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Loch Ness Tour: Explore Castles and Villages
4.8
263 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!
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:
24 hours
Highlights
- Urquhart Castle - The one-day Loch Ness tour from Inverness begins at 08:45, following the scenic Caledonian Canal to its source at Loch Ness. Spanning 24 miles and reaching depths of over 700 feet, this loch is the largest by volume in the British Isles and is renowned for sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately called “Nessie.” The…
- Urquhart Castle - The one-day Loch Ness tour from Inverness begins at 08:45, following the scenic Caledonian Canal to its source at Loch Ness. Spanning 24 miles and reaching depths of over 700 feet, this loch is the largest by volume in the British Isles and is renowned for sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately called “Nessie.” The morning is spent at Loch Ness, providing ample time for Nessie-hunting! The first stop is Urquhart Castle (optional extra), where visitors can explore the 13th-century ruins, enjoy the visitor centre, and take in the stunning views and atmosphere of Scotland’s most famous loch.
- Fort Augustus - The tour then proceeds to Fort Augustus, the furthest point of the Loch Ness tour. Here, there is an opportunity to enjoy a relaxing hour-long boat cruise (optional extra) across Loch Ness with Cruise Loch Ness. Afterward, visitors can have lunch in the quaint town, which has a population of just 650 people, making it an ideal spot to unwind and watch boats navigate the Caledonian Canal.
- The Falls of Foyers - Following lunch, the tour heads back to Inverness, stopping at the Falls of Foyers. This magnificent 165ft waterfall, a favorite retreat of poet Rabbie Burns, is truly awe-inspiring. There is ample time to enjoy the atmosphere before the tour continues to the village of Dores for a visit to Dores Beach on the eastern shores of Loch Ness.
- Dores Beach - Visitors can spend a short time strolling along the pebble-strewn shoreline before boarding the coach for the final return journey to Inverness, where the Loch Ness day tour concludes.
What's Included
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Live commentary on board
- Knowledgeable driver-guide
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Live commentary on board
- Knowledgeable driver-guide
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Attraction Tickets
- On-board restrooms
- On-board WiFi
- 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…
- 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.
- If you are driving, we recommend parking at the Old Town Rose Street Multi-Storey Car Park, 24 Rose St, IV1 1NQ, conveniently located next to our departure point.
- Please note: the Loch Ness cruise will not be operating on the 20th and 24th December 2024. On those dates, we will stop at Fort Augustus for lunch where you will have the opportunity to view and enjoy Loch Ness.
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.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(263 Ratings)
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Kennydm8797ki
Aug 6, 2025
MEMORABLE TOUR - VALUE FOR MONEY !! - HAD A WONDERFUL TOUR THANKS TO HOLLY - OUR FRIENDLY & KNOWLEDGEABLE DRIVER CUM TOUR GUIDE CUM SINGER CUM ENTERTAINER 😄 WILL SURELY RECOMMEND TO OUR FREINDS & RELATIVES ! QUICK FEEDBACK - WOULD BE NICE TO HV WIFI ON THE BUS & WATER BOTTLES DISTRIBUTED 😊 CHEERS 🥂
Review provided by Tripadvisor
470newtonc
Jul 28, 2025
Amazing Tour in Highlands! - The tour was incredible and the guide was exceptional: several stops in beautiful places!
Guide Liall Mackenzie explained the various sites on the itinerary in detail and answered all our questions! It was excellent! I recommend the company and Guide Liall to all Brazilians coming to Inverness!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Johanna_a
Jul 26, 2025
Great trip. Be prepared to walk - Fantastic tour. Make sure to add and pay extra for castle and boat options.
Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and we did a variety of stops which were all enjoyable. Wear your walking shoes!
Review provided by Viator
Laviniar676
Jul 23, 2025
- I loved ES totally. We did not go into the ruin DA the ticket price was not included. ES there were several interesting photo stops. The fishing village we liked super well and also the hike at the water points in the area. ES was just a great day trip! Our guide gave us a lot of good information and drove the bus safely. We wholeheartedly recommend the boat trip, even if it costs extra. ES also has a beach where you can keep your feet in Loch Ness in bright sunshine.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
314micahg
Jul 8, 2025
No Nessie, but a great time - A very fun tour which covered a lot of ground. Our tour guide Mike did a great job narrating the scenery. The best way to see the whole loch.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Climber16546661439
Jul 2, 2025
Highlands and Loch Ness - Sean was great! He was knowledgeable and humorous! He made sure we had plenty of time between stops. It was a great day and enjoyed it immensely.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cassia_s
Jul 1, 2025
Lovely Tour of Loch Ness! - Such a great way to see Loch Ness and the beautiful stops around it. We especially loved the time in Fort Augustus. For Urquhart Castle, we got an email ahead of time saying we needed to purchase tickets in advance, but that didn't seem to be true in the end. The QR code that Viator gave us when we got tickets ahead of time didn't even work at the castle, though they were really great about still letting us in. Just a heads up! Everything went so well though, and we especially appreciated the commentary and humor of our guide/driver Willie.
Review provided by Viator
Vishalbabani
Jul 1, 2025
Easy going single day tour! - Great single day tour. The itinerary covered a bunch of sights. We got lucky with great weather which made for some really nice photos.
Our guide Willie was really nice. He’s very easy going and gave us a bunch of trivia about the places we visited. 10/10 would recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yassine_e
Jul 18, 2025
Beautiful views - Very nice views. Alex regaled us with little local stories and fun information about the different points of interest. If you're not used to the Scottish accent it might be a bit difficult to follow at first (it was for us), but Alex is a kindness and patience, he even gave us a lot of recommendations for our next stop on the Isle of Skye. We had a great day with family. 2 aspects to keep in mind: 1- this is not a sports excursion, do not expect to replace your gym with this day and 2- the small cruise on Loch Ness, very nice, is extra (£21 per person).
Review provided by Viator
Siruj2025
Jul 1, 2025
From Finland to Loch Ness - Grate tour. Willie was funny and entertainig guide! Magnifesent views and storys. Thank you for a grate time. We enjoyd!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
