Loch Ness 360° with Urquhart Castle Full Day Private Tour

How many people venture “off the beaten track” to the South side of Loch Ness, however? We’ve specially created this itinerary for those interested in fully exploring this world-famous stretch of water and discovering some of its other lesser known secrets, all from the comfort of an 8-seater vehicle. Do something different and join us on our Loch Ness 360° Tour!

Travel along the North shore of the mystical Loch Ness, keeping a keen eye out in case Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster makes an appearance. Learn about the first sighting of a water beast in the Loch, which dates back to the 6th century BC. Take some time to wander through the magnificent ruins of the once mighty Urquhart Castle, which stood as guardian of the Loch for centuries until it was destroyed and abandoned in the 17th century. Climb to the summit of the iconic Grant Tower and take in the fantastic view of the Loch and surrounding area…it’s the spot where “Nessie” sightings are most common!

Continue travelling along the Lochside to Invermoriston, meaning “the mouth of many waterfalls”. A quick stop to watch the River Moriston cascade under one of the many bridges built by Thomas Telford in the 19th century will prove the village is suitably named.

Next stop is Fort Augustus, where Loch Ness ends and the second stage of the Caledonian Canal begins. Completed in the early 19th century under the instruction of the illustrious engineer Thomas Telford, the Caledonian Canal joins 5 natural lochs through the Great Glen to provide a waterway between the East and West of Scotland. Walk along the Canalside to the Caledonian Canal Visitors Centre, and see how the lock gates are used to raise and lower water levels so boats can continue their journeys from the Loch through the Canal. Take in one of the most spectacular views of Loch Ness at the mouth of the Canal, and see the smallest light house in the UK, affectionately known by locals as the “pepperpot”.

And now the tour leaves the A82 road, and ventures “off the beaten track”, returning back to Inverness along the south side of Loch Ness. First stop is the Suidhe viewpoint, where on a clear day it is possible to spot 7 different lochs from this beautiful and unspoiled vista. Continue onto the village of Foyers and stop at “Cameron’s Café” to try some of their amazing homemade baking and say hello to their Highland Cattle.

Take a wander to see the River Foyers cascade down a 140ft (42.5m) drop into Loch Ness. The "Falls of Foyers" is so beautiful that it inspired our national bard, Robert Burns, compose a poem in 1787. Finally, we stop at Dores Bay, to take in the most fantastic view of the entire length of Loch Ness and see where the international legend, Steve Feltham (Nessis Hunter), has kept vigil for more than 20 years from his lochside home, in the hope of finally recording a sighting of the elusive Loch Ness Monster.

This is a fantastic tour specially designed by Happy Tours Scotland to go "off the beaten track" and really explore Loch Ness in it's entirety. Book our Loch Ness 360° Tour and truly explore this world famous stretch of water.