Dores Beach
A gravel and sandy bay at the north-eastern end of Loch Ness
Dores Beach forms a small bay on the north-eastern shore of Loch Ness, beside the village of Dores. Its gravel and sand shoreline offers an open view across the loch.
On this page
The bay beside Dores
Dores gives access to the water near the northern end of Loch Ness. The beach is a mixture of gravel and sand, sloping towards the loch. It is a shore stop with views over the water, distinct from the castle grounds and visitor attractions around Drumnadrochit.
The bay is beside the village on the northeastern shore, opposite the western A82 corridor.
A visit on foot
The shoreline itself is the main focus for a short visit. Its loose beach surface differs from a paved promenade, and a view of the water does not depend on completing a long walk.
The wider walks around Loch Ness range from village stops to steep woodland trails and long-distance stages. Dores can be part of that wider trip, but the beach should not be treated as the starting point for a continuous paved path around the loch.
Getting to Dores
The B862 leads from Inverness to Dores. From Dores, the B852 continues along the eastern shore towards Inverfarigaig and Foyers. This is a different approach from the A82 route through Drumnadrochit to Fort Augustus.
Council-published bus service 302 stops at Dores Inn on its route between Inverness and Foyers. The service runs Mondays to Saturdays, with a separate Saturday timetable. Some weekday journeys have school-term conditions. A bus visit therefore needs an outward and return journey that fit the same day; there is no Sunday service in that timetable.
Water quality and swimming
Dores is a designated bathing water monitored by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. That designation does not guarantee suitable conditions at every visit.
Heavy rain can carry pollution into the bay. SEPA advises against bathing during heavy rainfall and for one or two days afterwards. Its Dores bathing-water information explains this local risk. A visit for the view is separate from a decision to enter the water.
Combining shore stops
Dores and Falls of Foyers lie on the eastern side of Loch Ness, but they are separate stops with different terrain. Foyers involves a woodland gorge rather than an open beach.
For a day around Loch Ness, the useful choice is between spending more time at a few shore stops and adding a booked attraction on the opposite side. A boat ticket from Clansman or Dochgarroch has its own departure point and does not provide transport from Dores.