Scottish Highlands Towns and Villages

Fort Augustus,This town at the southern end of Loch Ness takes its name from William Augustus, the Duke of Cumber land who made the fort his quarters after his success at CULLODEN in 1746. Besides its more recent history this village, originally called Kilchumein, after a follower of St Colomba, has an ancient lineage.

Much of the site of the old fort is now occupied by a Benedictine Abbey and a highly regarded school. The Abbey School was erected in 1876, a fine building with many architectural features that catch the eye. In the old cemetery of the parish church lies the grave of John Anderson, a carpenter friend of Robert Burns made famous in the latter's poem 'John Anderson My Jo'.

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 Fort Augustus car park is in a central location with public toilets, telephone and bus stop next to it. 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.