Loch Ness, Scotland’s most famous lake, is the second-largest and the second-deepest lake in the country and is situated between the town Inverness in the north and the village Fort William in the south. Best known around the world for being home to the Loch Ness monster, it extends for 37 km with its deepest point at 230 metres. The lake is known to contain high peat content in the soil that surrounds it, which conspiracy theorists believe provides the perfect cover for the elusive Nessie – as the creature is affectionately known – within the murky depths of the lake. The Loch Ness region remains busy with tourists through most months of the year and is within easy reach from numerous cities around the area. The A82 runs along the north-western coast of the lake while the B862 runs along its south-eastern shore, making it easily accessible via road as well. Here are some of the most convenient ways to reach the Loch Ness region.

The nearest air connection from the Loch Ness region is in Inverness. The Inverness Airport is located around 35 km from Loch Ness, which is about a 40-minute drive away. It operates flights to and from cities like London, Amsterdam, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, etc. If you are looking for a better choice of flights across Europe or to get onto a long-haul flight from outside Europe, flying into Glasgow International Airport or Edinburgh Airport would be a much better option. There are buses, taxis and shuttles available from all three airports. However, while Inverness is situated close enough to Loch Ness, Glasgow and Edinburgh are almost 250 km away and visitors often choose to stay overnight in Inverness when travelling from Glasgow or Edinburgh before moving on to Loch Ness.

There is no railway line that passes through the Loch Ness region. Inverness has a railway station that runs trains from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth, London, and Aberdeen among several other cities nearby. Trains also run from Glasgow, London and a number of smaller towns around the region to Fort William, which is situated around 80 km from Loch Ness. Buses are available from both stations to the Loch Ness region.

The Loch Ness region can be reached either from Inverness from the north or from Fort William via Fort Augustus in the south. Both regions are well connected via road to all major cities and towns in the country. There are regular buses to Inverness from Glasgow and Edinburgh every hour that pass through Perth and Aviemore. The major bus operators in the region are CityLink and Megabus. The A96 trunk road connects Inverness to Edinburgh, London and a number of other places. There are also buses to Fort William from Glasgow, Edinburgh etc.

The public transport buses in the region are not the best way to explore Loch Ness; they are usually infrequent and limited to the main roads of the area. The best way to travel around Loch Ness is to hire your own car or travel with a tour group, which is usually what most visitors opt for. Cruises also leave from different points across the loch and are a great way to enjoy Scotland’s most famous lake.