Loch Ness & the Great Glen: Urquhart Castle, the Caledonian Canal & Nessie

Loch Ness fills the floor of the Great Glen, the long straight valley that cuts across the Highlands from Inverness to Fort William. It is about 23 miles long, deep and dark, framed by steep wooded hills.

Why Loch Ness & the Great Glen Is Special

Loch Ness is the largest body of fresh water in the British Isles by volume, holding more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined, and its depth and mystery have made it famous around the world.

On its shore, the ruins of Urquhart Castle make one of the great sights of the Highlands.

The History of Loch Ness & the Great Glen

At 56 square kilometres, Loch Ness is the second-largest Scottish loch by surface area, after Loch Lomond, but because of its great depth it is the largest by volume in the British Isles.

The loch forms part of the Caledonian Canal, which links the Moray Firth and the North Sea to Loch Linnhe on the west coast. At Fort Augustus, at the southern end, a flight of locks lifts boats from the loch.

Loch Ness is best known for claimed sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately called Nessie, which have intrigued visitors since the 1930s. Urquhart Castle, on a headland on the western shore, was fought over for centuries and is now a romantic ruin cared for by Historic Environment Scotland.

What to See & the Best Walks at Loch Ness & the Great Glen

Visit Urquhart Castle (check opening times) and take a cruise on the loch from the castle or from Fort Augustus. Watch boats climb the locks at Fort Augustus.

Drive or cycle the quieter road along the south shore to the Falls of Foyers, or walk a stretch of the Great Glen Way.

Wildlife at Loch Ness & the Great Glen

Ospreys and other birds of prey hunt along the Great Glen, and red deer live in the hills above the loch. The loch's dark waters are home to salmon and trout.

Gardens, Countryside & Antiques near Loch Ness & the Great Glen

The Cairngorms National Park is an hour south-east of Inverness; see our guide to the Cairngorms. Families enjoy the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig.

To the west, the road to Skye passes Eilean Donan Castle; see our guides to Plockton and the Isle of Skye.

Loch Ness & the Great Glen Through the Seasons

Spring and early summer bring long days for walking the Great Glen Way. Summer is the busiest time for cruises. Autumn colours the birch woods along the shore, and winter brings snow to the surrounding hills.

Getting to Loch Ness & the Great Glen

Inverness is on the railway from Perth and Edinburgh, with buses along the loch to Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus.

Loch Ness & the Great Glen: Questions & Answers

How much water is in Loch Ness?

More than in all the lakes in England and Wales combined. It is the largest body of fresh water in the British Isles by volume.

Who looks after Urquhart Castle?

Historic Environment Scotland. Check opening times before you visit.

Our Advice

Our advice: Visit Urquhart Castle early, take a cruise, and drive back along the quieter south shore to the Falls of Foyers.