When you think of city breaks in Scotland, the mind will probably wander to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
On opposite sides of the M8, the two biggest urban areas in the country are world renowned for their offering to visitors.
From Edinburgh's atmospheric Old Town and world-famous festivals, to Glasgow's vibrant nightlife and impressive shopping choices, many tourists will not look beyond the Central Belt.
But according to wildlife guru and TV presenter Steve Backshall, a much smaller city in Scotland eclipses the big two, as well as the likes of Aberdeen and Dundee.
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Instead, it is Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, that the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant rates the highest. In a recent interview, he called it "arguably the finest city in the nation".
So what makes Inverness such an attractive place? For a start, it is ideally placed to explore large tracts of the wild Highlands, with all roads in the north effectively leading to the city.
Majestic Loch Ness is just a few miles away and can be explored by boat from Inverness, while the magnificent Beauly and Moray Firths team with wildlife and are great for dolphin spotting.
The imposing Black Isle is just a short trip across the Kessock Bridge while the stunning Cairngorms and Speyside regions are easily reachable on the A9, Scotland's longest road.
It was its setting that largely led to Travel and Leisure naming Inverness as one of its 50 places to travel to in 2025, in particular its proximity to the Flow Country in Caithness and Sutherland.
The massive region of bogs and peatland has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage list and is around a two-hour drive from Inverness in the far north of the country.
Historical sites nearby include Culloden, where the last Jacobite rebellion came to an end, and the 4,000-year-old Clava Cairns, thought to be an ancient burial ground.
But Inverness has plenty to offer itself rather than just a good location. You can explore Inverness Castle, or enjoy its shopping offering which is a blend of High Street names and independent stores.
The pretty Ness Islands on the River Ness are connected through a network of Victorian bridges. Inverness also boasts a lively nightime scene with the best rated pub on TripAdvisor, Playback, offering a rooftop terrace, as well as signature cocktails and gourmet burgers.
Backshall, 52, highlighted Inverness in an interview with the Daily Record where he said he was planning a trip to Scotland with his family.
He said: "I want to take them to Knoydart across the straits to Skye, Rum and Mull, Coll and Tiree. I spent two weeks there filming basking sharks, tuna and whales. It's absolutely epic.
"And then I'd take them to the Cairngorms. It would be so, so special."
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