Well, you’ve taken the plunge and decided to visit Loch Ness to see its monster, Nessie…. What’s worth doing and what isn’t?
I definitely don’t recommend going to either of the Loch Ness exhibitions in the village. If you really feel you must then I’d suggest opting for Nessieland (formerly called “The Original” Loch Ness exhibition). Make sure you have the correct one, it’s on the road to Beauly and Cannich NOT on the A82.
The other exhibition seems to have several names ranging between Loch Ness 2000 and The Loch Ness Exhibition. It’s on the A82 on the right as you arrive in the village from Inverness. I don’t recommend it because it seems only to want to seek to prove that Nessie is a myth and that she doesn’t exist. On the other hand if you only want to know about a few worms that live in the muck at the bottom of the loch and the mutterings of a formally unqualified naturalist on the matter, then this is possibly the right place for you.
Urquhart Castle: it’s a shame they were allowed to build the visitor centre where it is but now that it’s there it has an informative and well presented exhibition and you can get some lovely photos of the loch and the castle. The water by the castle is the deepest part of Loch Ness and the monster is seen there more than anywhere else!
For boat cruises we suggest a visit to Fort Augustus at the west end of Loch Ness.