Otherworldly Inverness: A Story Walk Through Thresholds

Inverness is not just a city. It is a crossing place.

River and hill.

Sea and mountain.

Past and present.

The seen and the half-remembered.

This three-hour storytelling walk invites you to step into the thresholds of Inverness, where myth, folklore, history, and landscape meet.

Our journey begins at Tomnahurich Hill, long believed to be a gateway to the Otherworld. Among woodland paths and quiet gravestones, we explore the tale of the fiddlers who were invited in to play, and the enduring connection between fairy lore, burial grounds, and the spaces between worlds.

From the hill, we descend toward the water.

Crossing the gentle footbridges of the Ness Islands, we step into another kind of threshold, land held within the river’s steady flow. Here, stories of kelpies surface. Not only the darker tales of those drawn beneath the water, but also a rare Highland story where transformation becomes a choice rather than a tragedy.

As we walk, we turn toward the mysterious people who once shaped this region. From the hillfort of Craig Phadrig to symbol stones scattered across the Highlands, we explore the lingering presence of the Picts, a culture that still stands at the edge of knowing.

Along the way, we touch on nearby stone circles and the quiet stories attached to them, tales of thresholds that would not be crossed. A reminder, perhaps, that the land remembers its alignments, even when we forget.

Threaded throughout are shaping forces, the Cailleach who forms mountains and seasons, or giants whose defeat left their imprint on landscape and legend.

We return gently to the everyday world, finishing near the Old High Church graveyard beside the well-loved Leakey’s Bookshop, a place where stories continue to live and breathe.

This is not an everyday tour.

It is a slow walk through layered ground.

A chance to notice where the veil feels thinner.

If you are drawn to folklore, myth, landscape, and meaning, and to experiencing Scotland beyond spectacle, you are warmly invited to step into the story.

Duration: 3 hours. Tour is not on every week, please check website for the dates and availabiity.

Leaves from: Tomnahurich Cemetery, 118 Glenurquhart Road, Main entrance, and we finish at the Old High Church, in Inverness.

Pace: Unhurried, with regular pauses

Group Size: Small and intimate

Age Guidance: Suitable for ages 14 and over. The themes explored include folklore, history, and reflective storytelling that are best suited to older children and adults.

Terrain: Easy walking, gentle incline at Tomnahurich

Bring: Comfortable footwear, weather-appropriate layers, curiosity

Weather: As we walk in Highland weather, drizzle can add atmosphere. However, in the event of official weather warnings or heavy rain, the tour will be cancelled and a full refund issued.