The most famous loch in the world holds more freshwater than every lake in England and Wales combined.
Highlights
- Sunrise at Dores Beach
- Urquhart Castle at opening time
- Cruise from Dochgarroch
- Fort Augustus canal locks
- Foyers waterfall walk
Take the south shore
Everyone drives the A82 along the north shore. Take the B862 south shore instead. It's slower, quieter, single-track in places, and gives you Dores Beach (twenty minutes from Mardon), the Suidhe viewpoint, and Foyers waterfall - all in a morning.
Boat trips worth the money
Cruise Loch Ness from Fort Augustus and Jacobite Cruises from Dochgarroch both run year-round. The one-hour Fort Augustus cruise is the best value - you sail out into the deepest part of the loch and back.
Best photography lay-bys
- Abriachan viewpoint (north shore, mile 8) - classic panorama.
- Dores Beach - the loch narrows to the north, castle in the far distance.
- Suidhe Viewpoint (south shore) - sunset gold on the western hills.
Frequently asked
- Have we ever seen the monster?
- No. But the mist on a still November morning does something to the imagination.
- Boat or drive?
- Both. Drive the south shore in the morning, cruise from Fort Augustus in the afternoon.
Nearby
- Urquhart Castle10 min from Drumnadrochit
- Fort Augustus50 min from Mardon
- Glen Affric40 min from Cannich
