I am in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Scotland, which will probably be in May 2016.

For the Inverness area, most posts on the forum suggest that it is "better" to stay in another town as Inverness itself is, well, just another large city.

I would love some more specific suggestions of an alternative base for Culloden, Clava Cairns, and the surrounding area. We are planning to be in this area at least 3 nights.

We will have just come from Skye (probably Portree, although I wouldn't mind other suggestions here as well), which is seaside, so inland might be a nice alternative. In one trip report I read, they stayed in Grantown on Spey and were pleased with it. What kind of a drive (to Culloden, for instance) would we be experiencing if we use that as a base?

Any and all suggestions welcome - from seaside to more inland highlands.

Nairn is a resort town with a pleasant waterfront.

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Grantown on Spey is probably 45 min. to an hour from Culloden. I think either Nairn or Grantown would be fine; Grantown would also put you in a position to visit some of the many Speyside distilleries, or move east toward the Aberdeenshire highlands or coast.

Back in the west, have a look at Plockton, a very picturesque village not far on the (non-Skye) side of the Kyle bridge. Palm trees on the waterfront, a couple of quite nice hotels and pubs, and plenty of scenes from <i>Hamish MacBeth</i> if you're a viewer of that series. Touring Skye is easy from there.

Sheeyoot, we just stayed in a b&b outside Inverness. Fact is, you're better off staying IN Inverness for seeing the sites in that region. Plus, Dunrobin Castle is great and it's north of Inverness.

>>Sheeyoot, we just stayed in a b&b outside Inverness.<<

Operative word being <i>outside</i>. The problem w/ staying IN central Inverness is it is a busy city. You can stay anywhere at all since you will have a car. Any village/town/farmhouse B&B w/i 10 or 15 miles is good. Look at Nairn, Cawdor, anywhere on the Black Isle, near Beauly, Culloden, Drumnadrochit, Strathpeffer, all would be fine.

Well, I also read a trip report from someone who stayed in Nairn and was very negative about the town. Then again, her entire trip report was quite negative about everything - which is why I posted this.

Thanks for the ideas. You have given me something to work with.

We stayed in Nairn. Nothing negative to report, nor anything outstanding, just a pleasant waterfront.

Thank you, Michael. I figured it was just her opinion. I appreciate the input.