Loch Ness

When visiting Inverness, then Loch Ness is a must do, no trip to Inverness is complete without a visit.Loch Ness is a lake or loch which runs for 23 miles (37 km) along the fault line of the Great Glen in the Scottish Highlands. It's a mile wide, very deep (740 ft / 226 m), and dark with peat. It contains more fresh water than all the lakes, reservoirs and rivers of England and Wales combined, and is the supposed home of the Loch Ness Monster.Its waters are exceptionally dark and opaque due to high peat content washing down from the surrounding Highland hills.The Legend of Nessie, the myth of a beast lurking in the depths stretches back to 565 AD, when Saint Columba reportedly faced down a "water beast" in the River Ness. Modern global fascination exploded in 1933 following a high-profile sighting by a local couple.

Loch Ness

The Great Glen is the deep diagonal fault line that traverses Scotland from Fort William in the south-west to Inverness in the northeast. The fault continues out to sea on both sides, as far as Shetland to the north and Clew Bay in Ireland to the west. It formed some 430 million years ago as the Caledonian mountains were thrust up, and remains active to this day.

Dores Inn

Unfortunately, The Dores Inn is currently closed as part of a major redevelopment project by its new owner. The historic 19th-century pub was purchased by WildLand, a conservation and hospitality company owned by Danish billionaire and Scotland's largest private landowner, Anders Holch Povlsen.

Timeline: The inn closed its doors for restoration and is expected to remain closed for approximately 24 months, with an anticipated reopening window set for 2026–2027.

Nessie Hunter

Dores beach is home to the world’s most famous monster hunter, Steve Feltham. Since arriving here back in 1991, Steve has appeared in numerous documentaries about the Loch Ness monster.

Steve has a caravan on Dores beach from which sells models of the Loch Ness from and he is only too happy to have a chat about his sightings over the years. This is his full time occupation, so there is no one better qualified to be declared an expert on everything Nessie. The obsession for Steve started in 1971 when on a family holiday in the Highlands, he met the people who ran the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau, he fell in love with the idea of monster hunting and hasn’t looked back since.

With Loch Ness located only approximately 7 miles by car from The Tree Hoose, you’ll find the gorgeous Dores beach.

With many great and easy day trips from the capital of the Highlands, there is plenty to keep you busy, whether you travel by car, bus or train.

From the Tree Hoose to town by bus is only 8-13 minutes, with the train station next to the bus station.

Dores beach is not only the closest place to see Loch Ness from Inverness but it’s also quite possibly the best place to spot Nessie, with its undisturbed view right down the water. As one of the best beaches on the loch, it allows a great vista of the world famous expanse of water, along with the stunning surrounding hills as a perfect backdrop.

The beach is quite vast stretching along most of the north end of Loch Ness. There are also lovely pine woods with marked trails at the far end, if you are looking for a bit of adventure. Most of the beach is made up of fine stones that have been broken down through many years of wave action, so there is no danger of getting sand in your sandwiches. This is in fact a great place for a picnic on a warm summer’s day, or just the delight of watching the sun go down with friends. It’s also a great option if you’re looking for free things to do near Inverness.

Dores beach is a very popular place for water sports, with areas close to the shore being shallow and often calm. It’s not uncommon to see wild swimmers enjoying the cool fresh waters close to the beach, especially as you can park nearby.

Other Top things to do around the Loch

Visit the Loch Ness Centre:

Head to the village of Drumnadrochit to explore multi-media exhibits detailing 500 million years of the area's history, folklore, and scientific expeditions.

Explore Urquhart Castle:

Tour the atmospheric ruins of this medieval fortress perched directly on the water's edge, offering some of the best panoramic views of the loch.

Take a Nessie Cruise:

The Loch Ness boat tour leaving directly from, Inverness without requiring personal transport is the Loch Ness by Jacobite - Inverness Bus Station tour. They are the premier 5-star operator for the northern end of the loch. They provide seamless coach-and-boat combinations directly from the city centre.

Experience: This tour sails down the historic, tree-lined Caledonian Canal before opening up onto the vast waters of Loch Ness. It provides a much richer waterway experience.