Loch Ness
Set in stunning surroundings in the heart of the Scotland’s Great Glen, Loch Ness is one of the country’s biggest lakes, ‘or lochs'. At 24 miles long and one mile wide, there is plenty of space for any strange creatures to hide.
Nessie
A look at Loch Ness could not be complete without an attempt to spot its most famous resident – Nessie. First spotted in 565AD, the mysterious creature attracted the interest of the press in the 1930s and visitors have flocked there since, in the hope of getting a picture of the ‘monster’.
There have been many suggestions about what the creature actually is – some believe it was an elephant from a passing circus taking a dip in the loch while others think the creature captured in some of the many photographs is actually an otter.
Tourists can make up their own minds after a visit to either of the ‘Nessie’ exhibition centres in Drumnadrochit.
Stopping to enjoy each part of the loch means it can take around a day to travel around. Cycling, walking, boat trips, canoeing (and also a monster) means that there is something for everyone to enjoy and all the activites and attractions have made Loch Ness one of Scotland’s premier tourist attractions.
Loch Ness is one of four natural lochs joined up by the man-made Caledonian Canal. Unlike the other canals we are used to, which play host to a number of narrowboats, the ‘Caley’ is something quite different. You are unlikely to see a narrowboat cruising along the canal, due to the fact that waves of up to five feet can form in the lochs along the way. However, it is popular with salt water sailors and you can be entertained by the sight of cruisers, yachts and the occasional small naval vessel making their way from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea. Narrowboaters wishing to visit the Caledonian Canal should contact the local canal office for safety advice.
Activities
A trip the loch really is a real outdoors experience - from canoeing and sailing to pony trekking, there is something for everyone to have a go at. For those seeking a more relaxing adventure, boat trips on the Loch run from Inverness, Drumnadrochit and Fort Augustus.
The Great Glen Way long distance route takes you 73 miles from the west to the east from Fort William to the bustling city of Inverness. The Great Glen Way and the Caledonian Canal towpaths offer cyclists the chance to link up the newly developed Great Glen Mountain Bike Trails. The trails pass through the heart of the Nessie industry and offers some stunning views of the magnificent loch.
Find out more about The Great Glen Way.
Fishing
Famous for its salmon and trout, Scotland has always attracted the keen angler and Loch Ness does not disappoint. It offers those who love to fish a great opportunity to catch trout, pike, salmon and a whole host of other types. Special fishing guides are available locally where you will find everything you will need to have a go at fishing around Loch Ness.
For those who like to challenge themselves with a few miles of running, then the Loch Ness Marathon is the perfect one for them. It takes place each year in October and takes runners along the loch and into the centre of Inverness. The scenery along of the route is worth the training and sweat. There is a longer 10K route and a 5K route for those who want to take it a little easier.
Pony trekking image: Looking over to a group of people pony trekking on a hillside above Loch Ness – extending north east from Fort Augustus to just south west of Inverness for 24 miles and forms part of the Caledonian Canal, Highland. Pic: P. Tomkins / VisitScotland / Scottish Viewpoint
Nessie image: The fibreglass model of the Loch Ness Monster at the exhibition centres (exhibiting images and contentious film of mysterious humps moving through the water) at Drumnadrochit by Loch Ness – 24 miles long, stretching north east from Fort Augustus to near Inverness, Highliand. Pic: Paul Tomkins / VisitScotland / Scottish Viewpoint
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