Best Things To Do in Loch Ness: 5 Fun Activities

If you’re heading up to the Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness is likely already on your must-visit list. There are plenty of ways to get there - by car, public transport, or on a guided tour - but once you arrive, the question is what to do. To help you plan, we’ve rounded up five of the best things to do in Loch Ness.

Loch Ness sits right in the heart of the Highlands, making it an easy and rewarding place to visit. If you’re based in Inverness, you can reach the loch in just 20 minutes by car. It’s also a natural stop if you’re travelling between the Isle of Skye and the east coast, so it fits easily into most Scotland itineraries. It’s also the reason why Loch Ness is an included stop on our guided Loch Ness tours and almost all our multi-day tours to the Isle of Skye. 

Surrounded by forests, rivers, hills, and waterfalls, Loch Ness delivers the kind of scenery people dream about when they picture the Highlands. Add to that its worldwide fame as the home of the Loch Ness Monster, and you’ve got a destination that blends myth with dramatic landscapes. 

You’ll also find plenty of facilities nearby, including cafés, restaurants, petrol stations, accommodation, and visitor centres. The village of Fort Augustus at the southern tip of the loch is especially popular, with boat tours and easy access to the Caledonian Canal. 

Take a Loch Ness Boat Tour 

A boat tour is the classic way to experience Loch Ness and one of the most popular things to do in Loch Ness. Everyone secretly hopes to spot Nessie, and even if the monster stays hidden, the scenery and atmosphere make the cruise unforgettable. 

Boat trips with Cruise Loch Ness usually last around an hour and depart from Fort Augustus. The modern vessels are comfortable and equipped with sonar so you can see what’s happening beneath the surface. On board, you’ll hear stories and facts about the loch, and if the weather allows, you can enjoy the breeze from the open top deck. The lower deck has a bar too - perfect for warming up with a dram of whisky. 

🗓️ Timetable: Daily, all year (running at regular intervals) 

⌛ Duration: Approx. 1 hour 

🎟️ Admission: Adults from £21 (reduced tickets available for children and seniors)

💡 Tip: If you’re joining a Loch Ness day tour from Edinburgh or Glasgow, you can book the cruise as a discounted add-on. 

Visit Urquhart Castle

Urquhart Castle combines incredible views of Loch Ness with centuries of history. Once one of the largest castles in Scotland, it was destroyed during the Jacobite uprisings by government troops, who left it in ruins to stop it being used as a stronghold. 

Today, the castle ruins still stand proudly on the shore, and you can visit either by car or on a scenic boat trip that docks nearby. If you’re based in Inverness, you can take a day tour that includes both the boat trip and castle entry. 

🕔 Opens: Daily, all year (times vary seasonally) 

⌛ Admission: Adults from £14 (discounts for Historic Scotland members, seniors, and children; under-6s go free) 

Walk Along The Caledonian Canal

If you’re in Fort Augustus and want a more relaxed way to explore, a walk along the Caledonian Canal is a great choice. The peaceful towpath is perfect for stretching your legs after lunch in one of the village pubs or cafés. 

The flat, well-kept path is also popular with joggers and cyclists. If you’d like more of a challenge, you can continue along the Great Glen Way - one of Scotland’s long-distance routes - which follows sections of the canal and the loch. 

💪 Difficulty: Easy (medium to difficult if you opt for the Great Glen Way)

🎟️ Admission: Free (charges apply for facilities such as toilets or showers) 

Cycle Around Loch Ness

For something more active, you can cycle the Loch Ness 360° Trail. This route links the Great Glen Way and the South Loch Ness Trail into a full circuit of about 80 miles (129 km). 

The trail starts in Inverness, heads through Drumnadrochit and Invermoriston to Fort Augustus, then loops back north via Dores along the south side of the loch. It’s best for confident cyclists with a good level of fitness, but if you’d rather keep things lighter, you can always focus on shorter sections instead. This will still give you a taste of the landscape and count among the more active things to do in Loch Ness. 

💪 Difficulty: Intermediate to Difficult 

🎟️ Admission: Free 

🚴 Trail Duration (cycling): 3 days 

🚶 Trail Duration (walking): 6 days 

Visit The Falls Of Foyers

The Falls of Foyers are found on the quieter south side of Loch Ness in the village of Foyers. Dropping an impressive 140 ft (43 m), the waterfall tumbles into a deep gorge before making its way towards the loch. 

There are two main viewpoints: an upper platform with views across the gorge and a lower platform reached by steps. If you’ve got the energy, you can continue down to the shoreline of Loch Ness. Parking is available just across the road from the start of the trail. 

🕔 Opening times: All year 

🎟️ Admission: Free