Get the most out of a trip to Loch Ness

Published by admin | Filed under Travel

A short guide to help you make the most out of a trip to Loch Ness in Scotland with information on a few places that are “off the beaten path”.

Loch Ness is one of the most famous and  popular destinations in Scotland, it sits between Inverness and Fort Augustus in the Highlands region.  The area is one full of scenery and plenty of things to do, other than the obvious Nessie hunting that is!

The best place to start you exploration of Loch Ness is the small town of Fort Augustus which is situated at the mouth of Loch Ness.  There is no railway station here so you will need either a car or the bus to get there.  But when you do arrive you will find no shortage of accommodation with about a dozen bed and breakfasts and a couple of hotels to choose from.

When you are ready to start exploring the town you will find no shortage of things to do.  I would suggest a cruise on Loch Ness as being your first destination, the local guide on board is very knowledgeable and friendly.  There is also a couple of sonar’s on the boat for those who want to look out for Nessie and even a bar.

Next you should try one of the walks around the local area, weather permitting of course.  But a walk along the side of the Caledonian Canal offers you the chance to take in some of the surrounding areas magnificent scenery.  For those who are more hardcore walkers you may want to think about the Great Glen Way which is a 73 mile walk from Fort William to Inverness, this is usually done over 5 days.

At night Fort Augusuts has a good selection of places to eat and drink and an even better selection of Whiskys!  If you visit during the weekends in the summer months you will often find live music and entertainment in some of the local bars and there is even the chance of a Celidh in the town hall.

About 15 miles away from Fort Augustus you will find Urquhart Castle, which has a picturesque setting overlooking Loch Ness.  It is in ruins now after being destroyed by Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 but there is still plenty to see and enjoy.  You can catch a bus to here if you have not transportation, or perhaps even cycle on a sunny day.

Next up is Drumnadrochit and here you will find the Loch Ness Visitors centre and this will have all the information you ever wanted to know about the history of Loch Ness and the Loch Ness Monster.  It also has a collection of some of the best and most famous sightings of the mythical creature.

At the end of Loch Ness is the capitol of the Highlands, Inverness and this is the only city in the Highlands region.  You may want to spend a couple of days here and enjoy the excellent shopping and nightlife that this vibrant and expanding city has to offer. 

There is a castle that sits overlooking the city and from this location you get an excellent panoramic view of the city, ideal chance to take a photo. 

There are excellent transport links here with a local airport , which offers some domestic flights.  There is also a train and bus stations in the city centre within a couple of blocks of each other.  You can visit the traveline website for planning any trips by public transportation.

About the author

Tags: augustus, beaten path, bed and breakfasts, bonnie prince charlie, caledonian canal, hunting, inverness, live music, local area, local guide, loch ness, magnificent scenery, nessie, railway station, sonars, town hall, walkers, walks, weather, whiskys

Share This

Related Posts

• Halong Bay Boat Trip and Jelly fish
• Traveling On A Budget
• African Safari Trip - 3 Safari Options To Consider
• The Advantages of using a travel agency on holiday
• Cheap Hotels - Search On The Internet