A beautiful place, was there a couple of days ago and between it's position sitting right on loch ness and the canal and lock system lit up at night, it's a very special place indeed. The views across loch ness on a misty morning are truly spectacular.

It is a nice wee place - we spent quite a bit of time there when we were in the area a couple of years ago... however, with the camp site we were staying at having a 9pm lockdown we didn't exactly get to spend any time late on anywhere!

We did take a cruise on the loch from one of the boats moored up where the canal enters the loch - and also watched some of the boats coming up and down the canal... including one that took up a whole lock to itself!

The Abbey is worth a visit too. While not as ancient as the Border ones, it is in good repair. A bit sad though, to see leaves blowing across the floor of the chapel. Looks like somebody should be using it.

While in Fort Augustus, be sure to take the road to the east of Loch Ness. The views are far more scenic than from the crowded western shore.

Liz, last I heard (in 2002) is the abbey is being converted into time share flats!

The roads along the eastern side of Loch Ness are definitely worth it. Some great places to stop alongside the Ness itself as well as some of the smaller lochs - and of course the Falls of Foyers is worth a look!

Well, better than nothing.



Especially in late spring, when the rhododendrons are in bloom.

aahh Fort Augustus. Some good memories. Firstly in '92 when we hired a cruiser for the week and went the length of the Caledoninan Canal and back. The canal includes Loch Ness of course and it got very choppy on there I recall. We moored at Fort Augustus for lunch one day and ate whole roast chickens at the waterside. I remember some appreciative cannibalistic ducks!

A couple of years later we were up there again on two wheels this time. A lock-in at the Lock Inn, A very cosmopolitan crowd singing folk songs in some kind of international language as the fire warmed our backs. I love that pub.

We last stayed there in '05 a bed & breakfast converted from the old Bank of Scotland building, part of which still serves as a bank. The rest of the fine old 'managers house' has now been utilised as a B & B. Huge rooms with high ceilings. Very friendly and well run.

I love the way the locks are all so close together. It's a bit arduous going through on a boat and seems to take ages. I know folk have fallen in during this exercise and you need to be careful. The craft rise and fall to such a degree you have to be careful with yer ropes!
As inland villages go, FA is one of my favourites because there is always something going on. If it's not tankers and trucks rattling over the road bridge with all the car traffic it's the activities in the locks with all manner of craft - even some small fishing boats passing through. There's a grand pub which does good food - the aforementiuoned Lock Inn and an excellent chippy I recall. We've also eaten in the 'Bothy' and that was very good too.
I'm pleased to say I'm so familiar with the place I can close me eyes and I'm there.
Thanks for the reminder.

On the trip last summer, we have stop there and look to the working of the locks.

View to Loch Ness.


Locks going open.


On the way to the next lock.

Great place to sit and relax

And for some of the more 'cheapskate' folk on the forum can I suggest 'Morag's Lodge' as a wonderful hostel to stay at...

for £9 per night you really can't be bad to it.

I myself am a bit skint and don't mind sharing a dorm room. I love hostelling but it's always good to find a really good hostel like this one.

Having spent upwards of a thousand night in lorry cabs I'm not averse to 'roughing' it a bit and am all for saving a few quid. I'll bet there is god craic to be had in such places of you get a friendly crowd in.

However I'm almost always accompanied by Mrs. Albaphile and her standards are a little different. We spent a fair few nights under canvas in our forties and I think that has clouded her view somewhat and raised her comfort & privacy thresholds.

As a matter of interest what is the age demographic in 'hostels'? A varied mix or primarily younger folk?

Undoubtedly primarily younger folk - but you often see full families with 3 or 4 kids in a hostel.

It's certainly not odd to see lots of folk of 50 years-plus in a hostel. It's always good fun - when you are staying in the same room as someone else it's always a good icebreaker! They have a good bar playing live music on Fridays during the summer season in this hostel, and although the bar itself is quite small the staff in there tell me they manage to fit 60 or 70 into it on a Friday - must be absolutely jumping!

have "stopped of" in F A many times,,,i do like it bustling feel,maybe its time to spen a night there,,,,,,

Lovely place to stay. I had a week there a couple of years ago and also discovered the beauty of the Falls of Foyers.

Had my first (and last ) taste of Hagis in the Neuk Restaurant by the Canal.

I agree with you Nick this is a place that everyone coming to Scotland should visit..... it is so lovely.....

As for the haggis I can agree with you there as well... although im told you have to buy it from a butcher to get the true taste of it .....

That reminds me of a little story... about how I asked Linda to phone my mum to see if there was a butcher in Rosyth she could recommend to buy a haggis and Linda got us all invited for dinner (and also got my mum to buy the haggis!)