There are two major shopping areas in the center of Inverness: the Eastgate Inverness Shopping Centre, Millburn Road (www.inverness-eastgate.com) and Victorian Market, Academy Street, which is the more traditional of the two. The building itself was constructed in 1870 and the market's history is reflected in the wide range of its shops, which are generally open Monday to Saturday.
Silvercraft, 5-7 Market Arcade (tel. 01463/232-686), is a family-run jewelry store that opened in the Victorian Market in 1960. The friendly atmosphere and wide selection of diamond, gold, and silver jewelry make for a lovely shopping experience.
Heraldic Art Design, 6 Victorian Market Arcade (tel. 01463/714-605), specializes in hand-embroidered coats of arms made in the United Kingdom with gold and silver threads. These aren't cheap, but they are lasting. Also available are the crests of military branches or your favorite football (soccer) team.
Boarstone Tartans, 14-16 New Market (tel. 01463/239-793), is one of the primary kiltmakers in Inverness. Every traditional Scottish clothes item -- from kilt jackets to tartan trousers to Highland dress outfits -- can be purchased here. Shooting coats, tweed caps, deerstalker hats, tweed rugs, scarves, ties, Celtic jewelry, and pewter flasks are also for sale.
