81-757: Stagecoach Highlands is a bus operator based in Inverness that runs services in the Scottish Highlands as well as on the Orkney Islands and Isle of Skye . It is a subsidiary of the Stagecoach Group formed in 2008 following the purchase of the independent Rapsons Group, and is today part of the Stagecoach North Scotland group of companies. The Rapsons Group was Scotland's largest independent operator, formed as
162-489: A bus war with Highland that saw a large number of Highland drivers defect to Stagecoach after they received a pay cut. Highland soon scaled down the level of its competition against Stagecoach, and soon after, Stagecoach purchased the Inverness and Tain operations of Highland Scottish, becoming the dominant operator of Inverness area bus services. In October 1995, Highland Scottish was split in two, with Rapsons retaining
243-543: A clear pathway through the wooded terrain. Inverness lies on the Great Glen Fault . There are minor earthquakes, usually unnoticed by locals, about every 3 years. The last earthquake to affect Inverness was in 1934. Like most of the United Kingdom , Inverness has an oceanic climate ( Köppen : Cfb ). The climate here is cooler than in more southerly parts of Britain. The highest temperature recorded
324-562: A former SBG company. In 1996, Stagecoach Bluebird were granted a royal warrant from Elizabeth II for bus and coach services. Following the closure of the Deeside Railway , which provided royal trains from Balmoral Castle to Aberdeen, in 1966, Northern and its successors provided coach transport to the castle for the royal family's summer holidays. The warrant expired with the death of Elizabeth II in 2022. A Stagecoach Bluebird bus driver died in hospital following an assault by
405-644: A group of companies serving the Highlands & Islands and based from its headquarters at Seafield Road, Inverness . The company traded as Rapsons Coaches, Highland Country Buses, Orkney & Causeway Coaches and also operated on long-distance Scottish Citylink and National Express contracts. Rapsons operated over 250 vehicles with around 400 employees based at depots in Inverness, Aviemore , Fort William , Portree , Wick , Thurso & Kirkwall . While regular bus services traded as Highland Country, longer distance, express and private contract work operated under
486-539: A network of services throughout Aberdeen under the CityBus brand and adopting dual-door double deckers , non-standard for Northern but common with Grampian. In response, Grampian would extend its operations outwith Aberdeen and into Northern's rural operating base, and in 1990, planned an ultimately unsuccessful bid to buy out Northern. Outside Aberdeen, Northern saw little to no competition, thanks in part to its largely rural and remote territory. Toward privatisation ,
567-526: A parliament in the castle to which the northern chieftains were summoned, of whom three were arrested for defying the king's command. Clan Munro defeated Clan Mackintosh in 1454 at the Battle of Clachnaharry just west of the city. Clan Donald and their allies stormed the castle during the Raid on Ross in 1491. In 1562, during the progress undertaken to suppress Huntly's insurrection, Mary, Queen of Scots ,
648-621: A pilot autonomous bus service connecting the Inverness Campus with a nearby retail & business park, running in parallel to a similar trial conducted in Hannover , Germany. The bus, manufactured by Navya SAS , carries 15 passengers, including four standees, and will operate in Inverness until March 2023. Stagecoach in Inverness formerly ran the 'JET' service from Inverness Airport to Inverness city centre, Ardersier , Nairn , Forres and Elgin , launched in 2007 by Rapsons with
729-522: A population of 56,969 in 2012. In 2016, it had a population of 63,320. Inverness is one of Europe's fastest growing cities, with a quarter of the Highland population living in or around it. In 2008, Inverness was ranked fifth out of 189 British cities for its quality of life , the highest of any Scottish city. Much of what is known about Inverness's prehistory comes from archaeological work that takes place before construction/development work as part of
810-583: A quarter of all the University of the Highlands and Islands' students, and 30% of those studying to degree level. In 2015 the college moved to a new campus to the East of the A9. The original outline planning application forms a vision for the development over the next thirty years. The application includes: The 80-hectare (200-acre) campus at Beechwood, just off the A9 east of Inverness, is considered to be one of
891-672: A separate subsidiary of Highland Country. In March 2006, Rapsons gave up most of their long-distance coach contracts with Scottish Citylink and National Express. Later in November, around 200 Rapsons workers affiliated with the Transport and General Workers' Union planned a series of 24-hour strikes in a pay dispute, with union officials wanting driver's pay equal to their Stagecoach competitors at £8 an hour. The strikes were prevented when workers were offered and later accepted an improved pay offer from Rapsons' management. On 16 May 2008, it
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#1732802567761972-651: A silver coin was offered. Tobar na h-Oige ("Well of the Young") is located near Culloden and was known for curing all ailments. Fuaran a' Chragan Bhreag ("Well of the Speckled Rock") is located near Craig Dundain and Fuaran na Capaich ("The Keppoch Well") is located near Culloden. Inverness is also home to the Munlochy Clootie Well . Although a Gaelic name itself, Craig Phadraig is alternatively known as Làrach an Taigh Mhóir , or "the place of
1053-634: A single depot in Kirkwall . Between October 2021 and January 2022, the Orkney operation received 25 MCV Evora -bodied Volvo B8RLEs and nine Optare Solo SRs . Stagecoach is the primary bus operator on the Isle of Skye , operating buses out of a single depot in Portree . The Skye operation also took delivery of MCV Evoras, with eleven being delivered in November 2022 for use on both local and school services in
1134-406: A small sea loch which was situated beside Morrisons supermarket, was filled in during the 19th century and lives on only in the name of Lochgorm Warehouse. Abban Street stems from the word àban , a word of local Gaelic dialect meaning a small channel of water. Many prominent points around Inverness retain fully Gaelic names. In the colonial period, a Gaelic-speaking settlement named New Inverness
1215-609: A teenage passenger in Elgin bus station on 2 February 2024. The Stagecoach Group announced in June 2024 that it had opened a review of its Bluebird operations as a result of the cost of operating the business making it increasingly unsustainable to run. Options that have been considered by the group include the potential closure of Insch and Stonehaven depots, as well as transferring fleet engineering from Elgin depot to Stagecoach Highlands ' Inverness headquarters. In August 2024, following
1296-620: Is Inverness College UHI which offers further and higher education courses to those of school leaving age and above. The city also has a new Centre for Health Sciences adjacent to Raigmore Hospital. Inverness College is situated in the city and is a part of the University of the Highlands and Islands , a federation of 15 colleges and research institutions in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland delivering higher education . With around 8,420 students, Inverness College hosts around
1377-469: Is a Scottish bus company which operates bus services in the areas of Aberdeen , Aberdeenshire and Moray . It is a subsidiary of the Stagecoach Group . The company held a royal warrant granted by Elizabeth II for bus and coach services in 1996, which expired with the death of Elizabeth II in 2022. From its head office on Guild Street, Aberdeen, Stagecoach Bluebird covers an operating range stretching over Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray. It
1458-788: Is almost directly opposite the Academy Street entrance to the Market. From the 1970s, the Eastgate Shopping Centre was developed to the east of High Street, with a substantial extension being completed in 2003. The city has a number of different education providers. Inverness is catered for by about a dozen primary schools including Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis , a specialised institution situated at Slackbuie. There are five secondary schools: Inverness High School , Inverness Royal Academy , Charleston Academy , Millburn Academy , and Culloden Academy . Additionally there
1539-718: Is no longer in use. Until the late 19th century, four mussel beds existed on the delta mouth of the River Ness: Scalp Phàdraig Mhòir ("Scalp of Great Patrick"), Rònach ("Place of the Seals"), Cridhe an Uisge ("The Water Heart") and Scalp nan Caorach ("Scalp of the Sheep") – these mussel beds were all removed to allow better access for fishing boats and ships. Allt Muineach (The Thicket River) now runs underground between Culcabock Roundabout and Millburn Roundabout. An Loch Gorm (The Turquoise Loch),
1620-471: Is regarded as the capital of the Highlands. Historically it served as the county town of the county of Inverness-shire . Inverness lies near two important battle sites: the 11th-century battle of Blàr nam Fèinne against Norway which took place on the Aird , and the 18th century Battle of Culloden which took place on Culloden Moor . It is the northernmost city in the United Kingdom and lies within
1701-551: Is the largest operator in the north east of Scotland and is responsible for urban, rural and interurban services in the towns of Alford , Ballater , Braemar , Buckie , Elgin , Forres , Fraserburgh , Fyvie , Macduff , Mintlaw , Peterhead and Stonehaven as well as city services in Aberdeen. Depots are also located in these towns. Bluebird also provide coaches for Scottish Citylink services, mainly from Aberdeen to Perth , Dundee , Glasgow and Edinburgh . The company
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#17328025677611782-696: Is the main hospital in Inverness and the entire Highland region. The present hospital opened in 1970, replacing wartime wards dating from 1941. Raigmore is a teaching hospital for the universities of Aberdeen and Stirling . A Centre for Health Science (CfHS) is located behind the hospital. This is funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise , the Scottish Government and Johnson & Johnson . Phase I of this opened in early 2007, with phase II and phase III housing The Diabetes Institute opening in 2009. The University of Stirling moved its nursing and midwifery teaching operations from Raigmore Hospital to
1863-477: Is vital for the city's future economic growth. Ultimately both sections received funding from the Inverness and Highland city-region deal. The eastern section now also includes a commitment to upgrade the Longman Roundabout to a grade separated interchange. The east section will bypass Inshes Roundabout, a notorious traffic bottleneck, using a new road linking the existing Southern Distributor with
1944-683: The Bluebird Buses licence. In late 2011, the depot at Burnett Road closed, with the company now operating from the former Rapsons Inverness depot at Seafield Road, Inverness, which was reopened by Stagecoach. In April 2018, Stagecoach Highlands announced it was closing its Fort William depot in Caol , which housed eight buses and employed 16 members of staff; the depot was subsequently purchased by local independent operator Shiel Buses in July. A majority of Stagecoach Highlands buses operate in or around
2025-807: The Continental Army and that the Scottish Gaels would do well to emigrate to the New World before the King and the landlords take every farthing they have left. The Rose Street drill hall was completed in around 1908. On 7 September 1921, the first British Cabinet meeting to be held outside London took place in the Inverness Town House , when David Lloyd George , on holiday in Gairloch , called an emergency meeting to discuss
2106-780: The Great Glen (Gleann Mòr) at its northeastern extremity where the River Ness enters the Beauly Firth . At the latest, a settlement was established by the 6th century with the first royal charter being granted by Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim ( King David I ) in the 12th century. Inverness and Inverness-shire are closely linked to various influential clans, including Clan Mackintosh, Clan Fraser and Clan MacKenzie. The population of Inverness grew from 40,969 in 2001 to 46,969 in 2012, according to World Population Review . The Greater Inverness area, including Culloden and Westhill , had
2187-645: The Orkney Islands with the acquisition of four separate bus companies, including the two largest, James D. Peace and Shalder Coaches. The acquisition of Shalder Coaches also allowed Rapsons to expand into Shetland , with the company trading as Shetland Coaches from a depot at Lower Scord, Scalloway . Rapsons pulled out of Shetland in 2003 after they lost all service contracts when going for an increase in rates, while Rapsons' Orkney operations were rebranded Orkney Coaches in April 2005, with Orkney Coaches operated as
2268-610: The Picts . In AD 569, it was visited by St Columba with the intention of converting the Pictish king Brude , who is supposed to have resided in the vitrified fort on Craig Phadrig , on the western edge of the city. A church or a monk's cell is thought to have been established by early Celtic monks on St Michael's Mount, a mound close to the river, now the site of the Old High Church and graveyard. The first royal charter
2349-457: The A9 and the A96, both via grade separated interchanges. This proposed new link road would separate strategic traffic from local traffic. It will also accommodate the proposed developments at Inverness Shopping Park, West Seafield Business Park, Inverness Campus and housing developments at Ashton Farm, Stratton and Culloden West. An indicative timescale for completion of this section is the dualling of
2430-567: The A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen. The project will include upgrading the remaining 86 miles (138 km) of single carriageway along the route to dual carriageway at a cost of £3 billion. The first section to be dualled will be the section between Inverness and Auldearn . This will include a bypass of Nairn and the construction of a number of grade separated interchanges along the route. Stagecoach Bluebird Stagecoach Bluebird (also known by its legal operating name Bluebird Buses Ltd , and formerly Northern Scottish Omnibuses Ltd )
2511-507: The A96 from Inverness to Nairn. The west section is intended to provide an alternate route connecting the A9 with the A82. This will bypass the city centre by providing additional crossings of the River Ness and Caledonian Canal. At the west end, two options for crossing the River Ness and Caledonian Canal were developed. One involving a high level vertical opening bridge which will allow
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2592-638: The Black (or Waterloo) Bridge – and by one of the town's suspension foot bridges, the Greig Street Bridge . The traditional city centre was a triangle bounded by High Street, Church Street and Academy Street, within which Union Street and Queensgate are cross streets parallel to High Street. Between Union Street and Queensgate is the Victorian Market, which contains a large number of small shops. The main Inverness railway station
2673-680: The Caledonian Canal and the River Ness in the Torvean area, southwest of the town. The bypass, known as the Inverness Trunk Road Link (TRL), is aimed at resolving Inverness's transport problems and has been split into two separate projects, the east and west sections. In late 2008 the controversial decision by the Scottish Government not to include the full Inverness bypass in its transport plan for
2754-470: The Caledonian Canal. This second swing bridge would operate in tandem with the current swing bridge enabling a constant flow of traffic. The works started on site on the 10 June 2019 and include a roundabout, realignment of General Booth Road onto the A82, and a second bridge across the Caledonian Canal. The works were programmed to be complete in December 2020. However, due to a number of construction delays
2835-530: The CfHS. The University of the Highlands and Islands also has strong links with the Centre through its Faculty of Health. Most of the traditional industries such as distilling have been replaced by high-tech businesses, such as the design and manufacture of diabetes diagnostic kits (by LifeScan ). Highlands and Islands Enterprise has principally funded the Centre for Health Science to attract more businesses in
2916-569: The Gaelic poem The Lament of the North . In the poem, MacCionnich mocks the Highland gentry for becoming absentee landlords , evicting their tenants en masse in favor of sheep, and of "spending their wealth uselessly", in London . He accuses King George III both of tyranny and of steering the ship of state into shipwreck. MacCionnich also argues that truth is on the side of George Washington and
2997-717: The Great house". Several Gaelic place names are now largely obsolete due to the feature being removed or forgotten. Drochaid an Easain Duibh ("Bridge by the Small Dark Waterfall"), referred to in the tale Aonghas Mòr Thom na h-Iubhraich agus na Sìthichean ("Great Angus of Tomnahurich and the Fairies") has not yet been located within Inverness and Slag nam Mèirleach (meaning "Robbers' hollow"), adjacent to Dores Road in Holm
3078-577: The Hebrides, particularly by the MacDonald Lords of the Isles in the 15th century. In 1187, one Dòmhnall Bàn (Donald Ban) led islanders in a battle at Torvean against men from Inverness Castle led by the governor's son, Donnchadh Mac an Tòisich (Duncan Mackintosh). Both leaders were killed in the battle, and Dòmhnall Bàn is said to have been buried in a large cairn near the river, close to where
3159-555: The Highlands, as well as neighbouring Moray , subsequently, the project was extended by a further 10 years to 2035, with Michael Gove stating that the A9 had to be dualled north of Inverness to Nigg in order to assist with the UK Government's " Levelling Up " programme at the port. In July 2013, the Scottish Government announced a plan to install average speed cameras on the A9 between Perth and Inverness. This has been undertaken with an aim to reduce accidents and fatalities on
3240-739: The Jacobites and they blew it up. Culloden Moor lies nearby, and was the site of the Battle of Culloden in 1746, which ended the Jacobite rising of 1745–46 . In 1783, the year that saw the end of the American Revolution and the beginning of the Highland Clearances in Inverness-shire , Cionneach mac Cionnich (1758–1837), a poet from Clan MacKenzie who was born at Castle Leather near Inverness, composed
3321-587: The Late Iron Age (1st millennium AD) with most activity taking place in the Early Neolithic (4th millennium BC). The archaeologists also found a piece of flint from Yorkshire that showed that people in Inverness may have been trading with Yorkshire during the Neolithic. Between 1996 and 1997, CFA Archaeology (then part of the University of Edinburgh ) undertook excavations of crop marks in
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3402-684: The Peterhead and Fraserburgh areas were branded Buchan Bluebird. Though its operations remained largely the same since its formation in 1985 (and earlier) and with little competition, Northern Scottish was not one of the most profitable of the Scottish Bus Group subsidiaries, largely due to the sparse population in its large operating area. However, the company was successfully privatised, being bought by Perth-based transport group Stagecoach for £5.7m in March 1991 in their first acquisition of
3483-626: The Rapsons name. Rapsons were founded in 1945 but came further into business between the 1970s to 1980s. In August 1991, Highland Scottish was sold to a consortium made up of Rapsons Coaches and Clansman Travel and Leisure, the holding company for Scottish Citylink, which had recently been purchased from the Scottish Bus Group through a management and employee buyout , for £800,000. In March 1993, ownership of Highland Scottish passed wholly to Rapsons. Prior to Highland Scottish's sale,
3564-589: The Roman Empire. Similarly, the Bronze Age site showed signs of metal production: finds included ceramic piece-moulds designed for the casting of Late Bronze Age leaf-shaped swords. A 93 troy ounces (2.89 kilograms) silver chain dating to 500–800 CE was found just to the south of Torvean, during the excavation of the Caledonian Canal , in 1809. Inverness was one of the chief strongholds of
3645-415: The Scottish Government announced that it will upgrade the entire road from Perth to Inverness to dual carriageway. Work on this project is expected to start in 2015 ws scheduled to be completed in 2025, at a cost of £3 billion. However, in 2023, this project was announced to be an impossible deadline, with a mere 11 miles having been dualled since it was announced in 2011, to severe uproar from people across
3726-441: The Stone" in Gaelic) owing to the importance of the Clach Na Cudainn stone in the city's history. This large flat stone is now located outside the town hall, by the historic Mercat Cross. The stone was originally at the river Ness, where the towns women took their laundry. They would rest their tubs on the stone, thus it became known as the stone of the tubs - 'clach na cudainn'. The National Records of Scotland define Inverness as
3807-450: The area. [REDACTED] Media related to Stagecoach Highlands at Wikimedia Commons Inverness Inverness ( / ˌ ɪ n v ər ˈ n ɛ s / ; Scots : Innerness ; from the Scottish Gaelic : Inbhir Nis [iɲɪɾʲˈniʃ] , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness ") is a city in the Scottish Highlands , having been granted city status in 2000. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and
3888-467: The city of Inverness, where the company operates the 'Inverness City Network'. Stagecoach has operated a number of battery electric buses on this network; six 'Inverness ElectriCity'-branded electric Optare Solo SRs entered service in June 2015, later followed by 25 Yutong E10s which began entering service around the city from early 2023. In August 2022, Stagecoach Highlands and the Highlands and Islands Strategic Transport Partnership (HiTrans) launched
3969-480: The company initially maintained a monopoly over bus services in Inverness, operating minibuses in competition with Inverness Traction, a company formed by former Highland employees in 1988. Inverness Traction entered receivership in April 1989, but were subsequently purchased by Alexander (North East), who too collapsed in November 1989 due to unpaid debts. The assets and services of Inverness Traction were purchased by Stagecoach Holdings , who by 1991, were engaged in
4050-457: The company resurrected the bluebird logo that was once used by Walter Alexander for its coaching operations. Midland Scottish , itself a fellow SBG subsidiary and once also part of the Alexander's company, had continued to use the same logo, and as it rebranded itself as Midland Bluebird, Northern Scottish began trading as Bluebird Northern. Some vehicles operated in the Elgin area were, however, branded as Moray Bluebird, whilst those operating in
4131-422: The company retained the traditional yellow and cream livery from its SBG predecessor. On the approach to deregulation of the British bus industry in 1986, Northern had a working relationship with Aberdeen city operator Grampian Regional Transport , and operated some services together under the Grampian Scottish name. However, the co-operation would be short lived, and upon deregulation Northern Scottish launched
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#17328025677614212-403: The eastern services under Highland Bus & Coach Ltd while the remainder passed to a new company, Highland Country Buses Ltd, which was bought by National Express for £1.8 million. The two companies continued to exist under separate ownership until August 1998, when Rapsons bought Highland Country Buses back from National Express for £4 million. In 1999, Rapsons began to expand into
4293-412: The ground the castle in which Mac Bethad mac Findláich had, according to much later tradition, murdered Máel Coluim's father Donnchad (Duncan I) , and which stood on a hill around 1 km to the north-east. The strategic location of Inverness has led to many conflicts in the area. Reputedly there was a battle in the early 11th century between Malcolm III and Thorfinn the Mighty at Blar Nam Feinne, to
4374-400: The late 19th century. Several springs which were traditionally thought to have healing qualities exist around Inverness. Fuaran Dearg , which translates as the "Red Spring", is a chalybeate spring located near Dochgarroch. Fuaran a' Chladaich ("The Spring on the Beach") near Bunchrew was once accessed by a causeway from the shore. Although submerged at high tide it continues to bubble and
4455-413: The majority of canal traffic to pass under without the need for opening. The other involved a bridge over the river and an aqueduct under the canal. Both of these designs are technically complex and were considered in detail along by the key stakeholders involved in the project. Ultimately it was decided that a bridge would be constructed over the River Ness and a second swing bridge be constructed over
4536-440: The medical and medical devices business to the area. Inverness is home to Scottish Natural Heritage following that body's relocation from Edinburgh under the auspices of the Scottish Government 's decentralisation strategy. SNH provides a large number of jobs in the area. Inverness City Centre lies on the east bank of the river and is linked to the west side of the town by three road bridges – Ness Bridge, Friars Bridge and
4617-433: The most important developments for the region over the next 20 years. The principal of UHI, James Fraser, said: "This is a flagship development which will provide Inverness with a university campus and vibrant student life. It will have a major impact on the city and on the Highlands and Islands. UHI is a partnership of colleges and research centres throughout the region, and the development of any one partner brings strength to
4698-406: The next 20 years was made. The government's Strategic Transport Projects Review did include the eastern section of the route, which will see the A9 at Inshes linked to the A96. The absence of the TRL's western section, which would include a permanent crossing over the Caledonian Canal and River Ness, sparked dismay among several Highland councillors and business leaders in Inverness who feel the bypass
4779-417: The planning process. Between 2009 and 2010, archaeological work in advance of the creation of flood defences to the south of the city at Knocknagael Farm by GUARD Archaeology discovered an archaeological site that showed humans had been living in the Inverness area from at least 6500 BC, the Late Mesolithic period. That same site showed people living/working in the area from the mid-7th millennium BC into
4860-400: The rest of Scotland – the A9 north to Thurso and Wick, and south to Perth (carrying European Route E15 ) and the Central Belt , the A82 to Glasgow via Fort William and the A96 to Elgin and Aberdeen. Plans are in place to convert the A96 between Inverness and Nairn to a dual carriageway and to construct a southern bypass that would link the A9, A82 and A96 together involving crossings of
4941-435: The road, and will be the second permanent average speed camera scheme in Scotland. As of October 2021, 2 sections of the upgraded route have been opened. In August 2021 the procurement process for the Tomatin to Moy section was started. Once this section is completed, there will be 20 miles (32 km) of continuous dual carriageway south of Inverness. In December 2011, The Scottish Government announced its intention to dual
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#17328025677615022-501: The section was opened in August 2021. In late 2008 the Scottish Government's transport plan for the next 20 years was announced. It brings forward planned improvements to the A9 in an attempt to stimulate the economy and protect jobs. Work costing a total of £8.5 million was undertaken at Moy , Carrbridge , and Bankfoot . Northbound overtaking lanes were created and the carriageway was reconstructed at both Moy and Carrbridge. Junction improvements were also made at Moy. In November 2011
5103-445: The silver chain was found. Local tradition says that the citizens fought off the Clan Donald in 1340 at the Battle of Blairnacoi on Drumderfit Hill, north of Inverness across the Beauly Firth . In the late 14th-early 15 century, Inverness was a symbol of the Duke of Albany's power. On his way to the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, Donald of Islay took the town and burned the bridge over the River Ness. Sixteen years later, James I held
5184-435: The situation in Ireland. The Inverness Formula composed at this meeting was the basis of the Anglo-Irish Treaty . Inverness has experienced rapid economic growth in the 21st century - between 1998 and 2008, Inverness and the rest of the central Highlands showed the largest growth of average economic productivity per person in Scotland and the second-greatest growth in the United Kingdom as a whole, with an increase of 86%. It
5265-460: The southwest of the city. Inverness had four traditional fairs, including Legavrik or "Leth-Gheamhradh", meaning midwinter, and Faoilleach. William the Lion (d. 1214) granted Inverness four charters, by one of which it was created a royal burgh . Of the Dominican friary founded by Alexander III in 1233, only one pillar and a worn knight's effigy survive in a secluded graveyard near the town centre. Medieval Inverness suffered regular raids from
5346-452: The support of HiTrans. The route won the award for Scotland's Best Bus Service in 2010, however, the 'JET' branding was replaced with the arrival of eight Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMCs in regular Stagecoach livery for the Inverness Airport corridor in September 2018. Stagecoach operates local and some school bus services on the Mainland island of the Orkney Islands on contract to the Orkney Islands Council , with services operating from
5427-426: The title "Earl of Inverness", following sexual assault allegations being made against him by Virginia Giuffre . In 2019, Inverness residents started a campaign to strip him of that title, stating that "it is inappropriate that Prince Andrew is associated with our beautiful city." Inverness and its immediate hinterland have a large number of originally Gaelic place names, as the area was solidly Gaelic-speaking until
5508-406: The town, Oliver Cromwell built a citadel capable of accommodating 1,000 men, but with the exception of a portion of the ramparts it was demolished at the Restoration . A clock tower today called Cromwell's Tower is located in the Citadel area of Inverness but was actually part of a former hemp cloth factory built c. 1765. Inverness played a role in the Jacobite rising of 1689 . In early May, it
5589-456: The urban area west of the A9. To produce a greater Inverness figure including the villages of Balloch , Culloden , Smithton , and Westhill , it is necessary to aggregate NRS figures for each locality. Inverness is situated at the mouth of the River Ness (which flows from nearby Loch Ness ) and at the south-western extremity of the Moray Firth . The city lies at the end of the Great Glen with Loch Ness, Loch Ashie and Loch Duntelchaig to
5670-413: The west of Inverness in advance of the construction of a retail and business park. A Bronze Age cemetery was discovered in 1996 and in 1997 the archaeologists found the remains of a Bronze Age settlement and an Iron Age settlement, with an ironsmith. It is one the earliest examples of iron smithing in Scotland. The Iron Age settlement had Roman brooches from the AD 1st–2nd centuries, indicating trade with
5751-410: The west. Inverness's Caledonian Canal also runs through the Great Glen, connecting Loch Ness, Loch Oich , and Loch Lochy . The Ness Islands , a publicly owned park, consists of two wooded islands connected by footbridges and has been used as a place of recreation since the 1840s. Craig Phadraig , once an ancient Gaelic and Pictish hillfort, is a 240 m (790 ft) hill which offers hikes on
5832-619: The whole institution." It is estimated that the new campus would contribute more than £50m to the economy of the Highlands because it could attract innovative commercial businesses interested in research and development, while increasing the number of students who study within the city by around 3,000. Inverness is linked to the Black Isle across the Moray Firth by the Kessock Bridge . Three trunk roads link Inverness with
5913-522: Was 29.7 °C (85.5 °F) in July 2006 and June 2018, and the lowest temperature recorded was −18.7 °C (−1.7 °F) in January 2010. Typically, the warmest day of the year rises to around 25 °C (77 °F) and the coldest night falls to around −11 °C (12 °F). The climate in this area is characterised by relatively small differences between annual high and low temperatures, as well as adequate rainfall year-round. Raigmore Hospital
5994-594: Was announced that the Stagecoach Group were to purchase the Rapsons Group, including Highland Country Buses and Orkney Coaches Ltd, consolidating the group's position in the north of Scotland. The sale was completed in June 2008, adding over 200 buses to the Stagecoach fleet. In April 2011 the operations at Inverness & Easter Ross were transferred to the Highland Country operating licence from
6075-696: Was awarded the Nicholson Trophy (class 2 category) for the best town with between 20,000 and 50,000 inhabitants at Britain in Bloom contest in 1975. In 2014, a survey by a property website described Inverness as the happiest place in Scotland and the second-happiest in the UK. Inverness was again found to be the happiest place in Scotland by a study conducted in 2015. Residents of Inverness expressed their disapproval of Prince Andrew, Duke of York , known by
6156-543: Was besieged by a contingent of Jacobites led by MacDonell of Keppoch. The town was actually rescued by Viscount Dundee , the overall Jacobite commander, when he arrived with the main Jacobite army, although he required Inverness to profess loyalty to King James VII . In 1715 the Jacobites occupied the royal fortress as a barracks. In 1727 the government built the first Fort George here, but in 1746 it surrendered to
6237-470: Was denied admittance into Inverness Castle by the governor, who belonged to the earl's faction, and whom she afterwards caused to be hanged. The Clan Munro and Clan Fraser of Lovat took the castle for her. The house in which she lived meanwhile stood in Bridge Street until the 1970s, when it was demolished to make way for the second Bridge Street development. Beyond the then northern limits of
6318-712: Was established in McIntosh County, Georgia , by settlers from in and around Inverness. The name was also given by expatriates to settlements in Quebec , Nova Scotia , Montana , Florida , Illinois , and California . The name Inverness is also given to a feature on Miranda , a moon of the planet Uranus, as well as a 2637 m tall mountain in British Columbia , Canada. Inverness is also known by its nicknames Inversnecky or The Sneck , with its inhabitants traditionally known as Clann Na Cloiche ("Children of
6399-459: Was formed as Northern Scottish Omnibuses Ltd in June 1985 from the northern operations of W. Alexander & Sons (Northern) Ltd. (which had already traded as "Northern Scottish" since 1978 and was then a member of the Scottish Bus Group ). The southern operations in Blairgowrie, Arbroath , Montrose , Forfar and Dundee were ceded to a new company, Strathtay Scottish . From its creation,
6480-503: Was granted by Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim ( King David I ) in the 12th century. The Gaelic king Mac Bethad Mac Findláich ( MacBeth ) whose 11th-century killing of King Duncan was immortalised in Shakespeare 's largely fictionalised play Macbeth , held a castle within the city where he ruled as Mormaer of Moray and Ross . Inverness Castle is said to have been built by Máel Coluim III (Malcolm III) of Scotland , after he had razed to
6561-714: Was traditionally known for treating cholera. Fuaran Allt an Ionnlaid ("Well of the Washing Burn") at Clachnaharry, where the Marquis of Montrose was allowed to drink while on his way from his capture in Sutherland to his execution in Edinburgh, was known for treating skin conditions. Also at Clachnaharry, Fuaran Priseag ("The Precious Well") was said to have been blessed by Saint Kessock and could treat weak and sore eyes, as well as expelling evil and shielding curses if
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