Stepping further back in time, seek out the mysterious Clava Cairns - prehistoric burial chambers and standing stones set atmospherically amongst the trees not far from Culloden.

To the west, Loch Ness is popular, with boat trips in the hopes of seeing Nessie, the famous - but elusive - monster! While in the area, be sure to visit nearby Glen Affric which is one of the most unspoilt glens in Scotland.

Another day's excursion westwards could take you to Ullapool, then down the scenic west coast to Inverewe Gardens, past sandy beaches and towering mountains. Or why not head north to Dornoch, Golspie and fairytale Dunrobin Castle? You can even drive to John o'Groats and back in a day. Look out for the puffins!

How about going back to the time of the Steam Railway?! At Boat of Garten, the Strathspey Steam Railway travels to Aviemore, and as you chug along at a sedate pace, the vista of the Cairngorms unfolds. On certain days you can order lunch onboard.

From Inverness the railway line westwards through Ross-shire to Kyle of Lochalsh takes you on one of the most scenic train journeys in the UK. Well worth a day trip especially if you've hired a car and want a break from driving. Get the local bus from Kyle to visit the famous Eilean Donan Castle or take a boat trip in the waters by the Isle of Skye.

Nairn is an ideal base for trips like these and we have many more you can choose from. For those without a car, there are various daily coach trips from Inverness to many of these places.

Nairn has its own thriving arts circle. The local intimate theatre, around the corner from Ceol Mara is run by a band of enthusiastic volunteers, and in the summer months they usually have two plays running concurrently. Jazz nights are popular in Nairn and the town hosts a Jazz Week each year in August. In the winter months Clifton Hotel and Brodie Castle host a series of musical evenings, classical theatre, opera, etc.

Inverness - just 16 miles from Nairn - is home to Eden Court Theatre which offers a varied programme of entertainment throughout the year including concerts, opera and cinema. There's always much going on in the Highland Capital whenever you visit.

Over the summer, Highland Games take place in many local towns including Nairn, Inverness, Strathpeffer and Fort Augustus. There are also local fêtes and fairs, music festivals, sheepdog trials and alsorts of special events.

Our local riverside walk is very popular with the visitors. This 2-3 mile walk gently meanders along the banks of the River Nairn, where you can spot salmon lying in the deep pools. Or you can just sit on the many seats provided and enjoy the tranquility and the restful sound of the water.

Culbin Forest, 3 miles from Nairn, is one of our most popular woodland walks. Ideal for bird watching and spotting the red squirrel. There is a complete trail devoted to the fauna within the woodlands and Dr. Bellamy had much pleasure in opening the new development.

Another of our favourite walks is around Loch-an-Eilean in the foothills of the Cairngorms. Again the peaceful atmosphere and wonderful scenery is a must. Nearby you can also walk around Loch Morlich which is popular for watersports activities, or take the chairlift 4000 feet up Cairn Gorm itself and admire the views all the way to Inverness.

Also in the same area, the Rothiemurchus Estate offers range guided walks and Landrover tours where you will be introduced to their famous Highland Cattle. Mountain biking, clay pigeon shooting, trout fishing, falconry displays and deer stalking are all available locally. Horse riding can be arranged in several places including Nairn and Loch Ness.

The children will no doubt enjoy a trip to Darnaway Farm (just 9 miles from Nairn), together with the Highland Wildlife Park, Folk Museum and Landmark heritage park with adventure playground which are situated in the Cairngorm area. Don't miss the herd of reindeer by Glenmore Forest!

When staying in Nairn you may wish to walk along sections of The Speyside Way - a waymarked long distance trail starting on the seashore at Speybay and heading inland to Tomintoul, known as the highest village in the Highlands.

You can see the ospreys in their nest at the RSPB reserve at Boat of Garten, near Aviemore. But you don't have to go far for bird watching as Ceol Mara overlooks the Moray Firth so it is possible to see numerous species of sea birds. During the late summer months along the banks of the Spey, you can see circling ospreys hunting wild salmon and fresh trout to fee their young.

Ceol Mara is situated between two Championship Golf Courses, one of which was home to the Walker Cup in September 1999. There are over 30 courses within an hour's drive of Nairn. For something slightly different, why not try the 9-hole course in the grounds of Cawdor Castle?

The River Nairn offers some fine salmon, grilse and seatrout fishing. Permits can be obtained from Pat Fraser's on the High Street in Nairn. Ten miles away the River Findhorn can be fished on the lower stretches of the water around the town of Forres, and permits are available. Thirty minutes away the River Spey offers some of the finest salmon and trout fishing in Scotland. Permits can be purchased from Allen's Tackle Shop in Boat of Garten or from the Strathspey Estate Office in Grantown-on-Spey.

There are numerous lochs within easy reach of Nairn where a wonderful day's fishing can be enjoyed amongst some of our high ground and woodland areas. Millbuies Loch outside Elgin being one of the most popular in the area, together with our local Geddes pond.