Holidays in Around Loch Ness
Loch Ness needs no introduction, for it is surely the most famous lake in the world, its monstrous reputation being known from Kamchatka to Tierra del Fuego. It is also vast. Loch Ness is 23 miles long, around 1 mile wide and very, very deep. It contains more water than all of the lakes in England and Wales put together.
Loch Ness runs north east/south west along the Great Glen, the massive valley that links the Moray Firth and North Sea with Loch Linnhe and the West Coast. Inverness lies at the outflow of the River Ness into the Moray Firth, around 5 miles from the north east end of the Loch.
Following the Great Glen and linking the two coasts is the Caledonian Canal, which also makes full use of Loch Ness,boats passing up and down it throughout the year.
The Loch's steep and majestic wooded sides and only very occasional patches of flattish ground make building difficult and there are very few houses around the loch, let alone villages, so the loch will always retain its wild, Highland feel.
The popular A82 trunk road runs along the North (north west) side of Loch Ness, with the small village of Lochend at the Inverness end and Fort Augustus at the south west end. The road passes through two very popular villages between the two: Drumnadrochit, at the foot of Glenurquhart, where the Glen meets the Loch, and Invermoriston at the foot of Glenmoriston. In addition, the beautiful crofting township of Abriachan sits high up on the hill above the Loch, near its north end.
Drumnadrochit has the Loch Ness Exhibition that explains the long history of the Loch, and one of Scotland's most famous castles, Urquhart Castle, sits on the water's edge, just outside the village.
From Loch Ness a road heads west up Glenurquhart to the village of Cannich in Strathglass, a valley that starts near Beauly and runs south west, parallel to Loch Ness and a few miles to the west of it. The countryside is beautiful, and all the more so as one approaches Loch Affric and the trees of the surrounding ancient Caledonian forest of Glen Affric.
Fort Augustus is an ancient village, though its name is not, having been given to it when the British General, Wade, built a fort here between 1729 and 1742 during the Jacobite Risings. The Fort was later given to the Benedictine Order and was a monastery between 1878 and 1988. Fort Augustus Abbey has now been converted into sumptuous holiday apartments advertised on this website.
The South Side (south east side) of Loch Ness is much quieter than the North Side and the high, rolling, moor, tree and loch-covered plateau above the Loch is criss-crossed by a network of small roads making exploration a pleasure.
Here you will find the pretty lochside villages of Foyers, Dores and Inverfarigaig, while the land above is dotted with farms and includes the small village of Whitebridge.
In addition to exploring Loch Ness on the water, by cruise boat, kayak, canoe or sailing dinghy, you can explore the shores by car, bicycle, mountain bike, horse or on foot. You can also enjoy a wide range of wildlife from red squirrels to badgers, pine marten, ospreys and golden eagles. You can fish for trout and salmon, explore archaeological and historic monuments and enjoy some fine dining in village restaurants or in nearby Inverness. Finally, you can use the loch side as a base from which to explore the wider Highlands.
An Clachan, Around Loch Ness
Lochview Loft, The Highland Club, Around Loch Ness
Dhivach Coach House, Around Loch Ness
Vaughan Apartment, Around Loch Ness
The Old School House, Around Loch Ness
Holm Lodge, Around Loch Ness
Liatrie, Around Loch Ness
The Abbot's Rest, Around Loch Ness
