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Loch Ness
Free admission
The basics
Loch Ness is most often visited on day trips from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen that incorporate other Highlands attractions such as Urquhart Castle (Caisteal na Sròine), Stirling Castle, Caledonian Canal, Glencoe (Glen Coe), Rannoch Moor, Cairngorms National Park, and even Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain.
Shorter half-day trips, which usually include a boat cruise on the lake, typically depart from Inverness, while cruise-ship passengers can take shore excursions from Invergordon. Motorized boat trips are the most common way for visitors to scour Nessie's lair, though it's also possible to paddle a canoe or kayak out on the loch, or even take a self-guided cycling trip.
Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh
$75.44 per adult
Traveler Favorite
Saw a lot of Beautiful Scotland in one day
Loved the highlands and the glencoe experience Neil and Charlie were excellent knowledgeable and professional
m6b2vszkh9, May 2024
Things to know before you go
Nessie rumors began when an Irish monk caught sight of something unusual swimming in the lake's inky waters in the seventh century.
For more background on the Nessie phenomenon, visit the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition at Drumnadrochit.
Wear warm clothes, including a waterproof outer layer, as it can get cold on the water.
Day trips from Edinburgh and Glasgow generally last around 12 hours.
The Loch Ness Centre is wheelchair accessible, but most boat trips are not.
Bring your camera so you can document any possible Nessie sightings.
How to get there
Loch Ness stretches between Inverness and Fort Augustus and is one of many such lakes located along the Great Glen. Tours from Inverness, Edinburgh, and Glasgow typically include round-trip transportation to cruise departure points such as Clansman Harbour, Dochgarroch, and Tomnahurich Bridge.
When to get there
Boat trips around Loch Ness run year-round, though they are weather-dependent. In summer, the main A82 thoroughfare between Fort William and Inverness sees a lot of traffic, and sightseeing cruises often sell out—so buy tickets in advance.
How to maximize your chance of a monster sighting
For the best chances of glimpsing the fabled Loch Ness Monster, choose a boat that is fitted with special onboard sonar systems to ensure Nessie doesn't swim by unnoticed. If you're worried the sound of a motor may disturb Nessie, opt for a canoe or kayak tour instead. And if water isn't your thing, the high lakeside perch that houses the ruins of Urquhart Castle makes for a great viewing spot, with uninterrupted lake panoramas.
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- Things to do in The Scottish Highlands
- Things to do in Stirling
- Things to do in Glasgow
- Things to do in Edinburgh
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- Things to do in Belfast
- Things to do in Liverpool
- Things to do in Manchester
- Things to do in Dublin
- Things to do in Birmingham
- Things to do in Limerick
- Things to do in Northeast Scotland
- Things to do in North East England
- Nessieland
- Urquhart Castle (Caisteal na Sròine)
- Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition
- River Ness (Abhainn Nis)
- Whin Park
- Inverness Botanic Gardens (Floral Hall)
- Tomnahurich (Fairy Hill)
- Eden Court Theatre and Cinema
- Inverness Cathedral (St. Andrew's Cathedral)
- Inverness Castle
- Old High Church (Old High St. Stephen’s)
- Merkinch Local Nature Reserve
- Glen Ord Distillery
- Caledonian Canal
- Culloden Battlefield