Think of Loch Ness, and you’ll probably picture the mythical monster that, according to legend, has made this 23-mile-long loch home for countless centuries. The largest body of water in Scotland’s Great Glen, Loch Ness is part of a waterway connecting the east and west coasts of Scotland. It and three other lochs are joined together by the Caledonian Canal, which you can cruise on short excursions, or on a six-hour voyage from one end to the other, through the canal locks that adjust the varying water levels.

The canal and each of the lochs is surrounded by some of the most beautiful highland scenery, but no part is more scenic than Loch Ness itself, with the romantic ruins of Urquhart Castle on its hillside above the water. The center of many ancient myths, the 12th-century castle fell victim to a fire some 500 years later. The best views of the castle are from the water, and you can arrive by boat or drift past on a Loch Ness cruise. Fueling the Nessie legend with exhibits and accounts of sightings, Loch Ness Exhibition at Drumnadrochit Hotel also has interesting information on the geological formation of Loch Ness and the surrounding area. The castle, the canal, and Loch Ness are easily accessible from Inverness.