The Local Area

 

In the nearby village of Drumnadrochit (just a 15 minute walk away) are several excellent hotels, bars and restaurants as well as a post office, bank, grocery store, takeaway food shop and two garages/petrol stations as well as a pharmacy and hairdresser. The beautiful floral displays in the village have earned awards in the Britain in Bloom contest and on the village green stands a miniature floral replica of Urquhart Castle.

 

There are many interesting walks in the local area, including one right to the shores of Loch Ness, or you could visit one of the 'Monster' exhibitions in the village or the excellent visitor centre at Urquhart Castle just 3 miles away. Bicycles can be hired locally and trips on the loch for sightseeing (or Monster watching) and fishing can also be arranged. There is also a riding centre nearby catering for both beginners and experienced riders.

 

At any time of the year Burnbrae is ideally situated for day trips to the West Coast, to Ullapool, Plockton or Inverewe Gardens and the Isle of Skye or John o' Groats and the Castle of Mey in the north. In winter the ski slopes at Cairngorm or Aonach Mor are only an hour's drive away - or if you prefer hill walking and climbing the Affric hills are only 15 miles to the west. For mountain biking enthusiasts there is an excellent (and challenging) new course in the forest at Balnain 4 miles further into Glenurquhart.

 

The city of Inverness, capital of the Highlands, offers shopping, cinemas, theatre, golf courses, leisure centres and also dolphin spotting cruises on the Moray Firth. On the outskirts of Inverness is the famous Culloden Battlefield - scene of the last battle to be fought on British soil - and just a few miles to the east you can visit Fort George, which was built just after the battle of Culloden.

 

Just 30 minutes drive away at the southern end of Loch Ness lies the lovely village of Fort Augustus where you can spend an afternoon watching boats being raised through the locks on the Caledonian Canal. In the Clansman Centre (next to the canal) highland clansmen in traditional garb telling stories of battles, intrigue and treachery from Scotland’s past can transport you back in time.