Is Lochness Worth Visiting? Complete Guide and Things to Do
Is Lochness Worth Visiting is a question that comes to everyone’s mind when they plan to visit Scotland as Lochness has become a buzzword for all these years because of the urban myth of the famous Lochness Monster.
Located in the pristine Scottish Highlands, this place is a great spot for experiencing nature & exploring the depths of Loch Ness. It’s a great place to relax and a nice break from the city.
If you are visiting Scotland for the first time or you have not covered Lochness in your last Scotland trip, then I would highly recommend including this beautiful location in your Scotland Itinerary. Lochness or ‘Lake Ness’ is a unique lake to experience and is famous for its amazing location in between the highlands, unique color (black), huge size, and legend of Nessie.
It is also the second deepest lake in Scotland and is the largest body of water in the whole of the UK! Loch Ness contains more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined.
It’s a great place to also have an amazing boat ride experience where you can explore the wilderness, skimming through the fog, and trying to find Nessie inside the water. It’s a myth for some, but if you believe it then it will make your experience of visiting this place much better.
If you’re set on visiting the Lochness, awesome! There are three cities you can fly out of to reach this part of the highlands. If you are planning a Scotland Trip from London, UK, or abroad, then I highly recommend staying in the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow & Inverness. Inverness is the closest spot to Lochness but you can stay in Edinburgh or Glasgow & take a day trip to Lochness instead.
From Inverness, it’s almost a 40-minute drive to Lochness which is a very scenic route if you want to explore raw Scotland’s beauty. I highly recommend visiting Lochness this way as it just seems to add more to your experience. You can stay in any of the cities mentioned above & easily cover Lochness in a day.
See a summary of how to get here from these three cities:
Inverness
By Car: 30–40 minutes via A82. The road runs alongside the western shore of Loch Ness, offering scenic views of the loch and surrounding hills.
By Public Transport: Direct buses from Inverness bus station or guided tours are available. The bus journey typically takes 30–40 minutes and is a convenient option for those without a car.
Glasgow
By Car: Approximately 3 hours via A82 or A9 & A82. The A82 route is particularly scenic, passing through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Fort William, and alongside several other lochs. The A9 route is slightly longer but faster, especially in heavy traffic.
By Public Transport: Take a train from Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness, which takes around 3.5 hours. From Inverness, buses or guided tours to Loch Ness are available. Alternatively, there are coach tours that run directly from Glasgow to Loch Ness, offering a comprehensive day trip experience.
Edinburgh
By Car: About 3 hours via M90, A9 & A82. The journey takes you through Perth and Pitlochry, with opportunities to stop at attractions like Blair Castle and the Highland Wildlife Park. The drive along the A82 offers beautiful views of the Scottish Highlands.
By Public Transport: Take a train from Edinburgh Waverley to Inverness, approximately 3.5 hours. From Inverness, continue by bus or tour to Loch Ness. There are also direct coach tours available from Edinburgh, which include guided commentary and stops at key points of interest along the way.
Loch Ness Cruise Ride
If you are visiting Lochness to explore the lake then I highly recommend taking the cruise ride that takes you on a scenic tour in the lake in between the mountains. There are a lot of companies that offer boat rides and we had a great experience with Cruise Lochness.
The ticket price was 20 pounds but I think you can get it cheaper in the off-season. The cruise also has a built-in Sonar that scans the depths of the waters & shows you any big things or creatures under it which is quite interesting. You also have a guide onboard who explains various things and history while on the cruise.
Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition
You can also visit the Lochness Centre which takes you through an interesting ride of all the past explorations that have been conducted on in the lake to find the Lochness Monster.
If you believe in the myth then you might find it really interesting to see the different kinds of experiments conducted over the years on the lake and for finding the creature. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a glimpse of Nessie but you might be lucky. The locals believe it to be true. This center is located in the village of Drumnadrochit.
Visit the Falls of Foyers
This is fall located on the south side of Lochness & is one of the highest falls in Scotland. This is a popular spot with tourists & offers an amazing view of a 140-foot-high waterfall from a cliff kind of setup.
Explore Fort Augustus
Fort August is the village from where the Lochness cruise tour starts. It’s a small village but offers scenic views of the Scottish highland and the Lochness. There are some good food joints that you can explore to have a delicious meal with a view of Lochness. Because of the popularity of the spot, the places are packed in peak times. So please plan accordingly.
As per my first-hand experience, I think the best time to visit Lochness would be early Autumn (Fall). This is due to the fact that you will skip most of the summer crowd, the prices of the tours will be low & the temperature will be pleasant.
You might still feel a bit cold because of the waterside & incoming winds, but I highly suggest visiting Scotland in Autumn as you will have a magical time experiencing the different colors in Scottish highlands & cities like Edinburgh.
I would definitely recommend avoiding Lochness during winter & especially during January & February when the sky is overcast & gloomy all the time. An interesting feature of Lochness is that the color of the water is almost black. So unlike other lakes, you cannot see what’s going on inside the water.
This makes it harder for anyone looking for the Lochness monster as it’s impossible to see through. Some say it’s how nature has designed it so that the legend never gets discovered. So I suggest not visiting in winter as it will make it even more harder to see anything in the water with no sun & overcast skies.
Summer is also a good time to visit Lochness if you want to experience the warm sun but be prepared to stand in long queues & pay for inflated ticket prices. Also, I would recommend booking any tours & attractions in advance to avoid any last-minute surprises.
There are a few beautiful places to visit in and around Lochness where you can enjoy nature more closely.
Eilean Donan Castle
This castle offers stunning views of the Lochs & is located at the conjunction of three lochs. It is almost an hour’s drive from Lochness & it is highly recommended to visit this place which is also one of the most photographed castles in Scotland. It has also been featured in multiple films.
Glen Affric
It’s a great spot for hiking and photography in between the pine forest and bustling water on the sides. If you love outdoor activities then this is the place to be. There are a lot of trails available for hikers. There is also a route available which is almost 12 miles long if you want to cycle around.
Inverness
Inverness is a beautiful city and is equipped with all modern facilities. You can stay in Inverness & take a day trip to Lochness. There are a lot of things to do in and around Inverness like visiting the historic Culloden Battlefield, Inverness Castle or just walking the trail by River Ness that flows through the heart of Inverness.
Glenmoriston
Located west of Loch Ness this is another beautiful spot to visit as it offers mesmerizing views of snow-capped mountains with the River Moriston flowing in. A popular place for hikers and also a great place to enjoy different species of birds & mammals like red deer.
I hope I’ve settled your thoughts on whether or not Lochness is worth visiting. There are plenty of reasons to visit Lochness; it’s a historic place, very close to nature, and has something for everyone. If you are a nature lover there are a lot of options in and around Lochness where you can explore the wilderness or just enjoy the castles. A day trip to Lochness or a 1-night stay in Lochness would be great to experience the area & indulge in nature.
Originally published at https://theworldoverload.com on July 28, 2024.
