Drumnadrochit

Drumnadrochit is a village in the Great Glen, the fault line that traverses the Scottish Highlands. With a population of 1130 in 2020, it stands on the west shore of Loch Ness at the outlet of the River Enrick. This was difficult to ford in spate so Thomas Telford built a bridge in 1811, hence Druim na Drochaid, "the ridge of the bridge". The impressive ruins of Urquhart Castle stand nearby, but the town makes its living from the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, and every coach tour of the Highlands calls here.

Get in
The village is on the A82 between Inverness and Fort William. The usual approach is by road from Inverness, 15 miles north, which has an airport and rail services.

Citylink buses from Inverness take 30 min via Dochgarroch at the north tip of the loch and continue south past Castle Urquhart to Invermoriston. Bus 919 continues on A82 to Fort Augustus, Laggan, Spean Bridge and Fort William, running four times M-Sa and twice on Sunday. Bus 917 branches west on A87 towards Kyle of Lochalsh and Portree on Skye. This runs twice daily.

Stagecoach Bus 17 runs from Inverness Raigmore Hospital and bus station to Drumnadrochit, then heads into the hills along A831 to Corrimony, Cannich and Tomich, so it doesn't run past the castle. There are five M-F and three on Saturday.

Get around
The core of Drumnadrochit is around the junction of A82 and A831. The south end is nominally the separate village of Lewiston. It's all walkable.

The A82 between village and castle is busy but there's a sidewalk. Buses 917 and 919 stop at castle and village.

See

 * Nessie (pictured above) basks in the pond outside the Centre, no charge to view. Frankly it resembles the corpse of a swan: did it eat something it shouldn't?
 * Nessie (pictured above) basks in the pond outside the Centre, no charge to view. Frankly it resembles the corpse of a swan: did it eat something it shouldn't?

Do

 * Craig Monie is the wooded hill by the village, carpeted with bluebells late spring.
 * Boat trips: Loch Ness Cruises sail April-Oct.
 * Horse riding: Highland Riding Centre is at Borlum Farm, off A82 south of village.
 * Walk or cycle the Great Glen Way and other trails.
 * Shinty: Glenurquhart play in Mowi Premiership, the top tier. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * Glenurquhart Highland Games are held in August in Blairbeg Park, with the next on Sa 24 Aug 2024.

Buy
Scotmid Coop south side of the village is open M-F 6:30AM-10PM, Sa Su 7:30AM-10PM. Fuel is available at Esso nearby.

Gift shops stock all the Nessie kitsch you could ever want.

Eat

 * The Italian Job is a pizzeria behind the Co-op, open Tu-Sa 4:30-7:30PM.
 * Shack's Fish and Chips next to the Italian Job is open daily 4-10PM.
 * Taste of China 100 yards north of the Co-op is open Tu-Su 4-10PM.
 * Nessie's Gelato Cabin behind the Loch Ness Drumnadrochit Hotel is open daily 11AM-5PM.
 * Nessie's Gelato Cabin behind the Loch Ness Drumnadrochit Hotel is open daily 11AM-5PM.

Drink

 * All the hotels have well-stocked public bars.
 * Great Glen Distillery within the Loch Ness Centre makes gin.

Sleep

 * Morlea is a cosy B&B on Village Green.
 * Loch Ness Lodge Hotel next to Nessieland is a fine Victorian Italianate building, but the hotel is sad and run-down.
 * Morlea is a cosy B&B on Village Green.
 * Loch Ness Lodge Hotel next to Nessieland is a fine Victorian Italianate building, but the hotel is sad and run-down.
 * Morlea is a cosy B&B on Village Green.
 * Loch Ness Lodge Hotel next to Nessieland is a fine Victorian Italianate building, but the hotel is sad and run-down.
 * Loch Ness Lodge Hotel next to Nessieland is a fine Victorian Italianate building, but the hotel is sad and run-down.
 * Loch Ness Lodge Hotel next to Nessieland is a fine Victorian Italianate building, but the hotel is sad and run-down.

Connect
As of July 2023, Drumnadrochit has 4G from all UK carriers but with many dead spots on the approach roads. 5G has not yet reached this area.

Go next

 * 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, where the Caledonian Canal ascends by a flight of locks.
 * North of the loch is Inverness, a pleasant Victorian town.