Out & About

The Caledonian Canal

Caledonian House overlooks the five locks of the famous Caledonian Canal, built in 1803 by Thomas Telford it takes around an hour for boats to pass up or down the 40ft differance in height between Loch Ness and the Canal.

Cruising on Loch Ness

The Royal Scot departs every hour during peak season the boat has powerfull Simrad sonar and has had many strange underwater encounters!. Alternatively we can arrange a private charter aboard the Augusta.

Cycling,fishing golfing and shooting

 Mountain bike hire is avaliable here at Caledonian House on a half or full day basis, there are some beautiful routes to take with stunning views over the Lochs of the Great Glen.

We run guided pike fishing trips on Loch Oich.Tackle and bait are supplied and it is suitable for the absolute novice to the more experienced angler. Trout and Salmon fishing are avaliable locally and we are happy to advise you with permit details.

 Fort Augustus has its own nine hole golf course and visitors are most welcome.

Deer stalking parties are welcome and details of local estates & shoots can be provided upon request.

Around Loch Ness

 Take the scenic and peaceful B862 road on the south east side of Loch Ness which in part follows General Wades Military Road, it has superb views over the Loch and the Monadhliath Mountains. Visit the pretty waterfalls at Foyers and look out for the native red squirrel,deer and pine martens.

Travelling up the A82 on the north west side of Loch Ness,you will come to the infamous Urquhart Castle. With its commanding position above Loch Ness a visit is a must.

In the nearby town of Drumnadrochit, you will find the Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition, detailing sightings of Nessie going back hundreds of years right up to the present day. There`s also a pony trekking centre offering short one hour, or longer treks.

 Glen Affric,Glen Cannich & Strathglass

A short drive west of Drumnadrochit is the newly designated National Nature Reserve of Glen Affric. This is a beautiful,peaceful area with ancient Caledonian pine forests,secluded lochs,remote mountains,waterfalls and sightings of Golden eagles. It is a great spot to either relax and get away from it all or go mountain biking, hill walking,trekking or fishing.

West of Fort Augustus

 Sample the breathtaking scenery of the west coast of Scotland, only an hours drive from Fort Augustus.Visting on the way Glen Sheil with the dramatic backdrop of the Five Sisters of Kintail mountain range,then on to Eilean Donan castle with its spectacular site on the shores of Loch Duich, the castle was the setting for the famous Highlander films.

A few miles down the road and you come to the road to the small fishing village of  Plockton with its palm trees its a little piece of "Cornwall in the Highlands". Go on further and you will come to the bridge to the beautiful island of Skye .

East of Fort Augustus

Just one hour from the village and you are into the Spey valley, famous for its whisky, salmon fishing, the Cairngorm National Park and recently the BBC drama Monarch of the Glen.

Take a trip to Aviemore, with itssteam railway and home of Scotland's largest ski area. Cairngorm mountain has a spectacular funicular railway which whisks you up to 1100 metres in only eight minutes. Here you can enjoy the views in the restaurant and in winter go skiing or snowboarding.

Inverness & North

 34 miles north of Fort Augustus is the capital of the Highlands, Inverness. The city has loads to offer, from great shopping,bars and restaurants, to the castle and such historic sites as the Culloden Battlefield.

Over the Kessock Bridge,north of Inverness and you`re on the Black Isle. Not actually an island but a peninsula sandwiched between the Moray and Cromarty Firths. Here the landscape is more gentle, with its sleepy coastal villages and rolling countryside. Why not visit the Moray Firth Dolphin & Seal Centre just over the bridge and keep your eyes open for the rare Red Kites which nest in the area.

  Call in to the organic real ale brewery see how it`s made and sample some of their award winning ales. Just east of Fortrose is Chanonry point, the best place to see dolphins from land in Europe. Heading further up the coast you`ll reach the lovely village of Cromarty. Here you can take a boat trip to view the dolphins up close.

 South of Fort Augustus

Head south down the Great Glen and you are into some of the most spectacular landscapes in Scotland, going past Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. Just after the South Laggan swing bridge is Monster Activities,where you can try your hand at white water rafting, sailing, canoeing, riding the banana and the jet bikes.Further down the Glen  as you approach Spean Bridge you will see the Commando Memorial.This statue was erected in memory of the Officers and men of the Commandos who died in the Second World War.The site is also a superb viewpoint for Ben Nevis and the surrounding mountains.

Further south and only 30 minutes from Fort Augustus is the Nevis Range gondola and ski centre.Take the gondola 2,150 feet up the montain to the Snowgoose restaurant and enjoy the spectacular views of the west coast and up the Great glen.In summer you could cycle the world cup downhill mountain bike course.In winter,  snow permiting you can ski and snow board.

Fort William and Glen Nevis is the base to climb Britain`s highest mountain Ben Nevis (4,406 feet). Many scenes from the film Braveheart were filmed in this stunning Glen.

Take the Jacobite steam train from Fort William to Mallaig.Regarded as one of the most spectacular train journeys in the world, and famous as being the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films.

 South beyond Fort William, you`re into the scenic splendour of Glencoe. With its dramatic peaks soaring to the skies, it is an awe inspiring place to spend time doing gentle valley walks or for the more experienced, tackling some of its munros.