Loch Ness Tour with Falls of Foyers & Fort Augustus: Private Guide

Circumnavigate Loch Ness with stops at Falls of Foyers, Fort Augustus and Dochgarroch Locks

A private full-day tour of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands with a live English-speaking guide, circling the entire loch and stopping at Falls of Foyers, Fort Augustus, the Caledonian Canal and Dores Beach. The tour includes hotel pickup, bottled water and air-conditioned transport. Lunch and any additional activities are booked separately at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Loch Ness and Highlands full-day tour

• Optional Loch Ness Alpaca trek
• Drive to Dores Beach
• Refresh at Ness Cafe and shop Ness Gifts
• Walk to Falls of Foyers through pine forest
• View Monadhliath mountains
• Explore Caledonian Canal architecture
• Lunch at Fort Augustus
• Traverse northern bank of Loch Ness
• Visit Dochgarroch Locks and see Highland cattle
• Shop at An Tala
• Photo stop at castle (optional visit available)

The experience

Loch Ness dominates this full-day private tour of the Scottish Highlands. You start at Dores Beach, the filming location for the 1996 film "Loch Ness" and home to the famous Nessie Hunter, with time to browse Ness Gifts and refresh at Ness Cafe. From there the route traces the entire perimeter of the loch with your guide, moving through the ancient Fraser territory along the historic military road that James Fraser retraced after the Battle of Culloden.

The tour includes a walk through the ancient Caledonian pine forest to Falls of Foyers, where you'll see the mesmerizing waterfall set against the Monadhliath mountains. You then move to Fort Augustus, where you explore the 19th-century Caledonian Canal and its engineering before a lunch stop in the scenic setting there. The northern bank brings more views of the canal's locks before you reach Dochgarroch Locks near the end of the day, where Highland cattle roam and the stories of Nessie linger. A photo stop at Urquhart Castle, the third most visited castle in Scotland, rounds out the route.

The tour runs 6 to 9 hours depending on stops and pace. Your guide is a live English speaker who navigates the route and commentary throughout. Hotel pickup is included, and the air-conditioned vehicle carries bottled water for the journey. An optional Alpaca trek with the famous Loch Ness herd can be added at checkout for an extra charge, as can a boat ride on the loch with a castle visit, or bespoke packages tailored to your interests.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup.
• live English-speaking guide for the full day.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• stops at Dores Beach, Falls of Foyers, Fort Augustus, the Caledonian Canal and Dochgarroch Locks.
• photo stop at Urquhart Castle.

Before you book

Days and timesSundayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Atom Tours Scotland

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English throughout the day, so you follow the commentary and history of each stop without translation. The private format means the pace and stops adjust to your interests, whether you want more time at the falls, the castle or the canal locks.

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Top questions

What is Falls of Foyers like on this tour?

Falls of Foyers is a mesmerizing waterfall you reach by walking through the ancient Caledonian pine forest. The walk takes you through woodland before you arrive at the falls themselves, set against views of the Monadhliath mountains.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You have a lunch stop in Fort Augustus at the scenic setting of the Caledonian Canal, and you arrange and pay for your meal there.

Can I add the Alpaca trek or boat ride to this booking?

Yes. An optional Alpaca trek with the famous Loch Ness herd costs £22.50 per person, and a boat ride on the loch with a castle visit costs approximately £35 per person. Both are arranged at checkout or by request at time of booking, subject to availability, and paid on the day of the tour.

What's included in the price?

Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, a live English-speaking guide for the full day, hotel pickup, and bottled water are included. Gratuities and lunch are separate.

How long does the full tour take?

The tour runs between 6 and 9 hours depending on which stops you choose and how long you spend at each one. The remaining time accounts for transportation between sites.