Top Loch Ness Travel Services: Reviews & Recommendations

Loch Ness is, of course, very famous for its beautiful scenery and, arguably, for the mystery of Nessie. Visiting it really is quite a special thing to do. To make the most of your adventure, knowing how you might want to move around can, I feel, make quite a difference. We’ve had a look at some top travel and transportation options that should make it easier for you to discover every bit of what the Loch Ness region holds.

1. Highland Explorer Tours

Highland Explorer Tours offers, in a way, tours designed for the traveler that wants more of a personal touch. Their tours often tend to be small groups, and I think that can be a wonderful way to see Loch Ness. You can almost always ask more questions and have a more friendly feel. I find that the guides are super helpful and passionate, too, about showing off the Highlands, and really help paint a good picture of its past. It is good if you are keen to hear tales of clans, battles, and the mysteries of the Loch.

Many travelers I have heard speak pretty well of their Loch Ness tours that depart from Edinburgh, which do seem like an amazing option, in particular. These full-day adventures usually include highlights such as Glencoe, the Great Glen, and, very important, Urquhart Castle. What can also be quite special is that you’ll get, it seems, many chances to take pictures, stretching your legs in great locations, and really absorbing what it’s like in the Highlands. You can typically expect smaller coaches for a more closer group vibe and lots of chances to actually hear the stories from the area as you travel around. This all creates, too, more of a friendly and immersive tour adventure.

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2. Scottish Citylink

Scottish Citylink really does provide what appears to be a great service if you plan to travel between larger Scottish cities and also wish to visit Loch Ness using a more, often, cost-effective method of transport. They run frequent bus services that link Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Inverness with different stops near Loch Ness. This is, I would say, fantastic for people who may like to make their own travel plan, but would like the comfort of a very reliable and reasonably priced public transport. It gives you, also, I feel, lots of flexibility to decide when to stop and where you can explore.

If you hop onto a Citylink bus to Loch Ness, then you might find it a really handy service. The buses tend to be comfy, quite a big positive point, and should usually have Wi-Fi on board, that can be quite something on a longer ride. The timetables, which can be pretty essential, appear to be built around common traveler routes. This may well make it a good choice, if you ask me, to get about without hiring your own car. What I find helpful about their website is you can usually see any changes to services right away and also it helps to buy your tickets earlier.

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3. Local Taxi Services

Taxis, they are almost always there when you might need them, which tends to be quite reassuring, too. Taxis do seem like a great choice for short distances, to get to some tourist spots, and of course when time might be of real importance to you. In bigger places, such as Inverness, you shouldn’t have much of an issue to catch a taxi straight away or phone for a cab to arrive where you may need it to be. What you might also want to think about, though, if you are in more far off places around Loch Ness, you may need to organise in advance as the taxis might well be a little harder to hail right away.

Very typically, taxis at Loch Ness charge fares using meters. Also you should always make sure with the driver roughly how much it will set you back for your ride beforehand. Now taxis are super because they can bring you right up to many attractions that buses perhaps do not visit so directly, and provide a comfortable personal option too. Often I have found, in some instances, drivers themselves may well also know much about local tales and top visitor locations to see.

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4. Loch Ness Cruises

To see Loch Ness from a totally different view, you may like a cruise. Cruises can sometimes give stunning views and you might get a chance to glimpse rare wildlife plus the historic castles around the Loch. A cruise is almost always an enjoyable option for taking pictures, chilling and hearing details concerning Nessie stories and the general story of the Loch itself. It also tends to be a fun choice to view attractions, as you travel across what is likely the world’s greatest and very legendary loch.

Several boat tour providers provide tours which range from short trips to longer and more comprehensive tours that usually include places such as Urquhart Castle. Cruises tend to have different onboard comforts which can include inside seating, outdoor decks, places where you can purchase beverages and food, and frequently guided commentary, which really can provide all kinds of insight in to the area. I have noticed too, that a lot of cruises run at different times all through the year so there is an option almost always for you regardless when you plan to go.

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5. Car Rental

I have discovered that to really experience everything that the Loch Ness region holds, sometimes renting a vehicle can be an great choice. Rental vehicles enable you to venture away from usual tourist roads and places, visit far away spots and, generally, go exactly at your own rate. It really allows you to have an adventure that best suits you, too, and the flexibility for which you might crave.

Right at Inverness Airport and in Inverness itself, you will generally come across quite a few car rental firms, which makes picking up and dropping off fairly easy. I think you should keep in your thoughts though, in the Highlands a number of roads may well be rather narrow and twisting, so I suggest choosing a vehicle type which is suitable for driving there. A number of firms provide GPS tech. It also might well be worth setting this up just before heading off. You will also get an enormous amount more scope to find appealing small villages, pretty shorelines, and many less busy tourist attractions. Basically renting a vehicle helps you plan what is actually something genuinely unforgettable and personal.

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