It is simply a fact of life that a visitor to the famous Loch Ness in Scotland is more likely to be devoured by mini-monsters in the form of tiny insects (midges) than by the fabled Monster of the Loch.
However, the midges can be deterred quite effectively with insect repellent and/or protective head gear, and the Loch Ness Monster is still awaiting its first meal of unwary tourist . . . as far as we know.
Loch Ness is deep, and dark, and inherently mysterious, shadowed as it is by towering mountains that are sometimes obscured by lowering clouds. Though it is not the longest or deepest lake in the UK, the way it was formed, on a side-slip fault line, makes it the UK’s largest body of fresh water, a volume of more than all the rivers, lakes and reservoirs of England and Wales combined. So there’s plenty of space for a monster or three, and the atmosphere is definitely conducive to propagation of the myth.
It’s OK if you don’t actually see a monster, because there is such a lot of completely natural and awe-inspiring beauty that it’s already a sensory overload. The motorway A82 runs along the lake’s western shore and offers a series of breathtaking views around and across Loch Ness. The eastern shore is much less travelled, beckoning the seeker of relative solitude and probable adventure.
One spot not to be missed is the ruined but still hugely imposing edifice of Urquhart Castle at Strone Point. History was made here, and the castle is part of Scottish heritage that includes St Columbia in the 6th century and Robert the Bruce in the 13th. There is an audio/visual production that will raise your consciousness as well as the hair on the back of your neck.
Being the most famous lake in Scotland and arguably the world, Loch Ness has welcomed the tourist trade, but is far from being overwhelmed by it. It lies in remote splendour some 170 miles north of Edinburgh, with only a few roads in and out and only a couple of towns. Inverness is the largest, and the only one with an airport, but there are several other small towns including Fort Augustus at the southern tip of the lake, where there is an ‘official’ tourist office.
For the hike of a lifetime, the Great Glen Way is a walking trail that stretches 73 miles from Fort William in the south to Invervess in the north. Much of it hugs the shores of Loch Ness and the scenery is reward enough for most anyone, but as a note of interest, it’s also the site of many a ‘sighting’ of the elusive Nessie.
The Scottish Highlands, where Loch Ness broods in its own atmosphere of haunting beauty, remain the most sparsely populated area of Scotland, and visitors outnumber locals by a substantial margin. You can find excellent accommodations on and near the lake, and there’s no lack of good restaurants and single malt whiskey. Whether you meet the Monster or not, it’s an unforgettable experience.
Related posts:
