Inverness-shire is one of the traditional counties of Scotland. Its main town is Inverness, and it also includes Kingussie, Fort William and Mallaig. The county also coveres a number of islands - North Uist, South Uist and Harris from the Outer Hebrides, and Skye and the Small Isles of the Inner Hebrides. Today it is administered as parts of the unitary authorities Highland and Outer Hebrides.

In 1972, the Isle of Rockall Act was passed, formally incorporating the tiny island of Rockall into the UK as part of Inverness-shire.