Wondering how to spend your long weekend at The Highland Club? Read on for our 3-Day Itinerary with something scheduled in for everyone in the family.
Day 1 – Fort Augustus and Loch Ness
Morning
Urquhart Castle
Opening time: 9:30am
Postcode IV63 6XJ
30 minutes from The Highland Club, on the west side of Loch Ness is an old ruin of a medieval castle – the most popular tourist destination in the highlands of Scotland. Take a morning trip down to Urquhart Castle and learn more about the history of the area surrounding Loch Ness with their audio-visual presentation, which is available in six languages. Examine the artefacts, such as the bronze Urquhart ewer from the 15th century and enjoy the panoramic views from the battlements over looking the Loch.
Prices
Adult – £9.00
Children – £5.40
Concession – £7.20
For more information, please visit https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/urquhart-castle/
Afternoon
Loch Ness Cruise
After viewing Loch Ness from a high in the morning, take a cruise or a speedboat to experience the Loch in a different light. There are 4 different rib boat trips, with varying lengths and prices, whilst afternoon cruises depart at 1pm and 2pm. View Urquhart Castle from the water and feel the wind blow through your hair. Hopefully Nessie will come up and swim alongside you!
To book or find out more, see here.
Caledonian Canal
After the beautiful ride over Loch Ness, wander the Caledonian Canal and watch the locks open and close whenever a boat passes through Fort Augustus – perhaps even venture into the Caledonian Canal Visitor Centre.
Evening
The Boathouse
Enjoy a delicious dinner at The Boathouse at the bottom of The Highland Club, the only restaurant on the south shores of Loch Ness. Whilst looking over the water on tables outside or inside, treat yourself to freshly made meals and a dessert – we recommend the sticky toffee pudding!
To book a table, please call 01320 366 682
Croquet, chess, & snooker
You can now idly walk back to your apartment from The Boathouse and perhaps enjoy a game of croquet on the Monastery Lawn! Alternatively, play a game of giant chess in the Cloister-Garth or play pool/snooker/table football in The Refectory. These are all amenities provided to you by The Highland Club.
For more ideas, check out the blog post on activities you can do in Fort Augustus.
Day 2 – Ready, Set, Action!
Morning and Afternoon
Biking
Pack a lunch and then head down to Girvans Bike Hire and rent out a bike for the day. The price for a full day adult is £24, for a full day child it is £16. Each bike comes with a lock and a helmet. Check when you have to return it.
For an easier route, you can cycle down the Caledonian Canal for a picturesque and flat route.
For those more adventurous, challenge yourself by trying a Great Glen cycle route! The upper Great Glen Way trail winds through the mountain forest to give you panoramic views out over Loch Ness.
Bike Hire:
Girvans Bike Hire
Email: girvanshardware@gmail.com
Phone: 01320 366 864
Biking routes:
Great Glen Cycle Routes
Please visit http://www.highland.gov.uk/ggw/
Horseriding
If you only want to cycle in the morning, there are many other activities around Fort Augustus. Close to Urquhart Castle there is Borlum Farm where you can go horse riding. Experience the Highlands in a unique form and make a new friend in the beautiful surroundings that the north of Scotland offers.
For more information please visit www.borlum.co.uk
Evening
Try your hand at making a Scottish meal! For recipes or ideas visit our blog post on traditional Scottish recipes here!
Then enjoy a film in your apartment’s private lounge or if you’re feeling more active, wander down to the Pepperpot Lighthouse, supposedly the UK’s smallest lighthouse, and Loch Ness View Point, both at the mouth of the Caledonian Canal entering into Loch Ness. Experience a sunset standing there with a stunning view of this famous Loch.
Day 3 – Fort William
Morning
Ben Nevis Mountain Range
Take the only mountain gondola in England 650m up Aonach Mor for a scenic view of Ben Nevis and the Highlands. There are plenty of walking trails across this mountain so feel free to explore the area. If you pack a lunch, you can enjoy your home cooked food in a stunning location. If not, there is a café and restaurant by the top of the Gondola.
Afternoon
Ben Nevis Distillery
For fans of Scotch whiskey, enjoy an afternoon spent in a distillery opened in 1825. Learn about how Scotch is made and even taste-test it! Find out what makes Ben Nevis whiskey, made with water from Ben Nevis, so legendary.
For more information, please visit http://www.bennevisdistillery.com/
Afterwards, spend some time wandering around Fort William – there is plenty to see and do there.
Evening
Ceilidh
Every evening from late June until September, the Skipinnish Ceilidh House in Fort William offers a Ceilidh Show from 8:30-10:30pm. Ceilidh is a fantastic part of Celtic culture and introduces you to traditional music and dancing, the translation of ceilidh from Gaelic being party! So wear some dancing shoes and enjoy the show!
For more information please call 01397 705 666
If you are at The Highland Club on a Thursday or Friday in July and August, there are also Ceilidh Evenings in the Ben Nevis Mountain Range’s Snowgoose restaurant. Learn how to dance a Ceilidh to live traditional music and enjoy a delicious Scottish dinner 650m high in the Highlands.
For more information please visit
Phone: 01397 705 825
Email: info@nevisrange.co.uk
Post first published 4th April 2018