Page 276 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

situated 1.5 miles up 13m by a ‘ladder’ of five
the glen, and provides consecutive locks. It’s
information on hiking, fun to watch, and the
weather forecasts, and neatly landscaped canal
specific advice on climb- banks are a great place BOUDEWIJN SLUIJK/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
ing Ben Nevis. to soak up the sun. The
From the car park at Caledonian Canal Centre
the end of the road, there (%01320-366493; Ardchattan
is an excellent 1.5-mile House, Canalside; h10am-
walk through the spectac- 4pm), beside the lowest
ular Nevis Gorge to Steall lock, has information on
Meadows, a verdant valley the history of the canal.
dominated by a 100m- Cruise Loch Ness
high bridal-veil waterfall. (%01320-366277; www.
You can reach the foot of cruiselochness.com; adult/
the falls by crossing the child £14/8; hhourly 10am-
river on a wobbly, three- 4pm Apr-Oct, 1 & 2pm only Nov-
cable wire bridge – one Mar), at the jetty beside
cable for your feet and one the canal bridge, oper-
for each hand – a real test ates one-hour cruises on
of balance! Loch Ness accompanied
GREAT BRITAIN 20 GREAT GLEN
by the latest high-tech
The Drive » Return down
Glen Nevis and head north on sonar equipment so you
the A82. At Invergarry, turn left can keep an underwater
onto the A87 which climbs high eye open for the Loch
above Loch Garry; stop at the Ness monster.
famous Glengarry Viewpoint
(layby on left). By a quirk of The Drive » It’s a
perspective, the lochs to the straightforward but scenic
west appear to form the map 17-mile drive along the shores of
outline of Scotland. Return to Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle.
the A87 and continue to Fort
Augustus (44 miles). TRIP HIGHLIGHT
6 Urquhart Castle
5 Fort Augustus Commanding a superb
Fort Augustus, at the location with outstand-
junction of four old mili- ing views over Loch
tary roads, was originally Ness, Urquhart Castle
a government garrison (HS; %01456-450551; adult/ the film) and displays of
and the headquarters of child £8.50/5.10; h9.30am- medieval items discov-
General George Wade’s 6pm Apr-Sep, to 5pm Oct, to ered in the castle. The
road-building operations 4.30pm Nov-Mar; p) is a five-storey tower house at
in the early 18th century. popular Nessie-hunting the northern point is the
Today it’s a neat and hot spot. A huge visitor most impressive remain-
picturesque little place centre (most of which is ing fragment and offers
bisected by the Caledo- beneath ground level) wonderful views across
nian Canal. includes a video theatre the water.
Boats using the canal (with a dramatic ‘reveal’ The Drive » A short hop of 2
are raised and lowered of the castle at the end of miles leads to Drumnadrochit.

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