Although
no more than a mile wide, Loch Ness is one of the longest lochs
in Scotland (23 1/2 miles) and also the most famous, due to
Nessie, the mysterious monster that is supposed to haunt its
waters. It has an area of almost 22 square miles, a depth of
up to 820 feet in places and an average temperature of 5°C which
means it never freezes over.
The
A82, which follows the west shore of the loch and services the
main tourist sites, is often jammed with traffic in summer.
The B852 and B862, which follow the route of an old road built
by General Wade along the loch's east shore between Fort George
and Fort Augustus, are much quieter and offer unspoiled views
of the Great Glen. The best way to see Loch Ness is to take
a boat trip from Inverness or Fort Augustus.
Although
no more than a mile wide, Loch Ness is one of the longest lochs
in Scotland (23 1/2 miles) and also the most famous, due to
Nessie, the mysterious monster that is supposed to haunt its
waters. It has an area of almost 22 square miles, a depth of
up to 820 feet in places and an average temperature of 5°C which
means it never freezes over. 
The
A82, which follows the west shore of the loch and services the
main tourist sites, is often jammed with traffic in summer.
The B852 and B862, which follow the route of an old road built
by General Wade along the loch's east shore between Fort George
and Fort Augustus, are much quieter and offer unspoiled views
of the Great Glen. The best way to see Loch Ness is to take
a boat trip from Inverness or Fort Augustus.