| |
| Urquhart
castle ruins and Loch Ness |
|
Photo
courtesy of BritainOnView.com |
| Click
on the image for larger version |
|
Urquhart Castle dates back to the 13th century. As far as
romantic ruins go, this castle has it all. It is perched up above the trees
on a rocky outcrop, which plunges steeply down into the loch. The waters
of the loch quickly reach a depth of 600ft and it is said that sometimes
strange ripples can be seen on the water in the shadow of the castle - signs
that the Loch Ness Monster is stirring! Onwards
along the north shore the road takes you through the 17th century hamlet
of Invermoriston before reaching Fort Augustus at the southwestern tip
of the loch. At Fort Augustus the staircase lock system on the Caledonian
Canal can be seen. The Canal was begun in 1803 by the great industrial
architect, Thomas Telford. If you want to tour the loch by boat, Fort
Augustus is the best place to do it from.
| |
| Aerial
view of Loch Ness near Dores |
|
Photo
courtesy of BritainOnView.com |
| Click
on the image for larger version |
|
The South Shore
On the south side of Loch Ness the scenery becomes wild.
Single track roads hug the undulating shoreline. The south side is often
more tranquil, while the 100-foot falls at Foyer are an amazing sight!
At Dores towards the north-east end of the lake a small road switchbacks
up into the hills to the south. Here you will find a series of smaller
lochs nestled at altitude between the steep-sloped mountains - perfect
if you're looking for the ultimate in beautiful Scottish scenery.
Getting to Loch Ness
Inverness airport is the closest airport to Loch Ness.
It receives in regional flights from the UK's main international airports
including Glasgow, Birmingham, Heathrow and Gatwick. Car Hire can be booked
in advance to pick up from Inverness. Visit http://www.your-carhire.com
for a quote. |
