Second day: from Fort William to Inverness (206 Kms)
We were based on Fort William, and we started our second day driving towards the Highlands, heading north to Inverness.
Inverlochy Castle- Our first stop was still in Fort William to see the ruins of Inverlochy Castle. This is a space known to have been the field of two famous battles and, believe me, in Scotland they give great importance to ancient battlefields. It’s an XIII century castle, but at the moment there are only a few ruins but, that are worth visiting.There is a hotel close by but, our budget did not allow us to stay there ...
Then we headed towards Fort Augustus. Although we refer to the "main" places we go through, that can sometimes be an injustice because we don’t mention some wonderful places we sow, and the Scottish Highlands are mainly about it, wonderful landscapes that leave us dazzled, compel to stop the car and stay marveling at the beauty around us. Fortunately, roads in the Highlands often have places for parking. We leave the warning so that they do not stop in unsuitable places, as it can be dangerous.
Fort Augustus- This is a small village on the southern tip of Loch Ness. It’s worth going through, and see the souvenir shops and how a small village in Highlands is like. It is also possible to make small cruises through Loch Ness. We did not realize it but, if you wish to do so, you can check out more information here.
As previously stated, Fort Augustus is at the southern tip of Loch Ness. Before reaching the village, we have the possibility to turn left towards the village and, and go by the left bank of the lake or, in the opposite direction and go by the right bank. As we wanted to see Urquhart Castle on the way north, instead of returning later in the day, we turned left onto the A82, while the return journey was on the other side of the B862.
Castle Urquhart- Climbing the road, we arrive at Urquhart Castle. This castle is also in ruins, but all around it is very well treated, and its location by the Loch Ness is formidable. This is a must see. From here you have access to Loch Ness and a great view to the loch. This Castle was one of Scotland's best memories for us. The price for adults is £9, from 5 to 15 years old they pay £5.40, and under 5 years is free. For more information on up-to-date times and prices check out their website. There's a small restaurant and WC, where you can eat fast food, and that's where we enjoyed lunch.
Loch Ness- This isn't the most beautiful lake in Scotland, we can promise that, but it is a great experience to be able to look at its dark waters, looking for the monster. We did not see Nessie but it was great to try to see.
Inverness- Always traveling near Loch Ness, with several stops along the way, full of waterfalls, beautiful mountains, immense forests, we reached Inverness. Inverness is the capital of the Highlands and a city of considerable size. In Inverness we walked along the banks of the River Ness, which divides the city. Also worth visiting is the Inverness Castle. The Castle is recent, from the XIX and, without the history that the remaining castles in Scotland have, but nonetheless, is worthy of a visit.
Fort William- The return to Fort William was made by the opposite bank of the Loch Ness, namely by the road B862, that gives a different view of the lake. However, for those who just make a trip, we recommend going along the A82 road, in addition to considering the safest trip, it is more beautiful, and the passage through Urquhart Castle was the highlight of the day.
