Drumnadrochit

Drumnadrochit's top attractions are the Loch Ness monster and picture-postcard Urquhart Castle.

Drumnadrochit was joint winner of the Britain in Bloom Tourism Award 2002 and is a pleasant village in a scenic location. Two visitor centres celebrate the patronage of grand Loch Ness by the monster that (perhaps) lurks somewhere in its depths. The replica of Nessie may be the closest you get to the real thing, but you can explore the spooky history of the facts and myths of monster hunting at the outstanding Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition. There is also the Original Loch Ness Monster Exhibition.

Inspired by all this, you can look out for funny things in the water from Urquhart Castle. Blown up in 1692 to prevent it falling into Jacobite hands, what's left is a classic romantic ruin jutting out into the loch. There are also boat trips aboard the Nessie Hunter, for doing just that.