How far is Loch Ness from Inverness?

Loch Ness is just 8.5 miles from Inverness train station. The most accessible shore is located in the village of Dores, which is around a 20-minute drive from Inverness. Here, at the beautiful Dores Beach, you can expect spectacular views out over the Loch and Great Glen.

Looking for more information about how to get to Loch Ness? Read on in our explainer article…

How to get to Loch Ness from Inverness

When travelling to the Scottish Highlands you will likely visit the famous Loch Ness. This beautiful and iconic Scottish attraction is well known for being home to the legendary Loch Ness Monster, locally nicknamed ‘Nessie’. But how easy is it to get to Loch Ness? And how far is Loch Ness from Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands? If you’re wondering how to get to Loch Ness from Inverness then you’re in the right place. Here at Happy Tours, our local experts have been giving tours of Loch Ness and other Highland hotspots for over 15 years! Who better to help you prepare for your visit? Read on to find out the best solution for how to get to Loch Ness from Inverness.

Where is Loch Ness?

Loch Ness is located within the Scottish Highlands; the UK’s largest and northern-most local government area, spanning approximately 33% of Scotland’s landmass, and 11.4% of the UK. Despite being such a large area, the Highlands are much less densely populated than the rest of the country. This is due in part to the mountainous terrain covering most inland areas. Loch Ness sits between such terrain in a valley carved hundreds of millions of years ago by Ice Age glaciers. This valley, known as the Great Glen, sits along the Great Glen Fault line, a now mostly inactive fault, cutting through the Highlands from Inverness to Fort William. To find Loch Ness on the map, simply cast your eyes a short distance in a south-westerly direction from Inverness. The north side of Loch Ness begins beside the village of Lochend, while its south side begins at Dores, both small settlements around 8 miles from Inverness. The Loch then stretches further southwest towards Fort Augustus, where it comes to an end.

How to get to Inverness

Inverness is probably the easiest place to start onward journeys around the Highlands and Islands. This includes journeys to Loch Ness. As the Highland capital—and the only city in the Scottish Highlands—Inverness is the ideal place to prepare for further Highland adventures. Moreover, as one of the smallest cities in the UK, it boasts a whole host of cultural attractions while still maintaining a relatively quiet and peaceful character. Despite being a smaller city than most, Inverness is well connected by public transport routes. You can easily reach Inverness city centre by train or by bus from various UK cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London. There is even a small local airport, located around 9 miles east of Inverness from the city centre. This local airport offers direct flights in and out of major UK cities, Ireland, The Netherlands, and Spain’s Balearic Islands. So wherever you’re visiting Scotland from, Inverness is an accessible city ideally located for exploring the Scottish Highlands. It is also ideally situated for getting around Loch Ness in a day.

How far is Loch Ness from Inverness by road?

Assuming you begin your journey to Loch Ness from Inverness city centre, it is likely to take approximately 20 minutes to drive 8.5 miles to the beginning of Loch Ness. From there, whether you decide to take the North or South route around the Loch, there are several points worth stopping at. For example, along the northern route, you will encounter Drumnadrochit, a village which has embraced the local legend of the Loch Ness Monster. Because of its proximity to the shore of Loch Ness, Drumnadrochit is a great place to go monster-hunting. The Nessieland Centre also makes an ideal family-friendly excursion. Nearby Drumnadrochit is Urquhart Castle, a must-see attraction with stunning views over the Loch. On the south route around Loch Ness, as well as stopping at Dores to take in the views of Loch Ness from Dores Beach, the small village of Foyers is an ideal stop around the Loch’s halfway point. Foyers is best known for its beautiful waterfall, the Falls of Foyers.

How to get to Loch Ness from Inverness

If you have arrived in the capital of the Scottish Highlands and are wondering how to get to Loch Ness from Inverness, there are plenty of transport solutions available. If you can rent a car for your stay, Loch Ness is well sign-posted from Inverness and you’ll be there in no time. However, not everyone likes to, or can, hire a car. This will not be an issue in Inverness. The local public transport alternatives offer decent options for how to get to Loch Ness from Inverness. For example, the number 16 bus, which leaves Inverness bus station multiple times each day, can get to Loch Ness from Inverness in as little as 21 minutes. Simply get off the bus when it stops at Dores. Alternatively, you can take this bus all the way to Foyers in only 50 minutes from Inverness. But, if you’re looking for the best way to get to Loch Ness from Inverness, keep reading…

How to get to Loch Ness from Inverness by bus

So, what is the best way to get to Loch Ness from Inverness? A Happy Tours Culloden Battlefield and Loch Ness tour of course! Join Happy Tours in our eight-seater minibus for a more comfortable trip around all the best Loch Ness sights plus plenty more. A tour from Inverness with Happy Tours ensures you can tick off all the best sights from your to-do list. You’ll also be able to relax and unwind without the pressure of running to catch public transport, booking a hire car, and finding your way. With Happy Tours, your day can be filled with activity so you’re sure to make the most of your time in the Scottish Highlands. And if you fancy even more luxury on your tour of Loch Ness, you can book a private tour and create a personalised day trip. With this tour option, you can also choose between our eight-seater minibus and the new Happy Tours Land Rover. So whether you’re a solo traveller or out with a group, find the best transport to Loch Ness right here on our website. Easily book your tour online to secure the trip of a lifetime around beautiful and legendary Loch Ness.

Inverness to Loch Ness Bus Tours

“What can we expect from a Happy Tours trip around Loch Ness?” we hear you ask. Well, you can expect all the best sights around Loch Ness and more. Our Culloden Battlefield and Loch Ness tour combines the two most popular tourist destinations right on Inverness’ doorstep. This means that by simply hopping on our tour bus or into our Land Rover in Inverness, you can explore the Highlands without all the complicated planning. Our tour guides are local experts with years of experience and will make your tour fun-filled and full of facts. You’ll see Loch Ness, with views of Urquhart Castle near Drumnadrochit, Highland Cows frolicking in the fields, the historic Culloden Battlefield, and even get the chance to taste some local whisky at Glen Ord Distillery. All of this and more awaits you on your trip to the Scottish Highlands. Happy Tours can’t wait to be a part of your journey.