Drumnadrochit

Introducing Drumnadrochit

Seized by monster madness, its gift shops bulging with Nessie cuddly toys, Drumnadrochit is a hotbed of beastie fever, with two monster exhibitions battling it out for the tourist dollar.

The Loch Ness Exhibition Centre (450573; www.loch-ness-scotland.com; adult/child £5.95/4; 9am-8pm Jul & Aug, to 6pm Jun & Sep, to 5.30pm Oct, 9.30am-5pm Easter-May, 10am-3.30pm Nov-Easter; ) is the better of the two Nessie-themed attractions, with a scientific approach that allows you to weigh the evidence for yourself, and featuring original footage of monster sightings plus exhibits of equipment used in the various underwater monster hunts.

The more homely Original Loch Ness Monster Centre (450342; www.lochness-centre.com; adult/child £5/3.50; 9am-8pm Jul & Aug, 10am-5.30pm Apr-Jun, Sep & Oct, 10am-4pm Nov-Mar) shows a superficial 30-minute Loch Ness video (with multilingual headsets), but its main function is to sell you tacky Loch Ness monster souvenirs.

One-hour monster-hunting cruises, complete with sonar and underwater cameras, aboard the Nessie Hunter (450395; www.lochness-cruises.com), operate from Drumnadrochit. Cruises depart hourly from 9am to 6pm daily from Easter to December, and cost £10/6 for an adult/child.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009