On our budget break in Scotland in early May 2012, we took the long roads, both to and from Inverness. On our return trip we drove along Loch Ness and then turned east at Spean Bridge to join the A9 at Dalwhinnie. We had a quick stop at the Castle Urquhart car park, but due to the bushes planted it was impossible to get a decent photo of the castle and we weren’t prepared to pay the £7.40 each to get into the ruin.

Castle Urquhart by Loch Ness

We had a fortuitous toilet stop in the village of Invermoriston; on the way to the toilets, I spotted a sign detailing some walks. The Invermoriston Falls are a short walk from the car park.

Invermoriston Falls

We followed one of the paths through the Glenmoriston Estate to the banks of Loch Ness.

Flowers growing in moss on tree trunk

A fallen conifer looked like a sculpture.

Tree sculpture

Our next stop was at village of Fort Augustus at the south west end of Loch Ness, where you can take boat trips onto the loch.

Boat trips to Loch Ness

There’s a series of locks on the Caledonian Canal in Fort Augustus, taking boats in and out of Loch Ness.

Me by the locks in Fort Augustus

Boats coming up the locks from Loch Ness

Loch Ness & Baby Monster sculptures in Fort Augustus