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Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness

  1. Home
  2. Places to go
  3. Loch Ness

Loch Ness

Loch Ness contains more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined, making it the most voluminous lake in the UK. Where is Loch Ness? This beautiful loch is located in the Scottish Highlands and is shrouded in mystery. Does a monster lurk in the deep? See for yourself on boat trips and Nessie cruises from Inverness, Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit.

Great things to do around Loch Ness

From watersports to walking, check out these things you can do when you visit Loch Ness.

9 Hidden gems you mustn't miss around Loch Ness

Discover the hidden gems of Loch Ness, and explore some of the best things to see & do in the area. From ancient mysteries, to enchanting forests.

Wellbeing escapes

Discover why a visit to Inverness & Loch Ness is perfect to rest, relax and re-charge your mind, body and soul.

The Loch Ness Monster - is Nessie real?

More information on the monster's background and potential whereabouts.

Explore Highland wildlife

See where to catch a glimpse of a variety of Scottish species including majestic red deer, black grouse, golden eagles, osprey and ptarmigan.

Inverness

The capital of the Scottish Highlands sits on Scotland’s north east coast, where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth.

Top days out ideas

Whether you're monster-hunting or not, the area around Loch Ness is a beautiful place for a day out.

Tours of Loch Ness

Find a tour of Loch Ness and see if you can spot the monster!

Drumnadrochit

Located at the head of Urquhart Bay on the northern shore of Loch Ness, the lovely village of Drumnadrochit is popular with Loch Ness monster hunters!

The Loch Ness Centre

Explore how the real stories of Loch Ness and its Monster phenomenon are more fascinating and engaging than any myth...

The Caledonian Canal

Explore the majestic 60-mile Caledonian Canal, cutting through the spectacular Great Glen.

Urquhart Castle

Delve into more than 1,000 years of turbulent history and the myths and tales that surround Loch Ness.

Falls of Foyer

Along the south side of Loch Ness in the small village of Foyers you will find the popular natural beauty spot of the Falls of Foyers.

Fort Augustus

A quaint village where Loch Ness meets the Caledonian Canal.

Dores Beach

Enjoy this circular walk with fantastic views of Loch Ness.

Inspiring routes, trails & itineraries

Travel on foot, by bike or even by kayak and enjoy a great escape to this beautiful part of Scotland.

Plodda Falls, Glen Affric

Follow a route

There are some incredible scenic routes around Loch Ness.

 

  • Loch Ness 360
  • South Loch Ness Trail
  • Great Glen Canoe Trail
  • Great Glen Way

See what's on in Loch Ness

Find a toe-tapping local event around Loch Ness!

Cycling at Suidhe Viewpoint, Loch Ness

© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale

Events

Find out what's happening around Loch Ness.

  • What's on in and around Loch Ness

Map of Loch Ness

Explore Loch Ness

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How to travel to & around Loch Ness

Loch Ness runs from the south of Inverness down to the town of Fort Augustus.

Getting to Loch Ness

Train

You can travel from within Scotland to Inverness with ScotRail, or directly to Inverness with LNER from dozens of stations along the east coast line like London King’s Cross, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh taking in some of the best scenery the country has to offer along the way. Sit back and relax and enjoy the comfort of the environmentally-friendly Azuma fleet in First Class or Standard alongside the offer of fine food and drink from a range of local suppliers from across the UK.

Or journey overnight in your own room with a bed. A relaxing and time-saving way to reach the Highlands, the Caledonian Sleeper travels between London and Scotland.

Bus and coach

National bus companies include:

  • Megabus - with a huge amount of stops throughout the UK linking to Inverness.
  • Citylink - Connecting Scotland including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Oban, Skye, Dundee and Perth.
  • National Express - Hundreds of stops across the UK and Europe that connect to Inverness.
  • Stagecoach - Stagecoach operates across the UK.

They will take you from major UK cities to Farraline Park Bus Station in the centre of Inverness.

Driving

The A9 is the main access road to Inverness from the south, Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow and also from the north. The A82 is an alternative and more scenic route from the south (Glasgow) via Loch Ness through the Great Glen to Inverness.

The B862 on the south side of Loch Ness links the small picturesque villages between Fort Augustus and Inverness, and also links to the A9 south to Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow and points further south.

Find out more about driving to Inverness

Flying

Inverness Airport is located some 7 miles east of Inverness and 21 miles from Loch Ness.

There are many direct flights into Inverness with Easyjet, British Airways, Loganair, KLM and more.

Local transport connections from Inverness Airport into the city are available from outside the airport terminal building. These include bus and taxis services. Local and national car hire is also available.

Getting around Loch Ness

Walking

Why not walk, cycle or horse ride on the new Loch Ness 360 Trail, a 80 miles long scenic circular route taking in the route of the Great Glen Way on the north side and South Loch Ness Trail on the south side?

If you like to discover an area by foot you will not be short of places to wander. You can also choose to be guided on a walking tour with companies such as Cath's Inverness Tours and Walking Tours Inverness offering guided walks daily from the city centre.

Find more walking routes in Inverness & Loch Ness

Cycling

In the city, if you don’t have your own bike with you, you can easily hire one from Ticket To Ride or use the Hi-Bike service. 

The best way to experience Loch Ness by bike, is on the brand new Loch Ness 360° Trail. This epic route around the whole of Loch Ness starts and finished in Inverness. If you don’t have 6 days to complete the 72-mile trail, you can simply choose any one of the sections. Why not be guided on a cycling tour around the route with 42 Cycling?

You can use the helpful Hi-Travel active travel map | PDF 1.9MB for all the recommended cycle routes.

Bus and coach

Local bus and train services are available to provide transport to and around Inverness, Loch Ness and Highland areas.

Check out the Traveline Scotland Journey Planner.

Driving

For the popular town of Drumnadrochit head down the north side of Loch Ness on the A82 towards Fort William.

After just a few miles you will catch your first glimpse of the loch on your left-hand side. Stop at Dochgarroch or the Clansman Harbour for Loch Ness cruises, check out the visitor centres and gift shops in Drumnadrochit and don’t miss out Fort Augustus for more cruise options and a look at the locks.

If you prefer to see the “quiet” side of Loch Ness, head down the South Side of Loch Ness on the B852 towards Dores and Foyers, where you will find lovely walks, quiet picnic spots and amazing viewpoints! Not to mention, the South Loch Ness Trail, which is the perfect way to explore the area.

Taxi

There are a range of Taxi firms available in Inverness including Inverness Taxis and Inverness City Taxis.

There are licensed taxi ranks at Inverness Airport, Inverness Bus Station and Inverness Train Station. You can order local Loch Ness tour cars and taxis in advance. 

Tours

You can up your chances of seeing the Loch Ness Monster by hiring your own cruiser to sail where you want to go. There are piers, jetties and mooring places along Loch Ness. Most are free of charge. If you don’t want to sail yourself, there are some excellent well established Loch Ness cruises that last from a couple of hours to all day (and overnight!).

Find a boat tour of Loch Ness

 

Hobbit homes overlooking Loch Ness at the Loch Ness Holiday Park

Hobbit homes overlooking Loch Ness at the Loch Ness Holiday Park

© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Places to stay in Loch Ness

Choose from self-catering lodges, welcoming B&Bs and charming loch-side cottages where you can wake up to stunning views of Loch Ness.

Or try hostels, scenic camping, caravan sites and glamping accommodation for an affordable yet unforgettable experience.

  • Accommodation in and around Loch Ness

MacGregors Bar, Inverness

Places to eat around Loch Ness

Find lots of places to eat and drink from fine dining to street food.

There are options for all tastes and budgets and often something new to try!

  • Places to eat around Loch Ness

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