Fort Augustus & District
On the most southern tip of Loch Ness Fort Augustus is situated on the Great Glen Way and the Caledonian Canal and is half way between the Capital of the Highand’s Inverness and Fort William. The original name for the village was Cill Chuimein, literally "the Church of Chuimein", after the said Chuimein, then the Abbott of Iona, established a church here in the 6th Century.
In the early 17th century, the village became known by the name of the fort built by General Wade, Fort Augustus, named after the second son of King George. Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland, became infamous in the Highlands as "Butcher Cumberland" owing to the many atrocities inflicted on the Highland population by his orders.
Running through the village is the River Oich and the impressive 60 mile long Caledonian Canal and lock system, built by Thomas Telford in the early 1800s. The Caledonian Canal stretches from Fort William to Inverness, is linked by a series of natural lochs and has a flight of 5 locks from the top of the canal in Fort Augustus down onto Loch Ness.
Centrally located between Invermoriston and Invergarry
Fort Augustus offers stunning views down Loch Ness, with many beautiful walks and an excellent golf course, or if you prefer, idle your time away watching the boats negotiate up and down the locks. The Caledonian Canal Visitor Centre is a British Waterways Museum about the history of the canal and the village. The village hall holds the local ceilidh [traditional Scottish dancing and music] every week during the summer months. The Fort Augustus car park is in a central location with public toilets, telephone and bus stop next to it.
From a base in Fort Augustus, you can easily visit the best the region has to offer. Inverness, the capital city of the Highlands, and Fort William "the outdoor capital" are less than an hour's drive. The iconic Urquhart Castle at around 30 minutes, and the cinematically famous Eilean Donan Castle at around an hour (possibly the two most photogenic Highland Castles of all) are equally accessible. The Skye Bridge and the Isle of Skye itself are less than 90 minutes away, as is the mysterious and atmospheric Glencoe. Further, but still well within the scope of a day trip are West Coast destinations such as Oban, Mallaig, Gairloch and Ullapool.
Since the Great Glen Way was opened in 2002, Fort Augustus has become a favourite stopping place for walkers and cyclists to take a well earned rest and recharge while enjoying the beauty of Loch Ness.