Skip to main page content (AccessKey S)
 Urquhart Castle |
 Loch Mullardoch |
 Drumnadrochit |
Loch Ness & The Great Glen covers Loch Ness and extends south to include Loch Oich and part of Loch Lochy. In the west it takes in Strathglass, Glen Cannich and Glen Affric. For accommodation in the area see the links in the menu on the right. See the map below for an outline of the area and links to surrounding areas.
Loch Ness is by far the best known of the lochs in the Great Glen, at least in part because it is the only one reputed to be home to a monster. Nessie is a creature which may or may not actually exist. Either way it has been exercising a fascination since 22 July 1933, when George Spicer and his wife, visitors from London, saw "a most extraordinary form of animal" cross the road in front of their car and enter Loch Ness. Other sightings were soon reported and the cult of the Loch Ness Monster quickly took off. It has since been suggested that the first reference to it in print was in the biography of St Columba, written in the late 600s.
The attractive village of Drumnadrochit is well worth exploring in its own right, and is home to the Loch Ness Centre, an excellent visitor attraction at which you can find out a great deal more about the story of Nessie.
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 the Highlands. The road from Drumnadrochit to Cannich passes the attractive St Ninian's Church, and close to Corrimony Chambered Cairn.
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.
 Loch Ness & The Great Glen, Showing Main Settlements & Surrounding Areas |
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, now converted for use as residential accommodation. 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 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.
