Dog-Friendly Walks & Parks in Inverness

A chain of small wooded islands in the middle of the River Ness, linked by elegant Victorian suspension footbridges and reached on foot from the city centre in about fifteen minutes. Flat, tarmacked paths wind under mature Scots pine and sycamore past carved benches and fast, clear water, with herons, ducks and the occasional otter along the way. This is the single best free dog walk in Inverness and works in any weather.

Thomas Telford's Caledonian Canal runs right through Inverness, and the flat, wide towpath from Muirtown Basin out to the sea lock at Clachnaharry is one of the easiest and most rewarding walks in the city. You pass the Muirtown flight of locks, a swing bridge, and open views to the Beauly Firth, with plenty of spots for a dog to watch the boats. It is level the whole way and ideal for older or short-legged dogs.

A managed forest on a hill just west of the city, threaded with waymarked woodland trails that climb through pine and birch to an Iron Age vitrified hillfort dating to around 300 BC. The paths are popular with local dog walkers, well drained, and give occasional views over Inverness and the firth from the top. A gentle uphill effort rewarded with quiet woodland and history.

A pair of adjoining riverside parks next to the Ness Islands, with wide lawns, a boating pond, and a much-loved miniature railway that runs in summer. It is a relaxed, flat green space that pairs perfectly with the Ness Islands loop for a longer walk, and there is plenty of open grass for a dog to stretch out under control between the family attractions.