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Loch Ness is More than a Monster

Published by Catherine O'Halloran, Writer

Country: United Kingdom

The Experience

Loch Ness is more than the name of an alleged sea monster. It is a Scottish lake, the site of the historic Urquhart Castle, and an area of towns and villages. The term “loch” is a Gaelic name for lake, so Loch Ness would roughly translate to “Lake Ness”. It is located in the Scottish Highlands, and is arguably the best known of the Scottish lochs due to its legendary association with the Loch Ness Monster. Some people claim that it is the most famous lake in the world. Nessie aside, Loch Ness pulls in many second place records. It is both the second largest and second deepest of all the Scottish lochs, but the most voluminous in terms of water held (Loch Ness contains more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined). Loch Ness is roughly 24 miles wide, and at its deepest point, it is nearly 1,000 feet.

Sightings of Nessie date back to the 15th Century, but it caught world interest in the early 1930's. To date, there is no conclusive evidence of the Loch Ness Monster's existence. Hundreds of pictures and stories circulate, claiming to be proof, but no scientist has ever agreed on the “evidence”. For the moment, Nessie merely adds mystique and mythology to an otherwise average, though beautiful, loch. Nessie is thought to be a surviving trace from the age of the dinosaurs. Many claim to have seen her, and there are tours that will take you around the Loch Ness in avid search of Nessie.

Loch Ness joins Loch Oich and Loch Lochy along the Great Glen, a fault running across the whole width of the Scottish Highlands. These three lochs are joined by the Caledonian Canal, which allows boat traffic to travel east to west through a system of locks (not to be confused with lochs). Construction on the Caledonian Canal began in 1803 by Thomas Telford, a British engineer noted for his work on canals. The Canal was completed in 1822, and spans 60 miles, containing 29 locks throughout its entirety. When the Caledonian Canal was first built, it opened the Scottish lowlands to trade and industry.

Loch Ness dates back over 10,000 years, and is said never to freeze. Swimming is not recommended as it has very high peat content and becomes very deep quite quickly. There is one island on Loch Ness— the man-made Cherry island. Called a crannog and built of stone and oak, it was possibly a fortified refuge during the Iron Age. Urquhart Castle dates back to the 6th century, and is sited on a peninsula jutting into Loch Ness. Though it is now only ruins, it was once one of the largest strongholds in Scotland. The Castle was destroyed in 1692 to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Jacobite. This plan worked, but the Castle was never repaired, and is now a historical tourism site.

Whether you venture to Loch Ness in search of natural splendour or a mythical sea creature, the visit is sure to amaze. Perhaps it will be YOU who secure concrete proof of the Loch Ness Monster's existence?

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When to Go to Loch Ness

Loch Ness will not disappear any time in the near future. The only part of Loch Ness that is subject to wear and tear is Urquhart Castle, though it is now subject to constant restorations. Summertime might provide a more picturesque view, but it is accessible all year round.

Odds n' Ends

Make sure you give yourself a full day to explore everything that Loch Ness has to offer. From the Loch to the Castle, Loch Ness provides something for everyone.

More Experiences Nearby

Explore the Scottish Highlands on Horseback
When visiting Scotland, it is almost a shame to whiz past such gorgeous rolling hills, countryside and lochs in a car on the highway. What other alternative is there, you might ask? Horses! In a place such as this, nature is simply begging visitors to slow down and take in the impressive scenery at a normal pace. Many places in Scotland offer horse-riding holidays, which includes accommodation as well as the hire of a horse, tack and other equipment. One of the main advantages of travelling by horseback is that visitors have the chance to view a number of gorgeous ...16 miles away.

Carpe Diem! Book to do this experience now!

Book now
Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Highlands Small Group Day Trip from Glasgow
With a maximum group size of 16 passengers, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience on this special day trip to the ...
Starting from $46.54 per person.

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Books and DVDs

The Loch Ness Monster: The Evidence
Scotland Country Guide Lonely Planet
History of Scotland

Elsewhere on the Web

Lochness-guide.com
Loch Ness - Discover360.co.uk

Media References

Loch Ness Sea Monster Fossil a Hoax, Say Scientists - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
Loch Ness Monster Hoax - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
Why are we so desperate to prove the Loch Ness monster exists? - Telegraph.co.uk (newspaper)
Scotland Travel Guide - NYTimes.com (newspaper)

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