Stunning village is home to a legendary tale, grand castle and a beautiful lake

Many tourists heading to Scotland aren't chasing sunshine. They flock to these shores seeking breathtaking scenery and fascinating heritage - with some grub and tipples on the side.

There's a tiny Highland village that manages to deliver on virtually every front for holidaymakers - yet most Scots likely couldn't even tell you what it's called. Drumnadrochit has earned fame as the supposed dwelling place of the Loch Ness Monster, but there's more to it than that - it's also home to one of the globe's most celebrated and recognisable fortresses, provided you're an Outlander fan.

The village itself houses barely 1,100 residents, though numbers balloon each year as monster seekers arrive hoping to spot the legendary beast, reports Scottish Daily Express.

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Visit Scotland's website hails Drumnadrochit as amongst the finest spots for discovering the Highlands. It states: "The village is surrounded by the glens, Glen Urquhart and Glenmoriston, as well as the Great Glen that reaches across from Inverness in the east to Fort William in the west.

"The area is rich in things to see and do with activities ranging from exploring Urquhart Castle, a classic romantic ruin jutting out into the loch, horse riding, cycling, cruising the length of Loch Ness and fishing trips.

"Loch Ness, the largest and most famous loch in the Great Glen, is a top UK holiday spot that draws crowds each year hoping to spot Nessie, the legendary Loch Ness monster.

"The Nessie replica might be as close as you get to the real deal, but you can also delve into the eerie history of monster hunting facts and folklore at the centre.

"Nessieland lets you watch a documentary about monster sightings over the years, and explore the Nessie caves to uncover the legends and mysteries. The attraction also boasts an adventure playground and offers cruises on Loch Ness."

Urquhart Castle, with its stunning views and rich Highland heritage, has been the backdrop to some of Scotland's most dramatic historical events. 

It saw intense military action from the 1200s until 1692 when Edward I of England – known as the "Hammer of the Scots" – seized the castle in 1296. The fortress was later retaken by the Scots and once again fell into English hands.

Urquhart Castle has a 4.3 out of five rating on TripAdvisor with one visitor posting: "I came to Loch Ness for Urquhart Castle. The place transcends words, and inspires paintings. It's so gothic and romantic, I loved the fact that it overlooks the deepest part of the loch and called out to Nessie from the beach next to the castle. The best views up close is definitely to be had on castle grounds."

Another said: "The magnificent Urquhart Castle is on the shore of Loch Ness and a beautiful and short drive from Inverness. We left Inverness around 9am and had a very pleasant drive to Urquart Castle stopping once at a popular viewing point to see the Loch Ness."

A third added: "The Urquart Castle was a great experience! We spend around an hour and a half there and we were lucky enough to get great sunny weather so we weren’t too cold and got great photos!

"We really appreciated that we didn’t need to go on an organized tour and we could just go through at our own pace and read all the information. The castle isn’t very big so you can really see everything they have there pretty quickly and see the amazing views. Our experience was probably made better our lucky weather but we would go back again for a peaceful walk."