UK North

Loch Ness

6 Comments

Friday, July 10 2026

Road video and map

As I left Lochcarron for Loch Ness this morning it was raining and gloomy. The forecast rain probability only increased later in the day so it was with little hope of good views and walks that I set off.

A video screen capture from my dash cam around 11 AM

However, by the time I arrived in Fort Augustus at the southern end of Loch Ness an hour later the sun was out and I was walking comfortably in a dry T shirt.

If you look at a map of Scotland it appears as if the northern highlands are a separate island from the rest of the country.

In a way they are, as the lochs from Fort William to Inverness are linked together by the Caledonian Canal, built between 1804 and 1822, which provided a direct shipping route between the Irish and North seas. At Fort Augustus there is a series of 5 locks that lower boats about 40 feet (12 m) to allow them to enter the southern end of Loch Ness.

This is the top lock in the series showing the drop needed.
This shows the series of locks viewed from the direction of Loch Ness.
And this was my first view of Loch Ness where the canal flows into the loch.

After a light lunch at a restaurant overlooking the loch, I drove to a viewpoint that Google AI suggested offered a great roadside view of Loch Ness. In fact Loch Ness is not visible from the viewpoint. There is a good view but it is of Loch Killin.

View of Loch Killin from the Suidhe viewpoint.

After an exhilarating drive to Dores Beach I was able to take another walk along the shore of Loch Ness.

I guess the biggest disappointment of the day was not the weather, although it has rained all evening, but the failure to see Nessie, the Loch Ness monster 😊

6 thoughts on “Loch Ness”

  1. Typical Scottish weather!!! I didn’t see the Loch Ness monster either! Don’t, whatever you do, go for a curry in Banff. Worst meal I ever had! Enjoying the pictures! Enjoy your travels.

    1. The only Banff I have ever been to is in Canada and had good food. Thanks for following along.

  2. Sadly we did not get to see Nessie either 😉

    Loved the Isle of Skye and Edinburgh.

    Love,
    Kusum

    1. Unfortunately, it’s a bit of an American style whirlwind tour and I was not able to fit in Skye but I arrived in Edinburgh today for 3 nights.

  3. I would have been disappointed too! After all, Nessie would be the highlight!!
    Steve can you add Dileep at dwagle@gmail.com as he keeps asking for my phone to read your blog!!

  4. Nessie would have been THE highlight of the trip!!

    I’ve added Dileep. as a subscriber.

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