St. Peter & St. Benedict’s Church

Fort Augustus sits right on the Caledonian Canal, and St. Peter & St. Benedict's Church anchors the town centre with quiet authority. It's a Catholic church, which marks it out in the Highlands - worth knowing if you're planning to visit during services. The building itself is Victorian, all red sandstone and proper solid, with that particular grandeur of 19th-century ecclesiastical architecture that doesn't shout but doesn't whisper either.

Inside, there's real peace. The kind of silence that actually means something. You'll find stained glass, wooden pews worn smooth by decades of use, and that particular smell - stone, candle wax, old wood - that churches everywhere share. It takes maybe 20 minutes to look round properly, longer if you're the type who sits in the quiet for a bit.

This works best for anyone with an interest in religious history or Scottish architecture rather than as a main attraction. If you're staying at Loch Ness Highland Resort just up the road, it's worth a wander between canal walks and loch-side activities. Same goes for families based at Inver Coille or Loch Ness Holiday Park - it breaks up a day nicely without demanding hours of your time.

Admission appears to be free, though opening hours aren't widely publicised. Go during daylight, and expect it might be locked outside service times. Check with Fort Augustus tourist information before heading over, particularly if you're making a special trip.