Loch Ness is much more than the monster story. It is Britain's largest loch by volume, deep enough to submerge St Paul's Cathedral three times over, and the atmospheric corridor of the Great Glen that contains it is one of the most dramatic landscapes in Scotland. The southern shore road is less travelled than the A82 and gives better water-level access and slower appreciation.
The best way to see the loch is on a clear morning from Urquhart Castle, or by kayak if you're equipped. Tour boats depart from Inverness and Fort Augustus. Come early or late in the day when the light is low and the dark water picks up colour it doesn't have at noon.