Inverness & District Indoor Bowling Club

Ten-pin bowling in the Highlands isn't what most folk come for, but on a wet Scottish afternoon - and let's face it, there are plenty of those - the Inverness & District Indoor Bowling Club fills a genuine gap. It's a straightforward leisure facility where you can roll a few frames, grab some chips, and not feel like you've wasted an hour when the weather's turned grim.

The club sits just outside Inverness town centre, making it an easy stop-off rather than a destination in itself. Families with restless kids appreciate it, particularly younger children who enjoy the relatively low-pressure environment of a small local venue rather than a sprawling commercial bowling alley. There's something unpretentious about it - you're bowling with locals, not tourists, which can actually be rather pleasant.

If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Go Glamping at Loch Ness is barely two miles away, or Ardtower just down the road - it works as a rainy-day activity. Allow 90 minutes to two hours if you're doing a proper game. Admission costs are modest, though you'll want to ring ahead on the number listed locally as opening hours can be variable.

Truthfully, it's not going to be the highlight of a Highland holiday. But paired with a visit to Inverness town, Culloden Battlefield, or a Loch Ness excursion, it serves its purpose without pretence. Sometimes that's enough.