Fort Augustus

Fort Augustus is a village at the southern tip of Loch Ness, in the Scottish Highlands, at the heart of the Great Glen. The village is best known for its flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal, which runs through the settlement and links Loch Ness with Loch Oich. Designed in the 19th century by engineer Thomas Telford, these locks are a notable point of interest, where visitors can watch pleasure boats passing through. The village also retains the remains of a former Benedictine abbey, now repurposed, which reflects its earlier monastic and military history, the site having originally housed a British garrison in the 18th century. Fort Augustus serves as a popular starting point for exploring Loch Ness, including boat trips towards Urquhart Castle and walks along nearby trails such as the South Loch Ness Trail. The area has a cool, damp oceanic climate typical of the Highlands. The village offers shops, pubs and accommodation suited to passing visitors, set within a landscape of wooded hills and loch waters.