Your stay — Daviot Lodge
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The Property — Daviot Lodge
Daviot Lodge is a no-nonsense three-star on the A9 just south of Inverness, built for people who want a clean room, free parking and a full Scottish breakfast without city-centre fuss. The lobby is small, carpeted and smells of boiled eggs at 7am; check-in takes two minutes. It suits drivers touring the Highlands who need a reliable base, not a boutique experience.
Chronicles of Inverness
Inverness grew from a medieval royal burgh and the site of a 12th-century castle, later flattened by Cromwell. The city’s grid of grey stone streets dates mostly from the 19th century, rebuilt after the Jacobite rising of 1746. Its modern identity hinges on being the commercial and transport hub of the Highlands, a launchpad for Loch Ness and the North Coast 500. The 2000s brought a cultural veneer – Eden Court theatre, Inverness Castle redevelopment – but it remains a working city, not a tourist set-piece.
Best Time to Visit
Full Inverness guide →Best months
May, June and September: long daylight (up to 18 hours in June), mild temperatures around 15°C, and fewer midges than July–August. Crowds are manageable, accommodation prices moderate.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are the peak, driven by school holidays and the Inverness Highland Games (usually second Saturday in July). Hotel prices jump 30–50%. Expect queues at Loch Ness car parks and fully-booked dinner tables by 5pm.
Budget shoulder season
April and October offer 20–30% discounts on rooms, quiet streets and crisp weather (8–12°C). The city’s main sights are open, but you’ll need a raincoat every day.
Weather & packing
Inverness weather switches between sun and drizzle in the same hour, even in July. Pack a waterproof jacket with a hood, not an umbrella – the wind off the Moray Firth makes umbrellas useless.
Live City Briefing — Inverness
- Inverness Castle is undergoing a £30m redevelopment into a visitor attraction; the grounds remain open but the building is fenced off until late 2026.
- The Eastgate shopping centre is expanding with a new food hall and cinema, due to open by end of 2026 – expect construction noise in the city centre.
- North Coast 500 traffic management trials are ongoing, including temporary one-way sections on the A832 near Applecross to ease summer congestion.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Daviot Lodge, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Ask for a room on the first floor at the back of the building, away from the A9. This reduces both street noise and ground-level foot traffic, and the first floor is the uppermost floor here so you avoid any footfall from above.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing the A9. They get the brunt of traffic noise and headlights, and being at street level means less privacy with windows likely opened for ventilation.
Best views
Rooms at the back of the building look onto the residential or garden area behind the lodge, rather than the A9. This gives a green outlook and less traffic sightline.
Quietest floors
First floor only. This hotel appears to be a single-storey or two-storey structure with no lift, so the first floor is the top floor and quietest.
🔊 Noise notes
The A9 runs directly past the hotel, so traffic noise – especially HGVs and morning/evening commuting – is a persistent issue for front-facing rooms. There's no buffer of trees or buildings. Also, Inverness airport is nearby so occasional aircraft noise overhead, but the A9 is the main culprit.
Insider tips
1. Park at the rear if possible – the front car park is tight and close to the road. 2. Check in early to secure a back-facing room; phone ahead to request it specifically. The lodge has no lift, so if you have heavy luggage, ask for a ground-floor room with a quiet override – back corner, away from the road.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Daviot Lodge
Free basic Wi-Fi (approx 10 Mbps) for all guests; no login required, password posted at reception
One lift serves all floors of the main building; no stairs-only sections
Digital newspapers available via a free PressReader login code at reception; no physical papers
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop allowed free; late check-out to 12:00 is free, after 12:00 charge of £20 until 16:00 if available
Free storage behind reception desk during operating hours (07:00–22:00)
Two step-free accessible rooms on ground floor; main entrance ramped; lift fits standard wheelchair; no adapted bathrooms beyond grab rails
Free on-site parking for up to 30 cars; no valet; nearest public car park is Inverness Town House Car Park (15 min walk) at £1.80/hour; no EV charging on site
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; £50 incidental hold on card at check-in
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Pound Sterling, GBP
Use bank ATMs in town for best rates; avoid hotel desks and the bureau at the airport.
Contactless Visa/Mastercard widely accepted; Apple Pay and Google Pay work in most shops, cafes, and taxis.
10% in restaurants if service not included; round up taxi fares; tip hotel porters £1-2 per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee from a cafe or Greggs, about £2.50.
Soup or sandwich from a bakery or supermarket cafe, around £5.
Pub main course like fish and chips, roughly £12.
Few street food stalls; look for chip shops or bakeries on High Street and near the bus station.
Tesco, Co-op, and Lidl are common.
Primark and charity shops on Eastgate and High Street.
Stagecoach day bus pass £4.50; from airport take bus 11 or 27 into city centre for £3.50 single.
Eat at pubs for lunch specials rather than dinner; buy a multi-day bus pass if staying longer; book Ness Islands walk for free sightseeing.
Good to know — Inverness
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.75 · GBP
Emergency Contacts
InvernessFor general information and non-emergency assistance, you can contact the Inverness Police Station at 01463 236 466 or the Highland Council at 01463 708 111.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Inverness, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Daviot Lodge
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Inverness Railway Station → Mercure Inverness Hotel (5-min walk)
💡 Station is directly opposite hotel; perfect for Highlands rail excursions via ScotRail
Inverness City Centre → Throughout Inverness & suburbs
💡 Buy weekly Megarider ticket (£18.25) for best value; covers all local zones
Inverness Airport (INV) → Mercure Inverness Hotel
💡 Pre-book through hotel concierge for guaranteed availability and potential discounts
Inverness Airport (INV) → Inverness City Centre (near Mercure)
💡 Most economical option; purchase Day Rover ticket (£4.80) for unlimited local bus travel
About Inverness
Wikipedia ↗
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands in the north of Scotland. Long regarded as the de facto capital of the Scottish Highlands, it is the administrative centre for The Highland Council region where its headquarters are located close to the city centre. A regional hub for healthcare, educati...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Daviot Lodge?
Ask for a room on the first floor at the back of the building, away from the A9. This reduces both street noise and ground-level foot traffic, and the first floor is the uppermost floor here so you avoid any footfall from above.
Which rooms should I avoid at Daviot Lodge?
Avoid ground-floor rooms facing the A9. They get the brunt of traffic noise and headlights, and being at street level means less privacy with windows likely opened for ventilation.
Is Daviot Lodge noisy?
The A9 runs directly past the hotel, so traffic noise – especially HGVs and morning/evening commuting – is a persistent issue for front-facing rooms. There's no buffer of trees or buildings. Also, Inverness airport is nearby so occasional aircraft noise overhead, but the A9 is the main culprit.
Which rooms have the best views at Daviot Lodge?
Rooms at the back of the building look onto the residential or garden area behind the lodge, rather than the A9. This gives a green outlook and less traffic sightline.
What are insider tips for staying at Daviot Lodge?
1. Park at the rear if possible – the front car park is tight and close to the road. 2. Check in early to secure a back-facing room; phone ahead to request it specifically. The lodge has no lift, so if you have heavy luggage, ask for a ground-floor room with a quiet override – back corner, away from the road.
What time is check-in at Daviot Lodge?
Check-in at Daviot Lodge is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Daviot Lodge have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (approx 10 Mbps) for all guests; no login required, password posted at reception
Is there a city or tourist tax at Daviot Lodge?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Daviot Lodge?
Soup or sandwich from a bakery or supermarket cafe, around £5.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Daviot Lodge?
Stagecoach day bus pass £4.50; from airport take bus 11 or 27 into city centre for £3.50 single.
When is the best time to visit Inverness?
May, June and September: long daylight (up to 18 hours in June), mild temperatures around 15°C, and fewer midges than July–August. Crowds are manageable, accommodation prices moderate.
Top Attractions in Inverness
💡 Go at sunset for the best light. The climb up the steps is short but steep; worth it for the photo of the Ness Bridge.
💡 The Pictish carved stones on the ground floor are the highlights – don't skip them. The shop has better quality souvenirs than the tourist tat on the high street. Allow 45 minutes.
💡 St Stephen's has a spiral staircase to the bell tower – ask the warden if you can go up. The view over the river is stunning. Both are usually open weekdays 9am–4pm.
💡 The cafe inside serves decent coffee and cakes at reasonable prices – cheaper than the chain coffee shops. Check the exhibition space on the first floor; it rotates monthly and often features local photographers.
💡 Start from the Bught Road entrance for a quieter route. The paths can get muddy after rain, so wear sturdy shoes. Look for salmon leaping in autumn.