Loch Ness Lodge Retreat - Fun Days Out

Urquhart Castle is a ruined fortress on Strone Point, a headland overlooking Loch Ness, about two kilometres east of Drumnadrochit. It was once one of Scotland's largest castles, and its story takes in the Wars of Independence, raids by the Lords of the Isles and the Jacobite Risings, when departing government troops blew it up. The present ruins date from the 13th to the 16th centuries.

Wander through the remains to see the gatehouse, picture the banquets once held in the Great Hall, peer into the gloomy prison cell and take a look at the full-sized trebuchet. Climbing the five-storey Grant Tower rewards you with panoramic views of the loch and the Great Glen. It is a good stop if you like castles, ruins and loch scenery.

Tip: Book your visit online in advance to guarantee entry.

Ben Nevis Distillery is a whisky distillery in Fort William, at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles. It was founded by "Long John" McDonald, a 6 ft 4 in man whose name was later given to a well-known blended Scotch. Queen Victoria visited with her young son, and Long John presented her with a cask of his whisky.

The water comes from the Allt a'Mhuilinn, which starts in two pools high on the mountain, Coire Leis and Coire na Ciste. Making the whisky involves mashing malted barley, fermenting the wort for around 48 hours, then distilling in a wash still and a spirit still. The spirit then matures in oak casks in traditional warehouses at the foot of the mountain.

Tip: Read about the water's journey from Coire Leis down to the distillery on its website before you go, so you know the story behind the whisky.

Neptune's Staircase is a flight of eight locks at Banavie, near Fort William, on the Caledonian Canal. Thomas Telford designed it, and it was built between 1803 and 1822. Together the locks lift boats 64 feet, and it is a staircase lock, so each chamber opens straight into the next.

Watching boats work their way up or down the flight is the main draw. The original hand-operated system has been replaced by hydraulic operation, but the base plinths of the old capstans can still be seen beside the locks. Cast iron swing bridges carry the road and the railway across the canal at the foot of the flight.

It suits canal and engineering fans, history lovers and families looking for a gentle outdoor stop. The story behind the locks, from Telford's plans to the repairs over the years, gives plenty to read and talk about.

Tip: Look for the base plinths of the old capstans beside the locks.