find information about wildlife on the Port of Cromary Firth website. It’s pretty easy to get down to the shoreline, either from Saltburn (½ a mile east along the main coast road) or from just outside the village after Quay West (½ a mile west along the main coastal road).
3.Visit the Invergordon Naval Museum and Heritage Centre
The museum takes a look at Invergordon’s past, with a particular focus on its naval history, including the sinking of the HMS Natal in 1915 with the loss of 421 sailors. You can also study relics from Invergordon’s old hospital, plus there are various other exhibits exploring the oil industry, the old castle and many other aspects of local life. During the cruise season the museum opens from 10am until at least 2.30pm and is a good place to spend around 45 minutes. This small, volunteer-run museum is free to enter and relies on donations to stay open so please be sure to contribute a little something on the way out!
4.Enjoy the Saltburn woodland walk
The Saltburn Woodland Walk offers a little oasis within Invergordon. Two local men, Sandy and Bob, built the trails and now maintain them too; it is very much a labour of love. The trails are a good place to visit if you are looking for some peace and quiet and you can easily spend an hour here enjoying both the trees and the birdsong. The woods are also of interest to families with children, as there are lots of interesting things to look at on the way round including a, “rubber duckie trail”.
5.Go Wildlife spotting
Despite the heavy industry of the area, the Cromarty Firth is a haven for a wide range of wildlife. Birds such as heron and oyster catchers are commonly seen on the shore line. In May and early June you may be lucky enough to spot one of the 300 pairs of nesting Artic and common terns. From April to August there is always a chance of seeing osprey, and eiders can be seen year round. Harbour porpoises and bottlenose dolphins are always a possibility and, for those who are really lucky, you might catch sight of an otter. You can find information about wildlife on the Port of Cromary Firth website. It’s pretty easy to get down to the shoreline, either from Saltburn (½ a mile east along the main coast road) or from just outside the village after Quay West (½ a mile west along the main coastal road).
