SIXT Car Hire Inverness

Traffic Information

Inverness is the Gateway to the Highlands and many people choose to fly to Inverness Airport (INV) in the first instance. The airport is situated at Dalcross which is 9 miles to the east of the city. Once you have picked up your car hire at Inverness airport you will find that it is an easy drive on the main A 96 trunk road to the city. If you are arriving by train your journey will terminate in the city centre close to our main Inverness office.

With your own rental vehicle at your disposal, you are now free to explore the city and its outlying region at your leisure. The A 9 connects Inverness to Aviemore and the south and you will enjoy driving Scotland's longest road north over the magnificent Moray Firth via the Kessock Bridge. The A 82 road also passes through Inverness and provides a useful link to the airport and the Dalcross industrial estate for business visitors. Pay and display parking is available in the city centre as well as spaces at various parking facilities such as the Old Town Rose Street Multi-Storey near the station and the Cathedral parking area on the opposite bank of the River Ness - all of which can be found quickly using your Sat Nav system.

SIXT Tip: See More of the Rugged Highlands

The city lies on the River Ness and its well laid out road and bridge system is easy to navigate although none of the main roads that traverses the city centre is entirely dual carriageway. The older part of the city tends to have shorter more winding streets and there is a pedestrianised zone that ends at Inverness Castle. Car rental in Inverness is a smart choice since local bus services don't always show the destination and tend to end at around 7 pm.

Car hire allows you to explore historic sites like the Old Church or St. Andrew's Cathedral, a magnificent structure with square towers on the bank of the River Ness. A highlight for most people is the chance to drive to Loch Ness, home of Scotland's most famous monster while others prefer to shop in the Eastgate Centre or load up their clubs for trips to the city's golf courses.

Sight Seeing Information

The small village of Aviemore was virtually unknown before the Cairngorm Ski area was developed in 1960. Today, many visitors to Inverness take advantage of the city's proximity to Aviemore for a weekend of skiing or a trip on the UK's highest funicular railway which can be accessed from the car park at Coire Cas.

Distances to Aviemore

• From Inverness Airport: 36.1 miles about 45 minutes
• From Inverness city centre: 28 miles about 30 minutes

A must for Macbeth fans, Cawdor Castle was the setting for William Shakespeare's famous play. The scenic route also passes Culloden, site of one of the most famous defeats of the Scots by the English invaders.

Distances to Cawdor Castle

• From Inverness Airport: 7.1 miles about 13 minutes
• From Inverness city centre: 14.6 miles about 28 minutes

No visit to Inverness is complete without a trip to Loch Ness. This scenic body of water is said to be home to Nessie, the most famous monster in Scotland.

Distances to Loch Ness

• From Inverness Airport: 22.6 miles about 41 minutes
• From Inverness city centre: 13.3 miles about 26 minutes

Business Destinations

Inverness has previously been named one of the top 20 UK destinations for tourists but the city also attracts business visitors who take advantage of its proximity to major whisky distilleries like Tomatin. The city is also within easy reach of the Inverness Airport Business Park at Dalcross.

Distance to Inverness Airport Business Park

• From Inverness city centre: 9 miles about 15 minutes

Distance to Tomatin Distillery

• From Inverness Airport: 22 miles about 40 minutes
• From Inverness city centre: 13 miles about 25 minutes