Driving around Loch Ness and Inverness , is a car essential?

[Fantasyland]

What's it like driving and parking around Loch Ness and Inverness please? Planning on going in June when presumably it's busy

I hate driving where I don't know and the hassle of parking and was wondering if we stayed in Drumradnochit is it possible to get taxis locally? Or is a car essential?

[YouMakeMyDreams]

This is the link to the countryside Rangers. They haven't updated the calendar yet for this year but will do soon. They also print a whole timetable book I believe they will send it out once it's available. www.outdoorhighlands.co.uk
The road betwee Drumnadrochit and Inverness is fine it's a main road. Fast yes can be but its is a full two lane road. I live up here and still hate country roads with only passing places but genuinely don't encounter them much at all.
but agree you may be better making closer to town your base.

[SmallLegsOrSmallEggs]

Sorry OP its just that I was trying to be realistic as I wouldn't want you to get on that road and be terrified and furious with MN for saying ut is gine if that kibd of driving really isn't your kind of thing.

It is my kind of thing. I think that road is fine but I learned to drive near Inverness and whilst it would be nice to pull on everytime someone wants past that road is not blessed with passing opportunities.

As I say the othet side of the loch is better. The black isle is also fine.

So maybe just don't make drimnadrochit as your base as you must use the road by loch to go anywhere.

[AutumnshadesofGold]

If you google rothiemurchas that should take you to the ranger activities - it's a beautiful spot too. Aviemore, Landmark & Kincraig wildlife park all close to Rothiemurchas.
Tbh you can't really get lost so as long as you have a map and have planned your trip beforehand you'll be fine. The locals are well used to tourist drivers and will be patient. There's lots of lay-bys so as long as you pull over safely to let those behind you pass (if a queue builds up behind you) . Lay-bys are well placed for photo opportunities too!

[Twitterqueen]

If there's a stupid, inconsiderate bastard up your backside the best thing to do is to pull over whenever you can and let then pass. They are an accident waiting to happen and far better that they are in front of you than behind.

[Fantasyland]

Youmakemydreams have you a link to the ranger thing? And yes any other places would be fab too.

Autumn that's another thing I worry about, I worry about everything so I try to pre plan everything!

Small legs dont t tell me that I had convinced myself to drive.

Thank you everyone with suggestions I have a lot to google

[SmallLegsOrSmallEggs]

Op you'll hate the road around loch Ness then. It is bendy and fast and as it is a main route west people are not wild keen on being held up. The South side of the loch is much quieter single track with passing places so easy to get out of other cars way and let them by if that is what they want.

Inverness itself is fine if you are used to town.

[Excitedforxmas]

Fort George is amazing

[YouMakeMyDreams]

Tbh I don't think one week will be any busier than the other. It's early in the tourist season and all the local schools will be in school we break up in July until August up here.
There is also the funicular railway at Cairngorms near Aviemore if you fancy going up a mountain but not the drive out to Fort William. Half hour from Inverness and there is a cafe and guided walks at the top and early June you may still get the odd snow flurry. On the road to it there is also the reindeer centre thry also do an easy guided walk out to see the deer on the hills. Loch Morlich water sports centre on same stretch of road.

Will try and search out a couple of links for things to do. If your ds liked beaches and outdoors there will be heaps of places to visit. Specifically the ranger programme. It does cover the whole Highlands but loads close by.

[AutumnshadesofGold]

Oh and whilst satnav will work, don't expect 3G/4G to be widespread! It's patchy at best.

[AutumnshadesofGold]

Yeah you really need a car. It's beautiful and will be well worth it. It's not remote, the roads you are talking about are the MAIN roads; the trunk roads going north & south etc. It will be busy for the area in June but I imagine not busy in comparison to the areas that you are familiar with - it's all relative really.
Drumnadrochit is around 25/30 mins from Inverness, Chanonry point the same distance but in a different direction. Lots of things to do & see with the same sort of radius of Inverness if you don't want to drive too far. Nairn, rosemarkie, fortrose, fort Augustus - have a wee Google

[Fantasyland]

Thank you piff and salene I'm off to google them

[Fantasyland]

Twitter I'm nervous about narrow country windy roads as I'm used to driving about town.
40/50 speed limit is fine it's the narrow country bendy roads at national speed limit I hate where someone behind you drives right behind you trying to get past.

[Salene]

You can do a Jacobite cruise up the loch from Inverness that's nice.

[Piffpaffpoff]

Glen Affric is pretty stunning and has a number of way marked walks of varying length, it's about half an hour beyond Drumnadrochit. Nairn has a great beach. Fort George is really interesting, my 8yo loved it. Depending on how far down Loch Ness you are staying, a trip up the gondala at Nevis Range is good, but it's a bit of a drive.

[Twitterqueen]

#You absolutely need a car. It's not that difficult, really. The roads dictate a slow (40/50) speed with no overtaking so it shouldn't be stressful.

If you can't drive comfortably in this region I would question whether you should be driving at all.

[Fantasyland]

I'm coming 6th June , our school get two weeks off half term where most other schools only get 1 so I presumed it would be quieter on 2nd week when most schools back in.

Melanie my son wants to see Loch Ness and he like exploring beaches and lakes


Is there any other places to see near to Inverness that people recommend?

[rockabella]

You can do day-trip bus tours for Inverness but I would use the car. Taxis in the Highlands are generally quite expensive due to the distances involved, and most roads that tourists would use are well signposted these days as many Highland businesses rely on the tourist trade.

[YouMakeMyDreams]

You really cannot get a taxi honestly. You could easily talk about spending £100 a day to get to some of the places you're going to get there and back. And buses you are turning 30 minute drives into 2+ hours on the bus. If you are generally used to town driving I can see why you'd be nervous but you really won't encounter a load of country roads the places you want to visit aren't particularly remote just very spread out by miles the loch alone is massive to get round and public transport is poop.
When are you coming up?

[MelanieCheeks]

Can I ask what your reasons are for going there?

[SmallLegsOrSmallEggs]

If you really hate driving I would suggest a bus tour or minibus backpacker type tour as tbh the road along the loch can be quite stressful. It isn't very busy in a traffic jam way but it is fast.
However otoh navigation is fairly easy - not that many junctions relatively speaking.
Afaik you can also get a boat tour that takes in Urquhart castle but not sure if that only goes from the inverness end.

I'd stay in inverness (more central) or just over in North Kessock/black isle but I am a bit biased as I am not a huge fan of Drum.

[Fantasyland]

youmakemydreams son is 9 and would love stuff like that.

[Fantasyland]

Piff if driving we would stay on the quite side of the loch as there are some beautiful cottages on the loch edge

If not driving would either stay in Inverness and do a tour or In Drumradnochit and get a taxi if possible.

Thank you for your help everyone.

Is there anywhere you would recommend going whilst we are there?

[Piffpaffpoff]

Day trip bus tours from Inverness - this was the first one that came up on a Google search, I'm sure there will be others.

[Lightbulbon]

It's not a busy place, not even in the summer.

Get breakdown cover if your worried about that.

[YouMakeMyDreams]

Sarnau works well all over the Highlands it's reasonably easy to pick up gps. Also you won't be driving on a load of country roads tbh. There is plenty big main roads between places.
Which falls are you visiting?
If you need a tour guide I can send dh because I'm useless.
How old is your ds there arebloads sf great places to go and see. They have a local ranger scheme up here as well that Purton lots of free activities in the woods and outdoor areas for kids too. They have a full seasonal programme every year.