Loch Ness Cruises

You're stood on the jetty at Drumnadrochit watching the water lap against the stone, and you know exactly why people have been staring at this loch for centuries. Loch Ness Cruises takes you out onto the water - the real, proper way to see it rather than squinting from the shore. The cruises run from the village centre, and you'll spend your time gliding along the 23-mile stretch of dark water with the Highlands rising up on either side. It's genuinely atmospheric. The monster obsession is fun if you're into that sort of thing, but honestly, the landscape itself is worth the ticket price.

How long should you allow? Around two hours for the main cruise. It's not thrilling stuff - no white-knuckle speed boats here - but that's rather the point. You get time to actually look at things, take photographs that don't come out blurry, spot the occasional eagle if you're lucky.

Families with younger kids will find it decent enough, though the under-fives might lose interest before the end. History types and landscape photographers get the most out of it. If you're staying at Loch Ness Glamping or Highland Premier Glamping Pods - both within spitting distance - this is a solid half-day activity that breaks up the holiday nicely. The weather can be moody, so pack layers even if it looks fine when you leave your pod.

It's a touch pricey for what amounts to a boat journey, but as the centrepiece of a Highland trip, it does the job properly.