WALK 4 RIVER NESS 7th February.

Another Monday walk postponed until Wednesday. This was because we were driving back from Forgandenny. Not only were we driving, but it might just have been the wettest day we have ever seen and the prospect of a nice, enjoyable walk was too horrible to contemplate.

We had to go into town to do a few things, so our walk was around the River Ness. First we had to cross the river and we did this using the Greig Street Bridge, often called the bouncy bridge, because, well, it bounces and sways a little when people walk across.

 The bridge was built in 1881, over 140 years ago and the ironwork was cast by The Rose Street Foundry which was in Rose Street. The building that most people think of as the Rose Street Foundry is actually the headquarter offices of the company. This iconic building is newly opened as a pub/restaurant that we have yet to visit, but, be assured, we will.

It was a fabulous day as you can see from the photo taken on the bridge, looking back to the Free North, Free Church, which was built in the 1890's and is one of many buildings in the town designed by Alexander Ross. His firm also did the Rose Street Foundry offices!

The view downstream from the bridge. It could almost be somewhere in Italy - Venice or Florence, perhaps. 

A view of the whole bridge, and very handsome it is too.

Further along the river side, another Alexander Ross building - the Cathedral of St Andrew. It was actually the first Cathedral to be built and Consecrated in Britain since the Reformation. It also contains the most northerly peal of change ringing bells in the world.

Notwithstanding all of these accolades, the cost of building the church was so high that there was no money left over to complete the spires on the two towers you can see. I remember giving blood in one of the rooms in the building where a painting of the cathedral hung. It actually had the spires painted, so was clearly done before work finished. Bizarre.

More or less opposite the Cathedral is the Castle, certainly the most iconic building in the city. It is not as old as people think, although there has been a fortification on the site for centuries. The current castle dates to the 19th Century. It has been used as the Sherriff Court for decades, but is now undergoing renovation to become a visitor destination. This is a great thing, I think. Probably millions of tourists have walked up the hill to visit the castle, only to find it was a court and access was impossible.

Next year it will be accessible and I expect it to be very busy, not least because you will be able to see some of Sharon's handiwork inside. She and fellow stitchers finished one of many stitched panels representing the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands. These panels will tell the story of the area and Sharon's represents the mysterious and enigmatic Clava Cairns. The panel is a masterpiece, even though I say so myself.

Still on a cultural theme, Eden Court Theatre is next to the Cathedral and, indeed, the older building in the photo is Bishop Eden's Palace, from which the complex takes its name. The theatre has been a huge success for the Highlands and we often visit. It is certainly the best place in town to watch films and the Pantomime is a family favourite.

Another suspension bridge across the Ness - The Infirmary Footbridge. This takes you from the nearby old Inverness Royal Infirmary across to the War Memorial and Cavell Gardens. Another bouncy bridge and a well used link for locals, as well as an attraction for tourists if they venture this far out of the centre. They should do that, not just for the bridge, but for the further walk up to the Ness Islands, a real oasis by the river.

The recent rain has raised the river level substantially.

Looking up river to the Islands.

Looking back downstream to the city centre - and the blue sky!

Across the river from the Cathedral stand the Three Graces. Obviously not the Three Graces by Canova, currently to be found in the V&A in London, where we have seen them. Rather these are three virtues, but they are often called the three graces in Inverness. They were carved in 1870 for the YMCA in Inverness, to remind people of Victorian virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity. Bizarrely, they ended up on top of a tartan shop at the corner of High Street and Castle Street, when the YMCA sold the building. In turn that building was demolished and replaced by the first MacDonalds in the Highlands! The statues were preserved and eventually bought from an Orcadian dealer by the Common Good Fund and erected here by the river. 

By this time we were getting a little peckish, so we called in to the Victorian Market to try out the food hall. The Market is an institution and everyone should visit for the shops and for the whole building. I love it.

Our chosen lunch spot. We've never eaten there before, but we have heard good things.

We are not Vegans or Vegetarian, but the food was really delicious and we'll definitely be back. We had some Syrian flatbreads with Muhammara (a pepper and walnut dip), Hummus and Ful Bil Zeit, a broad bean, garlic and coriander stew. It was all fabulously tasty.

Another successful walk and a day out at the same time. I'm really beginning to enjoy these different and meaningful walks.