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Scotland: Edinburgh to Loch Ness

Nessie is the whole reason for this one. From Edinburgh you head up past Stirling and through the Highlands to Fort William, then along the Great Glen to Fort Augustus at the south end of Loch Ness.

By · Published October 24, 2026

  • 323 km201 mi
  • 4.9 hof driving
  • 8stops
  • 3cards to collect

Open in the planner Directions

The loch itself has the Loch Ness Centre at Drumnadrochit, the Deepscan cruises and the spots tied to the big sightings, from the earliest recorded one to the Surgeon's Photograph. Inverness is a good place to finish up, and on a clear day the drive along the loch is worth it even if Nessie doesn't show.

Stops along the way

Everything within 40 km of the road, in the order you'll pass it. Distances are from the start.

Stirling to Fort William

  1. 87 kmRobert Kirk writes The Secret CommonwealthFamous case · Fairies, Aberfoyle, Scotland, 1691 · 10 km off the route
  2. 199 kmEarliest recorded sightingFamous case · Morag, Loch Morar, Scotland, 1887 · 38 km off the route
  3. 199 kmMcDonell and Simpson boat encounterFamous case · Morag, Loch Morar, Scotland, 1969 · 38 km off the route

Fort Augustus to Drumnadrochit

  1. 281 kmLoch Ness eDNA surveyFamous case · Loch Ness Monster, Loch Ness, Scotland, 2018
  2. 281 kmMackay sightingFamous case · Loch Ness Monster, Loch Ness, Scotland, 1933
  3. 281 kmSurgeon's PhotographFamous case · Loch Ness Monster, Loch Ness, Scotland, 1934

Drumnadrochit to Inverness

  1. 284 kmLoch Ness Deepscan CruisePlace to visit · Expedition or tour, Drumnadrochit, Scotland
  2. 284 kmThe Loch Ness CentrePlace to visit · Museum, Drumnadrochit, Scotland

Listen along

Podcast episodes about the creatures you'll pass, in the order you'll pass them. Start it before you pull out and it keeps going with your screen off, with big buttons so you never have to type anything. Episodes stream straight from each show, so the people who make them get the listen.

  1. Fairies

    First spot on the road: Robert Kirk writes The Secret Commonwealth

    1. 8.5 | Dark Fairies: Real Encounters with Gnomes and Native FaeBelief Hole | Paranormal, Mysteries and Other Tasty Thought Snacks · Apr 14, 2026 · 105 min
    2. Wendigos, skinwalkers, fairies and a moose with a human face (Sn. 19 Ep. 18)Monsters Among Us · Jun 12, 2025 · 63 min
    3. Sn. 15 Ep. 9 - Screaming woods, fluttering fairies and rock tossin' apes.Monsters Among Us · May 25, 2023 · 64 min

  2. Morag

    First spot on the road: Earliest recorded sighting

    1. Where's the local food near you? Tianda Williams joins Morag GambleSense-Making in a Changing World · Mar 18, 2026 · 36 min
    2. Josephine Tey — The Daughter of Time with Jennifer Morag HendersonLost Ladies of Lit · May 12, 2026 · 44 min
    3. Go Gently! Jade Miles with Morag Gamble on Local Food, Barefoot Gatherings & Learning to Belong Where You AreSense-Making in a Changing World · Feb 27, 2026 · 63 min

  3. Loch Ness Monster

    First spot on the road: Loch Ness eDNA survey

    1. The Monster That Made Millions: The Loch Ness Monster (Scotland)Haunted American History · Jul 12, 2026 · 27 min
    2. LEGEND: Loch Ness MonsterSo Supernatural · May 16, 2025 · 38 min
    3. BWBS Ep:140 How Nessie Changed EverythingBackwoods Bigfoot Stories · Oct 19, 2025 · 67 min

Cards you can collect on this trip

Stand within 25 km of one of these spots and tap "I'm here" in the planner or on the cards page to add the card to your collection.

Route from OpenStreetMap data (FOSSGIS routing). Always check road conditions, opening hours and festival dates before you go.