Fort Augustus
Contents |
Fort Augustus
At the more scenic southern end of Loch Ness stands the village of Fort Augustus, originally set up as a garrison after the Jacobite rebellion of 1715, and headquarters of General Wade's campaign to pacify the Highlands. Today Fort Augustus is a busy little place, full of monster-hunting tourists and boats using the flight of five locks to enter or leave Loch Ness on their journey along the Caledonian Canal.
The village hosts Highland Gatherings in late June and July, mid-August and early September, featuring traditional dancing and piping competitions, tossing the caber and sheep dog trials.
The Tourist Information Centre, Tel.01320-366779, is in the car park next to the petrol station and Bank of Scotland. It's open April-June Monday-Saturday 1000-1700; July-August 0900-2000; September-October 0900-1800.
Sights
On the shores of Loch Ness is Fort Augustus Abbey, a Benedictine Monastery founded in 1876 on the site of the original fort. The abbey closed in 1998, but there are tours of the grounds and cloisters. Info - Easter-Oct daily 0900-1700; Nov-Mar 1000- 1600. Tel. 366233.
By the canal locks is The Clansman Centre, where young guides in traditional dress provide a lively and entertaining presentation of 17th-century Highland family life in an old turf house. There follows a display of weaponry and a mock sword fight in the garden. You can even have your picture taken wearing traditional Highland costume. There's also a craftshop selling the more tasteful kind of souvenirs. Info - Apr, May, Jun and Sep daily 1100-1700; Jul-Aug 1000-1800. Tel. 366444.
Loch Ness Cruises with Loch Ness Ferry Co Ltd, on board the Royal Scot, set off from the jetty in the abbey grounds. Info - Apr-Oct hourly from 1000. The trip lasts 50 mins. Also boat and bike hire. Tel. 01223-208939.
There are numerous good walks around Fort Augustus.
Sleeping & Eating near Fort Augustus
There's a good selection of places to stay in Fort Augustus, but perhaps the best, and certainly the most unique, is the Lovat Arms Hotel, Tel. 366206, Fax. 366677. 23 rooms. A beautiful old mansion house standing above the village. There are lots of B&Bs to choose from, including the wonderfully named Mrs Service, at Sonas on the Inverness Rd, Tel. 366291; and the friendly Kettle House on Golf Course Rd, Tel. 366408; open Feb-Nov.
The newly converted Morag's Lodge, Tel. 366289, offers backpacker accommodation between Mar and Oct.
Other than the hotels in the village, there's the cosy Bothy Bite, Tel. 366710, by the canal bridge, which serves cheap meals from 1200-2100. The Loch Inn, by the canal, is the best place for a drink, and also serves decent pub grub.
Self Catering Cottages in Ford Augustus
- FORT AUGUSTUS - Inverness-shire Sleeps 5
- Woodbine Cottage Sleeps 4
- Peregrine Cottage Sleeps 4
- Rivendell Cottage Sleeps 4
- St. Machar Sleeps 6
- River Cottage Sleeps 4
- Shepherd's Cottage Sleeps 4
Sport
Cycle hire Loch Ness Ferry Co Ltd. Pony trekking Fort Augustus Riding Centre, Pier House, Tel. 366418.
Transport
Fort Augustus is a convenient stopover between Fort William and Inverness, and there are several buses daily in either direction. It takes 1 hr to both towns. There is an additional service between Fort Augustus and Invergarry once a day Mon-Sat.
Tours
AUGUSTA Tailor-made Cruises and angling trips on Loch Ness and minibus tours in the Highlands and all over Scotland. contact: Mrs Laurence Marquis-Northcote, AUGUSTA Company, Fort Augustus / Tel: +44 (0) 1320 366579
Fort Augustus to Dores
Guesthouse just a hundred yards from Loch Ness and 8 miles from Inverness. 3 bedrooms and family owned, ideal for short break.
more details about Beinn Dhearg Guesthouse
A worthwhile detour from Fort Augustus is to take the B862/852 up the east shore of Loch Ness on a mostly single-track road that skirts the loch for much of its length to the village of Dores. It's a much quieter and more scenic route than the busy A82 and follows General Wade's original (and very straight) military road which linked Fort Augustus with Fort George. Though it makes a more interesting alternative to the more popular A82 route from Inverness to Fort Augustus, it's best done from south to north, if you have the time.
The road winds its way up into rugged hills before returning to the lochside at Foyers, where there's accommodation at Intake-House, Tel. 01456- 482258, open April-October; and the small independent youth hostel Foyers House, Tel. 01456-486623. It's worth stopping here to see the impressive waterfall where the River Foyers plunges into Loch Ness. To get there, follow the steep (and slippery) track down from opposite the shops.
Three miles further north, at Inverfarigaig, is the spooky and sinister Boleskine House, once home of Alastair Crowley, who is said to have practised devil worship here. In the 1970s the house was bought by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, but sold some years later after the tragic death of his daughter. Those of a nervous disposition may wish to pass on quickly and continue to the little village of Dores, at the northeastern end of the loch, where you can enjoy a good pint of ale and some decent grub at the Dores Inn.
You can then continue to Inverness, or return via the beautiful hill road that leads up to Loch Mhor and back to Fort Augustus via the Stratherrick valley. From Errogie, at the northern end of Loch Mhor, there's a dramatic section of road that winds down to the loch through a series of tight, twisting bends, reminiscent of an Alpine pass, and great for cyclists. There are also some interesting marked woodland trails around Errogie.
Transport
This route is only possible if you have your own transport. There are buses south from Inverness, but they only run as far as Foyers (3 times Mon-Fri, twice on Sat). Alternatively, it can be done by bike, as a full-day circular trip from Fort Augustus or from Inverness.