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Fort Augustus is a Village 31 miles north of
Fort
William, 34 miles south of Inverness, in
the Great Glen.
Fort Augustus is popular for Boat Trips on
Loch Ness, the Caledonian Canal Centre for
information on the Canal, the Clansman Centre
that shows Clan living conditions and clothing
from the 1600s, and Walking on the Great Glen
Way.
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The top images show the centre of Fort
Augustus with the Caledonian
Canal Locks running through the middle of
the Village with Cafes and Diners all around,
one of the most scenic Villages in
Scotland.
Boat Trips on
Loch Ness are the top attraction, on Cruise
Boats or fast RIBs. The Cruise Boats have Sonar
that search for the Loch Ness
Monster.
The Caledonian Canal
Centre is in the Village centre with a
Heritage Centre giving information on the
Canal, Shop selling local produce, and
Cafe.
The Clansman Centre
is in the Village centre next to the Tour Boats
booking office. This is a former 1800s School,
converted to a Museum showing living conditions
of Clans in the 1600s.
Fort Augustus
Abbey is the most prominent building in the
Village, completed in 1880 for John
Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute, as he
attempted to restore Monasteries in Scotland.
The Abbey was bought in the early 2,000s to be
converted to Apartments. You can only view the
Abbey from the Canal Walk. This is the site of
the old Fort from where the Village takes its
name.
The 79 mile (126 km) Great Glen Way
walking route from Fort William to Inverness
passes through Fort Augustus.
The top section on the Great Glen Way is the
High Route from Fort Augustus north to
Invermoriston, 7.5 miles / 12km with great
views over Loch Ness. Web Page. This
is a good walk out and back to Fort Augustus,
or walk out and bus back.
The Great Glen Canoe
Trail is also becoming popular with people
paddling between Fort William and
Inverness.
Fort Augustus History
The original name for the Village was
Kiliwhimin.
1714 - Queen Anne Stuart died without
leaving an heir. This led to the English
Parliament choosing her German cousin George to
become King of Britain.
1715 - the second Jacobite Rising began with many Scots
fighting to have James Francis Edward Stuart
become King in place of George I. The English
Government opposed Stuart, claiming he was a
Catholic that was a good friend of their enemy
France.
1716 - Stuart fled to France where he lived
in exile, ending that Rising.
1729 - 1742 - General Wade built a Fort here
named Fort Augustus, after Prince William
Augustus, who later became Duke of
Cumberland. The Duke was known for his
brutal treatment of Highlanders during the last
Jacobite Rising.
The Village that grew around the Fort took
on the name Fort Augustus.
Many Forts, Military Roads, and Bridges were
built throughout Scotland at that time to try
and prevent any more Jacobite Risings.
1746 March - Fort Augustus was captured by
the Jacobite's during the Third Rising.
1746 April - advancing Government Troops led
to the Jacobite's moving north to Inverness
where the Battle of Culloden took place
in that month, last Jacobite battle, ending
with the Jacobite's defeated by Government
Troops.
1822 - the Caledonian
Canal was completed, linking Fort William
and Inverness with 60 miles / 97 km of
waterways.
1867 - the Fort was sold to the Lovat
family.
1876 - the land with the remains of the Fort
were used to build the Benedictine, Fort
Augustus Abbey. A School was opened at the
Abbey some time later.
1993 - the School at Fort Augustus Abbey was
closed.
1994 - the Abbey was used as a Heritage
Centre in an attempt to fund its upkeep.
1998 - the Monks abandoned the Abbey with
the Lovat family selling it to Terry
Nutkins.
2000s - Fort Augustus Abbey was converted to
apartments, some of which can be rented for
holidays.
2018 - the Caledonian Canal Centre was moved
to a new building in the Village centre.
Today - the Village has a large car park on
its northwest side that holds many cars and
tour buses.
Although Boat Tours have been popular for
years, fast RIBs have now began operating,
allowing more adventurous tours of Loch
Ness.
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