Drumnadrochit lies at the head of Urquhart Bay on the western shore of Loch Ness, 23 kilometres from Inverness, the ‘Capital of the Highlands’. Standing at the eastern end of Glen Urquhart in the Highland Region of Scotland, Drumnadrochit is well known as the centre of the Loch Ness tourist industry in Scotland and is home to the Original Loch Ness Monster Centre and the Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition. It is also a centre for hill-walking, being on the Great Glen Way long distance walk from Fort William to Inverness, pony-trekking and angling. Urquhart Castle, owned by the Chiefs of Grant is one of Scotland’s largest castles and lies to the south-east of the village, on a promontory overlooking Loch Ness. A ruin now, it was blown up by the Grants in 1692 to prevent it becoming a Jacobite stronghold.
Drumnadrochit is a small traditional village of approximately 800 (2001 census) residents whose centre still stands in the village green. Surrounded by squat stone houses, many of which are painted white, the village green contains a complete model of Urquhart Castle.
Other places of interest within 30 kilometres –
Caledonian Canal, this engineering masterpiece constructed in the 19th century by Thomas Telford, was built to create a direct route from the North Sea to the Irish Sea, avoiding Cape Wrath. It has 29 lochs along its course and is still strong in its operation, though it is now used primarily for small boats and pleasure cruises, as it is no longer large enough for seagoing vessels.
The Great Glen Heritage Exhibition at Fort Augustus, at the southern end of Loch Ness, tells the story of the glen from the Picts to the present day.
Culloden Moor, 30 kilometres from Drumnadrochit, made famous as the place that Bonnie Prince Charlie was finally crushed in 1746. A cottage around which the battle was fought, and which was inhabited until 1912, is now a museum.
Did you know that – most people can’t say Drumnadrochit let alone spell it!!
|