Loch Ness

[Totallyindecisive]

I just wondered if anyone could give me some advice about visiting Loch Ness. My daughter has been wanting to go for ages. We've got a couple of nights booked in Inverness next week so have got a day to go to Loch Ness.
I don't plan on hiring a car, so have been looking at various tours. There is a 3 hour tour which includes a boat ride and getting out at Urquhart Castle to look around. However, it doesn't include a visit to the Loch Ness Centre and I think she'd like that as well.
I've found a full day tour which includes all 3 and a whole circuit of the loch and going to see a waterfall, but I think that 7-8 hours on a minibus might be a bit much (she has SEN).
I think we could get a bus (or taxi) to Drumnadrochit and visit the centre and get a boat trip from there but there isn't the opportunity on that boat trip to get out and explore the castle. Also is relying on public transport tricky? I live in inner London so think nothing of hopping on a bus so I don't know if I'm being hopelessly naive about relying on buses in the Highlands!
Is there another option I've missed?
Would you prioritise the castle or the centre?

We also have an afternoon and a morning in Inverness as well if anyone has any recommendations for preteens.

Many thanks

There are a few bus routes that go from Inverness to Drum

tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/North%20Scotland/Highlands/Loch%20Ness%20Guide%2016%20August%202021.pdf

Thank you! Much appreciated

Highlands public transport, while OK, really isn't like London public transport. No-where is like London transport in the UK!

If the weather is poor or similar, you could end up with a long cold wait without a shelter...

I would look again at a hire car - it gives you so much more options, not least as some of the lovely places to visit are not on the loch shore - there are walks, waterfalls, small lochs etc all may be a mile or three off the lochshore. The buses would limit being able to visit these - and much of the loch shore is close to main road, so can be quite noisy in the season.

If not, I would look at the tours again.

Also look at some other directions for another day - Black Isle and Channonry Point (dolphins!) is a really nice and characterful.

Agree with others, a hire car really would be your best bet, even if you silence from Edinburgh or Glasgow

There’s an amazing book shop in Inverness.