Inverness / Loch Ness Attractions

(Inverness, Scotland, UK)

Located at just 21 km / 13 miles to the south of Inverness, most tourists on holiday in this part of Scotland find their way to Loch Ness. This vast expansive loch reaches depths of over 200 metres / 655 feet and stretches for some 37 km / 23 miles between Fort Augustus and Inverness, where it has become famous all over the world for its illusive and legendary Loch Ness Monster.

Those looking to drive around the loch in the hope of spotting 'Nessie' will find that the B862 will lead you around the south-easterly shore, while the north-western side is fronted by the A82. A complete circuit is approximately 113 km / 70 miles, and for the best views, you should consider driving in an anti-clockwise direction. Public bus transport connects tourists with Loch Ness and its main attractions, suiting those without their own set of wheels.

General Information

Folklore in the Highlands has long featured stories of creatures living in the Scottish lochs, but it was not until 1933 when the Inverness Courier newspaper published an article about an alleged sighting of the Loch Ness 'Monster' that Nessie fever began. Many further sightings soon followed and the next year saw an actual photograph of the monster's head and long neck, which brought Loch Ness to the attention of the world. However, it was not until 60 years later that this photo was revealed to have been an incredibly successful and highly convincing hoax.

Over the years there have been many attempts to track the Loch Ness Monster and find some concrete evidence of its existence. Teams of scuba divers and boats using modern sonar equipment have all been unsuccessful so far, with some convinced that Nessie lives in a deep cave, out of reach of the sonars.

Various places of interest surround the shoreline of the loch, including both Fort Augustus and Urquhart Castle. There are also a series of small villages and hamlets, such as Abriachan, Dores, Foyers, Inverfarigaig, Invermoriston, Lochend and Whitebridge.

However, it is Drumnadrochit where the monster madness has resulted in no less than two permanent exhibitions and a huge number of gift shops, all selling their own version of Nessie souvenirs and an endless selection of tartan-patterned cuddly monster toys.

Tourists visiting Drumnadrochit may like to join one of the Loch Ness cruises and hunt for the monster itself, using state-of-the-art sonar detection and underwater cameras. One boat, known as the 'Nessie Hunter', offers one-hour cruises and departs from the Urquhart Bay Harbour on an hourly basis, being connected to the village by minibuses.


Loch Ness 2000 Monster Exhibition
Address: Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness, Inverness-shire, IV63 6TU, Scotland, UK
Tel +44 01456 450 573
Website: http://www.lochness.com/loch-ness-monster-exhibition.htm
Open hours: daily, April and May - 09:30 to 17:00; July and August, 09:00 to 20:00; June and Setember - 09:00 to 18:00; October - 09:00 to 17:30; November to March - 10:00 to 15:30
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, families and seniors, children five years old and under are free

Original Loch Ness Monster Centre / Nessieland Castle Monster Centre
Address: Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness, Inverness-shire, IV63 6TU, Scotland, UK
Tel +44 01456 450 342
Website: http://www.lochness-hotel.com/visitorcentre.htm
Open hours: daily, May to September - 09:00 to 21:00; October to April - 09:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, students, families and seniors

Nessie Hunter Cruise
Address: Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness, Inverness-shire, IV63 6TU, Scotland, UK
Tel +44 01456 450 395
Website: http://www.lochness-cruises.com
Open hours: mid-April to December - 09:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children