Loch Ness Travel Guide

  Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness
by spidermiss
  • Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness
      Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness
    by spidermiss
  • Shores of Loch Ness
      Shores of Loch Ness
    by spidermiss
  • Loch Ness
      Loch Ness
    by spidermiss
  • Waiting for our Loch Cruise at Urquhart Castle
      Waiting for our Loch Cruise at Urquhart...
    by spidermiss
  • Urquhart Castle on the Loch Ness Cruise
      Urquhart Castle on the Loch Ness Cruise
    by spidermiss

Pro

daarth profile photo

 There might be a monster in there. 


Con

willy_wonka profile photo

 sadly it didn't and i was stuck here overnight! 


In a nutshell

Charlie_UK profile photo

 The most lucrative monster on the planet 

 

Explore Loch Ness

Things to Do  

A disapppointing Cruise!

A disapppointing Cruise!, Loch Ness

 spidermiss Says:  On the Loch Ness, Glencoe & Highlands Tour I did in May 2010, there was the optional excursion to visit Urquhart Castle and take in a lake cruise. I had high expectations especially what Loch Ness connotes to and also I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Urquhart Castle.We were... 

Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness

 spidermiss Says:  Urquhart is on Loch Ness shoreline near Drumnadrochit in the Scottish Highlands. I visited the castle whilst doing a day tour of the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh. The castle has great views of Loch Ness and from the loch it's an impressive structure reminding those on... 

Nice stop at Urquhart Castle

Nice stop at Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness

 WorldRunner100 Says:  As my title indicates, this was a very nice place to stop along Loch Ness and stretch our legs and take a couple photos. I posted my photos and a narrative on my travel blog at:http://adams-travel-blog.blogspot.com/2009/07/scotland-day-1.htmlIt was definitely a nice stop,... 

Hypnotic Loch Ness

Hypnotic Loch Ness, Loch Ness

 scottishvisitor Says:  In November Loch Ness was still clinging fleetingly on to Autumn colours. The views really are hypnotic - my eyes were constantly drawn to this mystical and magical body of water. It didn't matter whether I was inside the lodge's sitting room or my bedroom or indeed outside... 

Tours around Scotland

Tours around Scotland, Loch Ness

 mavis77 Says:  I highly recommend the day trip to Loch Ness with 'Haggis Adventures'. They are probably more suited to the younger crowd, but the guides were so friendly and knowledgeable. They grew up in the area, and set out to make sure everyone on the bus had a great day. We travelled... 

LOOK FOR THE LOCH NESS MONSTER !

LOOK FOR THE LOCH NESS MONSTER !, Loch Ness

 DAO Says:  THIS IS A REAL PICTURE OF THE MONSTER !!!!!Just go down to the Loch on a full moon (only). Take along some whiskey. Drink the whiskey. All of it. Not polite to waste any and you need to support the local economy. All finished? Now look out. Farther. See it now? There it is!... 

Boating on the Loch

Boating on the Loch, Loch Ness

 supercarys Says:  Take a boat tour on Loch Ness. For around £8 you can go on an hour long cruise of Loch Ness with sonar readings of the water for all you Nessie watchers and commentary along the way over the PA telling you something of the history of the area. (Bonnie Prince Charlie was... 

Tracking the Lochness monster!

Tracking the Lochness monster!, Loch Ness

 husain Says:  Just like the Himalayas have tales of the Yeti, Scotlands contribution monster tales is the one of Nessie, the Lochness monster.Inspite of various reports of `sightings' including some photographs, most of which were later proved to be hoaxes, few people take Nessies tales... 

Hotels  

The Old Manse

 356 Opinions

Ardconnel House B&B

 386 Opinions

Nightlife  

Loch Ness lake: Stormy night
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ginte 720 reviews

The night we've spent at the shore of Loch Ness lake was heavilly rainy and windy. It was a real storm. I even had a though about that monster Nessie when I woke up several times in the night because the storm was too loud;-) But nothing bad has happened. Everything was the same and we even found the key from the shower which we left outside on the wooden table. The morning was windy, but sunny. A nice start of the day in the fantastic place!

Updated Sep 15, 2005

Related to:
 Adventure Travel
 Camping

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Transportation  

How to get to Loch Ness

How to get to Loch Ness, Loch Ness

 ophiro Says:  I think that the best option to see this area is with a car.We drove from Inverness to Fort william and this is a lot of distance to pass.Of course you can use a bus or something but you should check the time table.We saw a tourist that missed her bus and she had to wait 2... 

Rail Service

Rail Service, Loch Ness

 sbrookes Says:  I remember seeing the trains as we rode on a motor coach.A Loch Ness hotel says: "Road and Rail LinksWe have excellent Rail Services with day trains to London and an overnight Sleeper train. There are direct rail services to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and local... 

Shopping  

Various: YOUR OWN DESKTOP NESSIE

Various: YOUR OWN DESKTOP NESSIE, Loch Ness

 DAO Says:  You have come a long way and you have not seen the monster!? Do not let that stop you buying a souvenir. China Nessies are available from many shops. They come in small medium and large. Buy the large for about £10. It looks like it is swimming through your desk. Excellent... 

Nessie museum: Nessie stuff

Nessie museum: Nessie stuff, Loch Ness

 ophiro Says:  If you are in loch ness you will see in the museum or other shops aroud the lake a lot of Nessie stuff - shirts , dolls , coffee cups and more. I bought a few nessie dolls to the family 

Local Customs  

Lake

Lake, Loch Ness

 ginte Says:  We went almost around all Loch Ness lake by car and were surprised, as we've seen only some free roads where you can get closer to the lake from the highways. There are no ways at all or many private closed ways. 

Warnings and Dangers  

Don't try and swim in it
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Charlie_UK 90 reviews

Swimming in the loch is a no-no. Not because the average hungry plesiosaur enjoys human flesh, but because the sides of the loch are steep, so even quite close to the shore the water is very cold and hypothermia soon strikes. Then you will drown and die not knowing if Nessie is real after all.

Written Jul 11, 2003

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Tourist Traps  

Avoid the museums

Avoid the museums, Loch Ness

 albert34 Says:  It is supposed you had come by bus cause you are in a budget.First of all don't go down to the Umquhart Castle to take a picture.Go up the road a little and the scenery is perhaps better.Second tip:Instead of visiting the museums go to walk by one of a number of paths around... 

Loch Ness Exhibition

Loch Ness Exhibition, Loch Ness

 stevezero Says:  The shores of Loch Ness have two exhibitions, or museums whichever way you look at it. Thay have displays, a cinema and lots of things to buy. Obviously they cater unashamedly to the tourist market, but then again why are we there! Buy a plastic nessie Drive on! 

What to Pack  

Travel Light
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scottishvisitor 1572 reviews

Luggage and bags: We had a lot of packing to do - babies don't travel lightly, nor to Kilts and Bridal Wear!! It took four cars to transport all we needed for a Wedding Weekend plus another two cars for the return journey to Elgin. Don't dismay if you visit this Mysterious place just bring your camera and lots of patience just in case you are on a Nessy Hunt!

Photo Equipment: We were occupied by family photos but the views of the loch and the sailing trips should keep you occupied so bring plenty of camera chips or film

Updated Jan 9, 2009

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Favorites  

Visit the Loch Ness Monster Museum!

Visit the Loch Ness Monster Museum!, Loch Ness

 saraheg77 Says:  As we were driving around Loch Ness, we found this little museum that had a statue of Nessie out front. Be sure and take a picture posing with Nessie! The museum didn't have a ton of information, but it was interesting to learn a few things and read the history of sightings... 

Nessie the Monster

Nessie the Monster, Loch Ness

 daarth Says:  In case you hadn't heard, there is supposed to be a monster in Loch Ness...Lots and lots of tourists actually believe this and come to see it for themselves. This is in spite the fact that none of them actually ever see anything!A few do clame to have seen this phenomenon in... 

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Map of Loch Ness