“At
the end of the woods” is the meaning of this campsite’s Gaelic name and a
rather fitting one given the way it snuggles among trees, too thin to be
considered a forest but not quite sparse enough to give unbroken views of Loch
Ness. The loch holds more water than every lake in England and Wales put together –
plus a famous murky monster that still draws tourist crowds.
A
family-run site, Inver Coille comes with all the wonderful gifts that a newly
created campsite creates. The tent pitches themselves remain beautifully rustic
and unaltered – there are no electrical hook-ups and no lines of static caravans
to blight the landscape – while the facilities are all brand new, including a
drying room for soggy clothes, showers, toilets and washing up sinks with water
filtered from a burn that runs through the campsite. There are also a couple of
glamping options: A pre-pitched bell tent and two modern looking geo-domes, each
positioned on a flat wooden platform and furnished inside with proper beds.
The
small, intimate atmosphere of the campsite suits the tranquil surroundings,
with tents pitched on two grassy meadows enclosed by trees. A maximum of 40
pitches ensures everyone has space. Most folks are walkers or cyclists
following the routes along the loch shores. The Great Glen way is particularly
popular – a 72-mile coast-to-coast route across the highlands that passes just
a few hundred metres up the slope from the campsite.
Invermoriston
is the nearest village, three miles away, though your better off heading four
miles south to Fort Augustus where there’s a little more going on, including an
excellent visitors centre, a small museum and the scenic ending to the Caledonian
Canal where a series of five locks tumble down into the loch. There are also a
few good pubs around and tour operators who can take you out onto the waters to
search for Nessie yourself.