Discover Loch Ness, one of the most famous sites in Scotland. Located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness stretches from Inverness all the way down to Fort Augustus. This enchanting loch is best known as the home of the infamous Loch Ness Monster, Nessie, but catching a glimpse of this ancient sea monster isn’t the only reason to visit this magical location.
With the lockdown still firmly in place, we all long for a time when travel and adventure can be part of our lives again. Luckily, we’ve devised the perfect way for you to enjoy a bit of Scotland and plan a trip to remember without leaving your living room.
Join us on a virtual tour and explore the mystery and landscape of our best-selling tour of Loch Ness and The Highlands. A second blog in this series covers another popular tour, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs.
Tour Highlights
Forth Bridges
Pitlochry
Highland Perthshire
Cairngorms National Park
Inverness
Loch Ness/Urquhart Castle
Great Glen
Ben Nevis
Fort William
Glen Coe
Rannoch Moor
Admire Sweeping Views at the Forth Bridges
We start our journey by heading over the iconic Forth Bridges. Towering side-by-side across the Firth of Forth waters, the bridges represent the pinnacle of engineering from three very different centuries.
The Forth Bridge (to the left) is the oldest and opened in 1890. It’s the world's first major steel structure and the world’s longest cantilever bridge. The Forth Road Bridge (in the middle) opened in 1964 and is over 2.4 km long. It was the fourth-longest in the world when it opened. Then there’s the Queensferry Crossing, the youngest, which opened in August 2017 and cost a whopping £1.35bn to build!
Take in the marvellous view as we travel across the waters into the Kingdom of Fife.
Explore Perthshire and Pitlochry
Next, our Loch Ness Scotland tour takes us past Loch Leven and into Perthshire. We’ll go past the Fair City of Perth and make a stop in the delightful Victorian town of Pitlochry.
Sitting in the heart of Highland Perthshire, just below Ben Vrackie, the speckled mountain, Pitlochry is the perfect place for a quick getaway.
Pitlochry hosts several annual events, such as the Highland Games and the Etape Caledonia cycling race. Or you can visit the Enchanted Forest in nearby Faskally Wood. If the dazzling light visuals against the natural backdrop of the forest don’t leave you awestruck, we don’t know what will.
If you’re just passing through, you can simply visit one of the lovely local coffee shops. Enjoy a nice cuppa and a pastry before jumping back on the tour bus.
Breathe the Fresh Air in Cairngorms National Park
We continue our tour through the dramatic scenery of the Grampian Mountains into the wilderness of the Cairngorms National Park. Stretching across a colossal 4,528 sq km (1,748 sq miles), it’s the largest national park in the UK and is bigger than the whole country of Luxembourg.
The Cairngorms offer snowsports, watersports and endless hiking trails, making it the mecca of outdoor adventures. There’s even a sled dog centre, or if you’re feeling brave, you can also find the UK’s only bungee jumping site here.
This breathtaking landscape leads all the way into Inverness, the “Capital of the Highlands”.
Look for the Loch Ness Monster at Loch Ness
Loch Ness is the most famous loch in Scotland, mainly for being home to the mythical Loch Ness Monster, Nessie. Rumours of the creature’s existence began in the sixth century, and curious travellers are still coming here to see if they can spot her. Aim your binoculars at the water and see if you can get a glimpse for yourself.
Although if the search for sea monsters isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other things to do in Loch Ness. Why not enjoy a cruise on the loch or a visit to beautiful Drumnadrochit?
Make sure to admire the stunning Urquhart Castle. Urquhart Castle is over 1000 years old and has seen some of the most dramatic chapters in Scotland’s history. From the castle grounds, you’ll get a spectacular view of the loch (and Nessie, if you’re lucky).
Experience Dramatic Beauty on the Road from Great Glen to Fort William
Next, we’ll travel along the length of Loch Ness, through the glorious landscape of Great Glen, all the way down to Fort William.
Located on the eastern shore of Loch Linnhe, Fort William provides stunning views of the majestic Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. Fort William is known for its proximity to the great outdoors and serves as the gateway to everything from hikes up Ben Nevis to snowsports at Nevis Range.
If you’re not the outdoorsy type, why not visit the West Highland Museum? Or you can take a trip on the Jacobite Steam Train.
You can also visit the Ben Nevis Distillery, which is one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland. Slàinte Mhath!
Take a Moment to Reflect at Glen Coe, the “Glen of Weeping”
After enjoying a wee dram at the distillery, we head on into the dramatic, volcanic landscape of Glen Coe.
It’s one of Scotland’s most hauntingly beautiful places — the kind of scenery that feels almost unreal — but it also carries a tragic past. That’s why Glen Coe is often called the “Glen of Weeping.”
In 1692, members of Clan MacDonald were brutally killed by soldiers of Clan Campbell, acting under orders from the British Government. The attack followed the Jacobite rising of 1689 and was carried out because the MacDonalds were late in swearing loyalty to the Crown.
A number of the soldiers were uneasy about what they’d been told to do. Some are said to have protested by snapping their swords, but the orders were carried out, and 38 MacDonalds were killed, their homes burned, and many survivors fled into the mountains. Many more died from exposure. Some say you can still hear their cries…
With Glen Coe’s majestic mountains and breathtaking scenery, it’s no wonder that so many famous movies, like Harry Potter and Jame Bond’s Skyfall, have been filmed here.
Admire Rannoch Moor’s Rugged Beauty
We’ll wrap up our virtual tour by travelling through the rugged terrain of Rannoch Moor. Rannoch Moor extends for some 50 square miles and is one of the most unspoilt and desolate areas in Europe.
You can make a stop in Kinloch Rannoch and visit the Rannoch Station Visitors Centre. There, you can learn about the fauna and flora of Rannoch Moor and how the railway line was built. The West Highland Railway, between Glasgow and Fort William, is often voted one of the best rail journeys in the world.
After a stop in the little village of Tyndrum for refreshments, the last part of the journey will head towards Doune and Stirling, where there will be wonderful views of its historic castle and the towering Wallace Monument.
Discover Loch Ness and the Highlands with Scottish Tours
Thank you for joining us on our virtual journey on one our favourite tours.
You can explore more about the Scottish Highlands, and book your tour today.
