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Home > Travel Guides > Fort Augustus

Fort Augustus
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flagFort Augustus, Scotland

 
 

Air
The nearest airport is located in Inverness, 32 miles away and you can easily get a bus from the main bus station to Fort Augustus. If you are driving take the A82 from Inverness and it will take you straight into Fort Augustus.

Train
If you are travelling by train the closest station is at Inverness train station, from here you can catch a bus into Fort Augustus. If you are travelling from one of the major cities the bus will get you to Inverness or Fort William where you can then catch a connecting bus into Fort Augustus.

Bus
The bus station is located outside the tourist information office, here you can pick up a map of the town and make your way to your accommodation or book accommodation.

 

There is limited public transportation available within Fort Augustus in the form of the bus run by City Link.  This allows you to get to the two nearest cities Fort William and Inverness as well as the nearby Urquart castle.  Full times can be found at www.citylink.co.uk.  There is also a boat service called the Loch Ness Express that runs from Fort Augustus to Inverness, taking around 2hrs.  It travels the full length of Loch Ness and offers a more unique travel experience from only £25 return.

 

Fort Augustus is a small village with a population of only 400 people but its location and size make it a tranquil environment for relaxing and enjoying the natural beauty that the highlands has to offer.  There are a couple of walks available for you to enjoy on a sunny day and the natural surrounding can be an attraction in its self.

Through the centre of the town runs the Caledonian Canal, which is a great spot for boat watching and throughout the summer is a constantly busy place.  You can even eat or drink on the canal side at one of the local bars such as the Lock Inn or the Bothy, weather permitting of course!

Cruise Loch Ness
The main attraction of Fort Augustus is probably its proximity to Loch Ness as this is the starting point of the Loch.  To this end there is a variety of boat trips that are on offer if you want to explore loch ness or even try and spot Nessie herself.  One of the most popular is the Cruise Loch Ness boat, it is sonar equipped and offers a 1hr trip up Loch Ness.  It is informative and interesting and well worth doing on a nice sunny day.

Admission : Adults £9, Child £5.25

Open Daily : 10am – 4pm (hourly cruises, Nov-Dec only Sat/Sun)

Urqhart Castle
Located about 15 miles away, the runis of Urqhart offer one of the best view points of any castle in scotland as it overlooks Loch Ness. After a breif film on the history of the castle you are allowed to browse freely throgh the ruins.

Admission : Adults £6.50, Child £3.25

Open Daily : 9.30am – 6pm (Oct-Mar closes 5pm)

 

Backpackers/Budget
If you are on more of a budget then there is Morags Lodge hostel which offers dorm accommodation mostly aimed at the backpacker community.  Located a few minutes walk from the centre of town you can pick up a bed from only £14 a night.

Intermediate
One thing you will find an abundance of in Fort Augustus is accommodation, with a vast range of B&Bs to choose from.  There is the Niaroo located just up from the canal which is one of the largest B&B's in Fort Augustus where you experiance frist class highland hospitality.  If you are looking for something more unique there is the Bank House which is located above the Fort Augustus bank.  It is an old building which offers rooms that overlook the canal and look out onto Loch Ness.

Luxury
There are not really any luxury properties in Fort Augustus but there are two hotels, The Caledonian Hotel and The Lovat Arms.  The Caledonian hotel often has good deals on and is the cheaper of the two at only £70 per room. While the Lovat has been recently refurbished and offers more luxury accommodation from a studio at £100 to a Grand Master room at £250 per night.

 

Eating

Although only a small town there is a surprisingly diverse selection of places to eat within Fort Augustus. Most of the restaurants are located in the centre of town following the course of the canal. 

The two main favourites are the Lock Inn and the Bothy which are on the canalside. The Lock Inn offers a view of the canal in their upstairs restaurant in the summer time and their simple but filling menu is good value for money. At the Bothy there is a slightly larger selection of food on offer and you have more chance of getting a table in the winter as it has a larger capacity than the Lock Inn.

If you want some fine cuisine then the unique Boathouse restaurant is you best bet, only recently opened it is located down by the Abbey on the side of Loch Ness. Its more expensive but also more eloquent.

 

Eating

There are a handful of shops within Fort Augustus mostly selling Nessie souvenirs or Scottish themed gifts such as hip flasks and tartan clothing. The closest main shopping area is Inverness which is about 30 miles away and can be reached by bus.

 

Eating

Pubs

The Caledonian Hotel , One of the top places to drink in Fort Augustus with some of the cheapest prices in town and a knowledagble and friendly bar staff its the perfect place for a few pints.

The Lock Inn A great place especially in winter with its real log fire to keep you warm, a bit expensive but there is a good selction of Malts and shots available.

Clubs
There are not any clubs in Fort Augustus, infact if you want a dance floor and techno music you will have to travel 35 miles to Inverness. Some of the pubs in the area can stay open quite late on weekends however, depends on how well you get on with the bartendar!

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