Capital of the Highlands, Inverness is an excellent touring base with good road, rail and air connections. If you stay in the city you can do lots of day trips and tours, with its suspension bridges across the River Ness and old stone buildings, it is a pretty place which is well-known for its floral displays (frequently a winner of awards in the Bloom of Britain competitions). In December 2000, it was one of only 3 towns to be awarded city status by the Queen. Walk down along the river banks (in the direction of the Caledonian Canal) and you’ll find the Ness Islands where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of the shops. Cross the river on the little bridges and you can visit Bught Park.