Loch Ness & The Highlands from Inverness: One Day Nessie-Hunting and Loch Exploration tour
4.8
183 Ratings
Highland Council

Embark on a one-day adventure hunting for Nessie, cruising the enigmatic Loch Ness, discovering the town of Fort Augustus, touring the lakeside ruins of Urquhart Castle, appreciating the Falls of Foyers, and strolling by Dores Beach from Inverness!

Duration: 8 hours, 45 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Dochgarroch Locks, Caledonian Canal - Your one day Loch Ness tour from Inverness departs at 08:45 and follows the beautiful Caledonian Canal to the source at Loch Ness. 24 miles long and over 700 feet deep, the loch is the largest by volume in the British Isles and is most famous for its sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as “Nessie”. We spend most of the morning at Loch Ness, allowing you plenty of time to go Nessie-hunting! Our first stop is Dochgarroch, about 7 miles from Inverness, here you will have the option of taking a 5 Loch Ness boat trip with Jacobite Cruises who have provided Loch Ness cruises for over 40 years.
  • Urquhart Castle - We will then visit the 13th century ruins of Urquhart Castle where you will have plenty of time here to explore the ruin, enjoy the visitor centre, and take in the views and atmosphere of Scotland’s most famous loch.
  • Invermoriston Falls - Our Loch Ness tour then continues to Invermoriston, where we will pause to take photos of the bridge and St Columba’s Well – a well that was believed to have poisonous water until it was blessed by St Columba in AD 565, banishing the evil spirits that haunted it. That same year he supposedly had the first documented encounter with the Loch Ness Monster.
  • Fort Augustus Abbey - Afterwards, we journey through to Fort Augustus, the furthermost point of your Loch Ness tour. Fort Augustus is a small town with a population of only 650 people and is a perfect spot to relax and watch boats passing through the Caledonian Canal while you enjoy your lunch!
  • The Falls of Foyers - After lunch, our Loch Ness tour will begin its journey back to Inverness, stopping at the Falls of Foyers. The majestic 165ft waterfall was a favourite retreat for poet Rabbie Burns, and is truly breath-taking. Enjoy plenty of time here to soak up the atmosphere
What's Included
  • Driver/guide
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Live commentary on board
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Attraction Tickets
  • On-board restrooms
  • On-board WiFi
Additional Information
  • Minimum age is 4 years old.
  • Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark.
  • The castle & cruise currently need to be pre-booked, details will be provided on the ticket.
  • Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or a full refund.
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
  • Digital translations in English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian & Mandarin available on request.
  • Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before your tour’s departure time.
Location
Railway Terrace
Railway Terrace, Inverness, IV1 1NW. Look out for our coach or our sign on the lamp post.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(183 Ratings)
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Angelika_b
Apr 14, 2024
A trip and views to remember! - A must tour to have. Incredible tour around Loch Ness with fun and knowledgeable tour guide Sandy! My family and I we had the most amazing time ever despite unpleasant weather - the sights we visited were beyond our initial expectations. Such a gorgeous land of Scotland, and Loch Ness itself was very impressive to see. Incredible castle is a must to visit for anyone. Highly recommend this tour with Sandy!
Review provided by Viator
Gill_m
Apr 9, 2024
A great day out at Loch Ness - The whole day was exciting and memorable. Urquhart Castle was fun to explore in a stunning location. The falls at Invermoriston and Foyer were both fascinating and picturesque. We enjoyed a nice lunch at Fort Augustus watching the boats go through the locks. The whole of Loch Ness was so beautiful. Sandy, our tour guide, was great to listen to and very interesting. We had plenty of time st each spot to appreciate the beauty and history.
Review provided by Viator
Elisapfto
Mar 19, 2024
10/10 experience - My mother and I really enjoyed our day-trip to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle. We had gone to the Isle of Skye with Timberbush the day before and liked it so much that we booked this one the following day. And again, everything was perfect! Hats off to our guide Liall Mackenzie - being able to hear stories from the Highlands from a true Highlander was such an amazing experience. He was so friendly, knowledgeable and a great driver. The cruise, the castle, the views...unforgettable. Thanks Liall and Timberbush! I'll be back soon and will sure be taking other tours with Timberbush.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
William_k
Mar 13, 2024
Great day around Loch Ness - Sandy was a fantastic guide, he was very informative and took us to some amazing places. Loch Ness was beautiful but I particularly liked the hikes.
Review provided by Viator
Ankur_t
Mar 4, 2024
Amazing experience - We had a wonderful trip. Enjoy the every bit of the location and most important Alex was superb guide and coach driver he summarise the details of history and quite helpful :) amazing will surely recommend to everyone. !
Review provided by Viator
Ana_m
Feb 19, 2024
Great guide/driver (LIALL... - Great guide/driver (LIALL MACKENZIE)!! Loads of interesting information, lovely sites to stop and aprecciate the landscape. And very fortunate about the weather!
Review provided by Viator
Marinem252
Feb 15, 2024
Wonderful day around Loch Ness - I had a wonderful time discovering the magnificent landscapes of the Highlands and around Loch Ness. The tour was perfect, and our guide, Liall, provided great explanations and historical perspectives. I loved it! Also, the cruise was lovely, and the visit of Urquhart was stunning. Plus, I really liked hiking a bit and seeing the beautiful mountains covered with fresh snow. Those are wonderful memories. Thank you again, Liall! I would definitely recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marta_k
Feb 14, 2024
Beautiful tour - This tour was excellent, it was definitely more than I expected and a great value for money. Our guide Liall Mackenzie was very knowledgeable and kept us engaged with some fascinating stories. The itinerary was much richer than described on Viator and included a combination of everything, even a little hike through snow to the top of a hill with some magnificent views of the highlands. I would definitely recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Sarah_w
Jan 15, 2024
Great way to spend a day! - Had a wonderful tour of Loch Ness with multiple stops that were all super interesting! Overall a wonderful way to spend a day in the Highlands. Jack was a wonderful guide who was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining!
Review provided by Viator
Andrewwalkerr
Jan 2, 2024
Amazing tour and brilliant tour guide Alex - This tour was amazing and Alex, the tour guide, provided so much history and interesting facts during the drive. Urquhart Castle was beautiful, right on the shores of Loch News. And the town of Fort Augustus was very nice too. The Loch Ness cruise was well worth it as well, since they provide a lot of interesting history and information about the Loch and its famous monster, Nessie!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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June 2024
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