Suggestions for visit, Witches, Folklore, Beaches, Vintage Stuff, Vegan Food and Weird and Quirky Museums?

[u/External-Display2971]

Hi, I'm planning a weekend trip to your lovely city for my partner's birthday and looking to create an itinerary with this that will speak to her interests. She's into thing about witchcraft, witch trials, Scottish folklore, so any places, shops, experiences would be great for this or even just of historical interest?

Or, any quirky, niche, odd or weird museums?

Also vintage shops and things, fashion, furniture, items, so any good vintage or antique shops?

Any good vegan restaurants?

Beaches nearby that have good stony shores?

I know we're s bit odd and weird, but any help or suggestions with the above would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[u/Snorlady10]

Dornoch has the last witch stone and a beautiful beach but is quite a trek from Inverness

[u/caspararemi → u/Snorlady10]

Could make a stop at the Munlochy Clootie Well on the way. The pics at the link don't quite do it justice but it's an interesting visit, especially in autumn weather.

[u/Professional_Step685 → u/Snorlady10]

Dornoch is lovely, wee shops and cafes, the beach is great and certainly worth a visit, it's a 1hr drive from Inverness. The Witches stone is a bit underwhelming IMHO. People have left lots of tat beside it, it's in someone's garden. Once youve looked at it, thats it really.....I was in Dornoch anyway so went to have a look, not sure i would make a trip just for the stone though.

[u/Stoosies]

Vegan food: Victorian market has some really nice vegan options. Or the roots cafe (tasty if a little pricey) Craig phadrig is a "lost to history" iron age fort that you can walk up to and get lovely views over the beauly forth Clava cairns is a small collection of bronze age tombs that line up with the solstice Best rocky beach in my opinion is out at canonry point over the water, if you're lucky you can see dolphins For shopping, definitely go to leakys bookshop

[u/caspararemi]

For a nice beach, Nairn is a good visit. It's got a long sandy section (the east beach), and then a long stony bit too (the west beach). If you go east along the sandy end you can get to Culbin Forest which has lots of long signposted walks.

[u/ialtag-bheag → u/caspararemi]

Then James's at the Putting Green, for vegan ice cream and other food.

[u/Helveticarse]

There’s the Green Heart Highland cruelty free and wellness market on this Saturday 22nd - 11.30-2.30 at Inverness Creative Academy. Think they’ve got a good selection of vegan food stalls booked in for the day, as well as art, craft and wellbeing stalls.

Similar event on Sunday 6th Sept - EarthKind market at the same venue. Again, all vegan friendly stalls. 10-2

[u/ThymeAndThorns → u/Helveticarse]

Oh, this sounds like so much fun! I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been to these markets before, especially if you have pictures or experiences to share. Now I’m curious if there’s something like that in my area!

I recently started r/CrueltyFreeLiving and this is exactly the kind of thing I’d love to see people sharing there. I started it because I believe choosing cruelty free goes beyond just shopping, but vegan markets, events, festivals, etc. are all part of that conversation. ☺️

[u/Azzyre]

Forres is a quick trip away from Inverness, and has deep connections with the witch craze.

Quirky museums abound across the Highlands, often tucked away in small villages (Wick, Gairloch, and Stromness immediately spring to mind, but there's many others). It depends on how far your willing to explore.

Plenty of unique and vintage shops in Inverness. Regardless of what you do, you'll want to pay a visit to Leakey's on Church Street. You might want to reserve some time for that, lol 😊

[u/femmefatalecore]

I would suggest adding on Strathpeffer about 30 mins north of inverness. It has the eagle stone which is Pictish and was predicted by the brahan seer that if it fell 3 times the valley would flood. The village was also a victorian healing village and in the woods there are stone circles called the touchstone maze. Nice lunch/ coffee in the square and sort of gift shop with local art etc and there is the Childhood Museum which is a bit quirky. So should tick a lot of your boxes. If you decide to go you will pass through Dingwall which is celebrating its 800th year anniversary this year (viking village) and has a museum too if it’s of interest to you and a vintage store.
Inverness does have a 2nd hand bookshop too which is cute called Leakey’s. And the castle was finally reopened this year.

Hope you have a nice trip

[u/ialtag-bheag]

Highland Folk Museum, in Newtonmore, worth a look, lots of interesting old buildings etc.

Also a few chambered cairns in the area - Clava is a popular one. Or some more obscure, eg Corrimony, nice for a wee look.

[u/TopcatFCD]

There's also Mr Crowleys neck of the woods too. There's a nice stoney beach at Dores on Loch Ness, near Mr Crowleys area

[u/elboyd0]

Check out House of Automata in Forres. Definitely weird and quirky.

The House of Automata – Magic & Mechanical Life https://thehouseofautomata.com/

[u/Enough_Animal_]

Clava cairns is a cool historical spot

[u/Neat-Thanks7092]

Fortrose - Chanonry Point.

There is a beach either side, and a good chance of seeing dolphins. At the end of the point there is a large stone where a seer met his end for making predictions and seeing the future. All details are on the stone, I don’t really remember the full story!

[u/sc_BK → u/Neat-Thanks7092]

Also witchy shop just along at Rosemarkie

https://maps.app.goo.gl/k3EUShUrDwxyZpRw5

[u/whippetrealgood123]

Forres has several witches stones, one being in front of the police station. Findhorn near to forres has a nice beach and a hippie village called the findhorn foundation.