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For tourists and families

Explore Loch Ness with Nessie

Tours, attractions, bookings and souvenirs. Plan a family trip to Loch Ness and the rest of Scotland, then explore every place in 3D before you go.

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Things to do

The best of Loch Ness for families.

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Boat trips and tours

Cruises and local guided tours.

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Stay and eat

Villages, hotels, cafés and attractions.

Where to go →

Guides and itineraries

Getting there and trails to follow.

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Bookings

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Things to do

Things to do around Loch Ness

Loch Ness runs through the Great Glen, from Inverness in the north to Fort Augustus in the south. Here are family favourites all the way round.

Urquhart Castle

The ruins of a castle on a rocky point above the loch, one of the best places to look out for Nessie.

The Loch Ness Centre

An exhibition in Drumnadrochit all about the loch, the legend and the people who have searched for Nessie.

Boat trips

Cruise along the loch and look down into the dark, peaty water. Some trips stop at Urquhart Castle.

Fort Augustus locks

At the south end of the loch, boats climb a staircase of locks on the Caledonian Canal.

Falls of Foyers

A tall waterfall in the woods on the quieter south side of the loch.

Dores Beach

A pebble beach at the north end, with long views down the loch. Bring a picnic!

Invermoriston

Waterfalls and an old stone bridge built by the engineer Thomas Telford.

Walks and trails

The Loch Ness 360° Trail and the Great Glen Way have walks for every age, from short strolls to long hikes.

Opening times, prices and seasons change, so always check with each attraction before you travel. Many boat trips and attractions run less often in winter.

Boat trips and guided tours

Get out on the water

A boat trip is the best way to feel how big and deep Loch Ness really is, and to keep watch for Nessie!

🚤 Boat trips

Several companies run cruises on Loch Ness, from short trips to longer ones that stop at Urquhart Castle. Most leave from Inverness, from near Drumnadrochit or from Fort Augustus.

🧭 Local guided tours

Guided day tours visit Loch Ness from Inverness and from further afield, often with stops at Urquhart Castle and Fort Augustus. Local guides share the history and the legends as you go.

🦺 Staying safe

Loch Ness is very deep and cold all year round. On boats, follow the crew's safety instructions and wear a life jacket when you're asked to. Keep little ones close at the water's edge.

Want help booking a boat trip or tour?

Tell us your dates, how many of you there are and the ages of any children, and we'll reply with options.

Enquire about tours

Stay, eat and explore

Nearby hotels, restaurants and attractions

The villages around the loch all have places to stay and eat, from campsites and B&Bs to hotels and cafés.

  • InvernessThe Highland capital at the north end of the loch, with the most places to stay and eat, a train station and an airport.
  • DrumnadrochitA village on the north shore, close to Urquhart Castle and the Loch Ness Centre.
  • Fort AugustusAt the south end of the loch, where boats climb the Caledonian Canal locks.
  • InvermoristonA small village with waterfalls and Telford's old bridge.
  • FoyersOn the quieter south side, near the Falls of Foyers.
  • DoresA pebble beach and a small village at the north-east end of the loch.

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Travel guides

Getting to Loch Ness

Everything you need to plan the journey.

🚗 By car

  • The A82 runs along the north side of the loch, between Inverness and Fort William.
  • Smaller roads run along the quieter south side.

🚌 By bus and train

  • Trains run to Inverness from across Scotland.
  • Coaches between Inverness and Fort William stop at villages along the A82.

✈️ By air

  • Inverness Airport is the closest airport.
  • From Inverness, the loch is a short drive or bus ride away.

🎒 What to bring

  • Layers and waterproofs, whatever the season.
  • Insect repellent in summer for the midges.
  • Binoculars for Nessie-spotting!

Suggested itineraries

Family trails around Scotland

Self-guided trails that follow the places in our games. Explore them in 3D first, then visit for real.

Loch Ness in a day

A full day by car, starting in Inverness

  1. Dores Beach
  2. Falls of Foyers
  3. Fort Augustus and the canal locks
  4. Invermoriston falls
  5. Urquhart Castle
  6. The Loch Ness Centre, Drumnadrochit

Good to know: Go down the quiet south side of the loch and come back up the north side on the A82.

Loch Ness for little legs

Half a day, with short walks

  1. The Loch Ness Centre, Drumnadrochit
  2. Urquhart Castle
  3. A boat trip on the loch

Good to know: Play the Highland Adventure on the way, then go Nessie-spotting for real!

Edinburgh in a day

A full day on foot

  1. Edinburgh Castle
  2. Camera Obscura
  3. Greyfriars Bobby
  4. National Museum of Scotland
  5. Palace of Holyroodhouse
  6. Arthur's Seat, for strong legs

Good to know: The Royal Mile runs downhill from the castle to the palace, so start at the top.

Highland road trip

3 to 4 days by car

  1. Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle
  2. Ben Nevis
  3. Glencoe
  4. Glenfinnan Viaduct
  5. Eilean Donan Castle
  6. Isle of Skye Fairy Pools

Good to know: Check the steam train timetable if you want to see a train cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Glasgow museums and the river

A full day

  1. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
  2. Riverside Museum
  3. Glasgow Science Centre
  4. Finnieston Crane

Good to know: Kelvingrove and the Riverside Museum are free to go in.

Castles and heroes in Stirling

A full day, with a short drive or bus ride

  1. Stirling Castle
  2. Church of the Holy Rude
  3. Old Town Jail
  4. Old Stirling Bridge
  5. National Wallace Monument
  6. Battle of Bannockburn

Good to know: There are 246 steps to the top of the Wallace Monument.

Fife coast and Dundee

2 days

  1. West Sands, St Andrews
  2. St Andrews Cathedral and Castle
  3. St Andrews Harbour
  4. RRS Discovery, Dundee
  5. V&A Dundee

Good to know: The RRS Discovery is right next door to V&A Dundee.

Orkney: islands of the ancients

2 to 3 days

  1. Skara Brae
  2. Ring of Brodgar
  3. Maeshowe
  4. St Magnus Cathedral
  5. Italian Chapel

Good to know: Maeshowe is visited on guided tours, so check how to book before you go. Puffins nest on the cliffs in spring and summer.

Attractions

58 attractions across Scotland

Every place in our 3D adventures is real. See what each one is like, what's free, what's good on a rainy day, and its own website.

Edinburgh

10 attractions in the game

Castles on old volcanoes, a royal palace, free museums and a zoo with a penguin parade.

Explore in 3DPlay Penguins RockAsk about a trip

Glasgow

8 attractions in the game

Free museums, a giant crane and the shipbuilding story of the River Clyde.

Explore in 3DAsk about a trip

The Highlands

8 attractions in the game

Loch Ness, Ben Nevis, island castles and a famous steam-train viaduct.

Explore in 3DAsk about a trip

Inverness

8 attractions in the game

The River Ness, dolphins in the Moray Firth and 4,000-year-old cairns.

Explore in 3DAsk about a trip

  • Ness Islands

    Little wooded islands in the River Ness, joined by footbridges.

    FreeOutdoors

  • St Andrew's Cathedral

    A grand red sandstone cathedral on the bank of the river.

    TicketsIndoorsRainy day

    Official website for St Andrew's Cathedral

  • Inverness Castle

    The red castle on the hill. It reopened in 2026 with hands-on exhibitions and a rooftop view.

    TicketsIndoorsRainy day

    Official website for Inverness Castle

  • Victorian Market

    A covered market from Victorian times, with little shops and a food hall.

    FreeIndoorsRainy day

    Official website for Victorian Market

  • Clava Cairns

    Stone burial cairns and standing stones, about 4,000 years old.

    FreeOutdoors

    Official website for Clava Cairns

  • Kessock Bridge and the Dolphins

    Look for bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth. Chanonry Point, about half an hour's drive away, is the best spot.

    FreeOutdoors

  • Muirtown Locks

    Watch boats climb a staircase of locks on the Caledonian Canal.

    FreeOutdoors

  • Craig Phadrig

    A woodland walk up to the remains of an ancient hill fort.

    FreeOutdoors

    Official website for Craig Phadrig

Dundee

6 attractions in the game

Captain Scott's ship, Scotland's design museum and a big hill with a view.

Explore in 3DAsk about a trip

  • RRS Discovery

    Captain Scott's polar ship, built in Dundee. Explore the decks, the cabins and the galley.

    TicketsIndoors and outRainy day

    Official website for RRS Discovery

  • V&A Dundee

    Scotland's design museum, in a building shaped like sea cliffs. Some exhibitions cost extra.

    FreeIndoorsRainy day

    Official website for V&A Dundee

  • HMS Unicorn

    A wooden warship from 1824, one of the oldest ships in the world still afloat.

    TicketsIndoorsRainy day

    Official website for HMS Unicorn

  • City Square

    Dundee's main square, in front of the grand Caird Hall.

    FreeOutdoors

  • Dundee Law

    An old volcano hill with a view over the city and the River Tay.

    FreeOutdoors

  • Mills Observatory

    A real observatory on a hill. Look at the stars on winter evenings, from October to March.

    FreeIndoorsRainy day

    Official website for Mills Observatory

Stirling

6 attractions in the game

A castle on a rocky crag, William Wallace and the Battle of Bannockburn.

Explore in 3DAsk about a trip

Orkney

6 attractions in the game

A 5,000-year-old village, standing stones, Viking runes and puffins.

Explore in 3DAsk about a trip

St Andrews

6 attractions in the game

Long sandy beaches, cathedral ruins, a castle with secret tunnels and the home of golf.

Explore in 3DAsk about a trip

  • The Old Course

    The world's most famous golf course. On Sundays there's no golf, and anyone can walk on it.

    FreeOutdoors

    Official website for The Old Course

  • West Sands

    A long, wide sandy beach, about 2 miles long. Great for kites and paddling.

    FreeOutdoors

  • St Salvator's Chapel and the University

    Scotland's oldest university, founded in 1413, with an old chapel and a tall tower.

    FreeOutdoors

  • St Andrews Castle

    Clifftop castle ruins with a secret siege tunnel you can crawl through.

    TicketsOutdoors

    Official website for St Andrews Castle

  • St Andrews Cathedral

    The ruins of Scotland's biggest church. Tickets are needed for St Rule's Tower and the museum.

    Free ruinsOutdoors

    Official website for St Andrews Cathedral

  • The Harbour and Pier

    Walk along the pier and watch the fishing boats come and go.

    FreeOutdoors

Facts checked in October 2026. Prices, opening times and seasons change, so always check the official website before you go.

Ready to plan your trip?

Send a booking enquiry with your dates and plans. We'll reply by email. You can also pick up a Nessie souvenir in our shop.

Booking enquiryVisit the shop