Drumnadrochit is a village in the Scottish Highlands on the west shore of Loch Ness which largely subsists on "Nessie" tourism. It also has the impressive ruins of Urquhart Castle. Every coach tour of the Highlands comes here.
- Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition, Drumnadrochit IV63 6TU, +44 1456 450573. Daily Nov-Mar 10:00-16:15, Apr-Jun & Sept Oct 09:30-17:45, July Aug 09:30-18:45. The "serious" version: Loch Ness really is a remarkable place, without all the Nessie hokum. This exhibition describes the natural history of the place, and puts the legend in context. Adults £7.95, conc £6.75, child 6-15 £4.95.
- Nessieland, IV63 6TU (jcn of A82 & A831, +44 1456 450342. Daily July-Aug 09:00-21:00, Sept-Jun 09:00-17:00. The "theme park" version: explore Nessie's caves, Nessie's castle, Nessie's summerhouse . . . Nessie even has a miniature railway, who knew? Adults £6, child £3.
- Nessie (banner photo) basks in the pond outside the exhibition centre, no charge to view. Frankly it resembles the corpse of a swan: did it eat something it shouldn't?
- Urquhart Castle, Drumnadrochit IV63 6XJ (on loch side two miles south of village, +44 1456 450551. Apr-Sept 09:30-18:00, Oct to 17:00, Nov-Mar to 16:30. Impressive ruins of 13th-16th C castle sited on Strone Point overlooking Loch Ness. Time was, if you traversed the Highlands then you had to pass this way. St Columba (6th C) worked a healing miracle here, and soon afterwards had the first recorded encounter with the Monster, in the river near Inverness. Everyone else brought an army and tried to capture or wreck the place: the English, the Scots, more English, more Scots under Robert the Bruce, then raiders from the Lord of the Isles, and more raiders. After the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688 it was garrisoned against the Jacobites and held out against a siege. The garrison left in 1695 and blew it up to prevent the Jacobites using it, and that was the end of the castle. The Jacobites returned the compliment in 1746 when they abandoned and blew up Inverness Castle. Adults £9, child 5-15 £5.40, conc £7.20.
Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition, Drumnadrochit IV63 6TU, +44 1456 450573. Daily Nov-Mar 10:00-16:15, Apr-Jun & Sept Oct 09:30-17:45, July Aug 09:30-18:45. The "serious" version: Loch Ness really is a remarkable place, without all the Nessie hokum. This exhibition describes the natural history of the place, and puts the legend in context. Adults £7.95, conc £6.75, child 6-15 £4.95.
Nessieland, IV63 6TU (jcn of A82 & A831, +44 1456 450342. Daily July-Aug 09:00-21:00, Sept-Jun 09:00-17:00. The "theme park" version: explore Nessie's caves, Nessie's castle, Nessie's summerhouse . . . Nessie even has a miniature railway, who knew? Adults £6, child £3.
Nessie (banner photo) basks in the pond outside the exhibition centre, no charge to view. Frankly it resembles the corpse of a swan: did it eat something it shouldn't?
Urquhart Castle, Drumnadrochit IV63 6XJ (on loch side two miles south of village, +44 1456 450551. Apr-Sept 09:30-18:00, Oct to 17:00, Nov-Mar to 16:30. Impressive ruins of 13th-16th C castle sited on Strone Point overlooking Loch Ness. Time was, if you traversed the Highlands then you had to pass this way. St Columba (6th C) worked a healing miracle here, and soon afterwards had the first recorded encounter with the Monster, in the river near Inverness. Everyone else brought an army and tried to capture or wreck the place: the English, the Scots, more English, more Scots under Robert the Bruce, then raiders from the Lord of the Isles, and more raiders. After the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688 it was garrisoned against the Jacobites and held out against a siege. The garrison left in 1695 and blew it up to prevent the Jacobites using it, and that was the end of the castle. The Jacobites returned the compliment in 1746 when they abandoned and blew up Inverness Castle. Adults £9, child 5-15 £5.40, conc £7.20.
- Loch Ness boat trips: these sail from Drumnadrochit itself Apr-Oct, and year-round from Fort Augustus and from the north end of the loch (based in Inverness).
- Horse riding: Highland Riding Centre is at Borlum Farm, off A82 south of village.
- Walk or cycle the Great Glen Way and other trails: see Loch Ness.
- Glenurquhart Highland Games are held in mid-August in Blairbeg Park. The next event is Sat 22 Aug 2020.
[[Loch Ness]] boat trips: these sail from Drumnadrochit itself Apr-Oct, and year-round from Fort Augustus and from the north end of the loch (based in Inverness).
Horse riding: Highland Riding Centre is at Borlum Farm, off A82 south of village.
Walk or cycle the Great Glen Way and other trails: see [[Loch Ness]].
Glenurquhart Highland Games are held in mid-August in Blairbeg Park. The next event is Sat 22 Aug 2020.
All the Nessie kitsch you could ever want. And there's a Scotmid Coop in the village.
- Fiddlers Highland Restaurant, The Green IV63 6TU, +44 1456 450678. Daily 12:30-14:30 & 18:00-21:00. Traditional Scots fare and great selection of whisky. With accommodation here and next door in Oakdale B&B. Main courses from £15.
Fiddlers Highland Restaurant, The Green IV63 6TU, +44 1456 450678. Daily 12:30-14:30 & 18:00-21:00. Traditional Scots fare and great selection of whisky. With accommodation here and next door in Oakdale B&B. Main courses from £15.
All the hotels have well-stocked public bars.
- For a scenic loop take A831, which runs west into the hills to the tiny village of Cannich in Glen Affric; it then follows the glen north towards Inverness.
- Follow A82 south to Invermoriston, where A887 branches off over the hills to join A87, for Kyle of Lochalsh and the bridge to Skye.
- South end of the loch is Fort Augustus, with routes beyond to Oban, Glencoe, Loch Lomond and Glasgow.
- Just north of the loch is Inverness.