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Is It Worth Going to Loch Ness? Well It Depends Really!

Last updated on June 19th, 2025 at 02:21 pm

Wondering if it’s worth going to Loch Ness?

Well, wonder no more. I am a tour guide and I have been taking people to Loch Ness for over 20 years.

Let me tell you a bit about what to expect and some pros and cons to help you decide if you should visit or not.

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Is It Worth Going to Loch Ness?

Is Loch Ness Worth the Trip?

Loch Ness is worth the trip if you are going to be in the area. There are heaps of lochs in Scotland, and many are less visited and more scenic than Loch Ness.

It may surprise you to know that Loch Ness is one of 30,000 lochs in Scotland. That includes some pretty small ones that we call lochans but you get the idea – it isn’t the only one!

It’s not the deepest loch – that’s Loch Morar further over to the West. It’s not the longest one – that’s Loch Fyne which is a sea loch to the South. It’s not even got the biggest surface area – that’s Loch Lomond to the South.

It does have a lot of water though. There’s more water in it than all the lakes and river in England and Wales put together.

If you are coming because you just want to see a loch then there may be others that are nearer and more scenic.

Absolute Believer

Is It Worth Going to Loch Ness?

Where Are You On the Monster Scale?

Are you a full-blown Nessie hunting enthusiast or are you more of a Nessie sceptic?

If you want to come and say you’ve looked for a monster then Loch Ness is probably worth a visit.

Even more so if you want to buy some Nessie merchandise for you or as gifts.

You could do the whole Nessie experience by taking a boat trip, visiting the Loch Ness Visitor Centre and doing some shopping too.

If you are a Nessie sceptic you might want to come just to prove you didn’t see anything!

Is It Worth Going to Loch Ness?

Is This Your Only Visit to the Highlands?

If you are planning on visiting the Highlands once and not coming back will you regret not visiting Loch Ness?

To be honest there is so much to see here in the Highlands you are going to be hard-pressed to narrow it down, especially if you have limited time.

If you are staying in Inverness you can easily visit the Western side of Loch Ness. In fact you can be there in less than 20 minutes from the city centre.

A half day would be plenty if you want to drive along the top part of Loch Ness, take some photos and visit Drumnadrochit for some shopping. You could also fit in a 50-minute boat trip in that time – either from the Clansman or Drumnadrochit.

That way you get to say you have been and seen it, and done a little more than just driving by and taking a photo.

You also have plenty of time to see the rest of the Highlands.

is it worth going to loch ness dores beach view

Is It Worth Going to Loch Ness?

Are You Wanting to Take In The Highland Scenery?

The West side of Loch Ness, which is the most visited is also a busy main road that goes down to Glen Coe.

Some visitors picture a quaint Highland road running beside Loch Ness and are surprised to find timber lorries thundering by.

There are some laybys where you can stop and take photos of Loch Ness.

For me, I think the best scenery is on the Eastern side of Loch Ness. This is much quieter and much less visited.

The road veers away from Loch Ness in places, but only to take in some spectacular views such as Suidhe Viewpoint.

There are lots of spots to enjoy such as Foyers, with its waterfall and laybys where you can stop and enjoy Loch Ness views too.

There is also the pretty beach of Dores at the top of Loch Ness – a great photo spot, a chance to enjoy some sand, a coffee and an ice cream. (Dores is very popular with locals.)

If you want to experience all the scenery of Loch Ness why not do the whole thing as a circular drive? You can easily do a circuit of the whole Loch in a day with plenty of time for stops and photos along the way.

Check out my Things to Do in Loch Ness post which makes a great route to follow.

Is It Worth Going to Loch Ness?

Do You Want to Avoid the Crowds?

If you are coming to Loch Ness but looking to avoid crowds?

The idea of a crowd is subjective I know. Here in the Highlands, you could say that more than 3 people is a crowd given how remote we are.

However, in the summer, many visitors come to the Highlands. Add to that cruise ships coming in, with many of them heading to Loch Ness and it can be quite busy in some places – Loch Ness being one of them.

If you want to avoid the busiest places around Loch Ness focus on the Eastern side.

Tour buses don’t visit this side of Loch Ness as much, and the main ones that do are smaller minibuses rather than large coaches.

You can still enjoy lots of lovely sights and photo stops.

Is It Worth Going to Loch Ness – Conclusion

  • Loch Ness is worth a visit if you are going to regret not going – particularly if this is likely to be your only visit to the area.
  • The Eastern side is much quieter, less visited and with wonderful scenery.
  • If you have a car you can take a circular drive all the way round Loch Ness – it’s very easy to do with lots of great stops along the way.
  • If you want to take a half-day private car tour from Invergordon to Loch Ness including a boat trip then check out my tour page because that’s exactly what I offer.

You Might Also Like

If you have found this article about whether it’s worth visiting Loch Ness useful you might also like;

Loch Ness Things to Do – this makes a great day trip and it’s in order so you can follow along

Loch Ness Boat Trips – all the boat trips reviewed so you can find your favourite

Loch Ness Cruise Shore Excursion Review – here’s all the practical information you need to know about taking this ship-organised tour from Invergordon

Loch Ness Private Car Tour for 3 people – this is my private half-day tour to Loch Ness which includes a 50-minute cruise on Loch Ness

Further Reading

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