Inverness - Capital of the Highlands Quiz

Answer: Loch Ness

The centre of the city of Inverness is only a few miles north of the top end of Loch Ness, either via the River Ness or by road along the A82. The city shares part of its name with the famously deep and mysterious loch, which is the largest lake by volume in Britain.

The city's shops are also a good place for Loch Ness Monster enthusiasts to head for if they want to purchase any "Nessie" related memorabilia.

Answer: Leakey's Bookshop

Although it can be difficult to know the exact number of books in a bookshop, Leakey's of Inverness is certainly one of the largest in Scotland, and is a major landmark for book lovers visiting the city. Located in a former church, Leakey's sell a wide range of second-hand and antique books. It is found right in the heart of the city, close to the Old High Church.

Answer: Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle dates back several hundred years, and its location on the banks of the loch make it an ideal place to look for the famous Loch Ness Monster. Edward I is recorded as having captured the castle in 1296. Some of the ruins remaining in the 21st century date from the 13th century, with more recent remains from the 16th century.

Answer: Hootananny

One of the liveliest venues in Inverness, Hootananny is located on the corner of Church Street and Fraser Street in central Inverness. The ceilidh is a traditional Gaelic form of dancing in which a caller announces the moves that you need to make. You can ceilidh anywhere from homes to weddings, but venues such as Hootananny remain a popular choice across Scotland.

Answer: Botanic Gardens

Formerly known as the Floral Hall and Gardens, the garden was opened in 1993 by Prince Edward. The gardens include a Tropical House and a Cactus House. Many of the displays can be enjoyed year round, and locally raised plants are available for purchase.

Answer: Falcon Square

Falcon Square was named for John Falconer, who created a foundry in Inverness in 1858, at the terminus of the railway line. Parts of the foundry were moved to Falcon Square in the 1990s and the buildings now house shops.

Answer: Inverness Ice Centre

The Inverness Ice Centre is located just west of the River Ness, in an area of the city that also contains the main leisure centre and sports pitches (Bught Park). Whilst other sports such as skating and ice hockey are available at the centre, the sport alluded to was curling, invented in Scotland in the 16th century.

The oldest known curling stone is now kept in the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum in the city of Stirling.

Answer: Culloden Moor

The village of Culloden is only three miles from Inverness, and the Battle of Culloden saw the end of the Jacobite rising. The supporters of The Young Pretender, Charles Edward Stuart, were defeated and slaughtered by forces led by the Duke of Cumberland.

Answer: Bught Park

Bught Park is the largest municipal park in Inverness and is located near the city centre on the banks of the River Ness. The annual Inverness Highland Games moved to the park in 1949 after they outgrew their original home at North Meeting Park (clearly plenty of room is needed for events such as 'tossing the caber').

The park also hosts regular musical festivals and provides sports facilities as well as some open space for the city's inhabitants.

Answer: Moray Firth

The Moray Firth is a large sea inlet on Scotland's north-east coast. The River Ness enters the Moray Firth close to the city of Inverness at what would roughly be the 'point' of the Firth's triangular shape. Other rivers that flow out into this body of water include the River Spey and the River Findhorn.

The south coast of the Firth is in Aberdeenshire, while the northern coastline is part of Caithness - the area that also includes Scotland's most northerly mainland settlement, John O'Groats.