Loch Ness Area

Loch Mullardoch

Urquhart Castle

Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition

Area Main Page

There are four lochs in the Great Glen, with Loch Ness by far the most famous. It is said to be home to Nessie, a monstrous creature first sighted by St Columba in the 6th Century. Photographs taken in the 1930s have made Nessie famous world-wide. Visitors wishing to learn more should make the trip to Drumnadrochit. Here you can choose between two Loch Ness Monster exhibitions, both open daily all year but with more restricted hours in winter.

Twelve miles west of Drumnadrochit the A831 is the remote village of Cannich. This is the gateway to a series of spectacular glens extending further west, including Glen Affric and Glen Cannich, in which the ten mile long Loch Mullardoch was created in 1952 as part of the wide ranging hydro-electric schemes across this part of Scotland.

A little south of Drumnadrochit is Urquhart Castle; built on the shores of the Loch Ness. It is one of Scotland's best known castles. Its history has been a bloody one, the castle having repeatedly changed hands over the centuries. Visitors are welcome all year round and the stunning views from the five storey tower house at the north end of the site and the excellent visitor centre make the journey worthwhile.

The attractive small settlement of Invermoriston lies on the west side of Loch Ness towards its southern end, and where the A887 towards Kyle of Lochalsh branches off the main A82.

Situated at the south-west end of Loch Ness, Fort Augustus is an attractive place. The staircase of five locks on the Caledonian Canal raise and lower boats by 40 feet as they pass through, and there is a large Benedictine Abbey, sadly no longer in use. Boat trips run from Fort Augustus offering cruises on the Loch. The Clansman Centre in the village offers an interesting slant on traditional Highland culture and visitors can be photographed in period costume.

2002 saw the launch of the Great Glen Way, a 73 mile, long distance footpath running the length of the Loch Ness Area en route from Fort William to Inverness and taking in Fort Augustus, Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit.

Before departing Loch Ness it is worth noting that a "B" road runs alongside much of its eastern side, staying close to the loch between the village of Foyers and its northern end. This can be uses as a scenic alternative to the busy A82 running up the west side of the loch: though it is worth noting that much of this alternative is made up of single track roads.

South of Fort Augustus the A82 meets the A87 from the west at Invergarry, an attractive little village complete with the ruins of Invergarry Castle in the grounds of the Glengarry Castle Hotel.