When you think of Loch Ness, you undoubtedly imagine the legendary beast that has, according to tradition, lived there for countless ages. The loch is 23 miles long. The largest lake in Scotland’s Great Glen, Loch Ness, is a component of a canal that connects the country’s east and west coasts. The Caledonian Canal connects it with three other lochs. You can travel through the canal locks, which regulate the varying water levels, on a six-hour journey from one end to the other or short excursions.
With the historic ruins of Urquhart Castle perched on its hillside above the lake, Loch Ness is the most picturesque area of the canal and each of the lochs, which are all surrounded by some of the most breathtaking highland landscapes. The castle from the 12th century, which served as the setting for numerous historical stories, was destroyed by fire 500 years later.
The best views of the castle can be had while floating by on a Loch Ness cruise or arriving by boat. The Loch Ness Exhibition at the Drumnadrochit Hotel offers exciting facts about the geological origins of Loch Ness and the surrounding area, in addition to exhibits and reports of sightings that fuel the Nessie legend. From Inverness, reaching the castle, the canal, and Loch Ness is simple.