Test the waters at Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle

The history of the loch is of course tied to its infamous rumored inhabitant, the Loch Ness Monster. Scottish folklore abounds with mythical sea and water creatures, but Nessie is undoubtedly its most notorious. Legends of a monster residing deep within the shadowy waters of the loch date all the way back to ancient times. There are Pict stone carvings that depict a mysterious sea creature in the loch. The first written account of a Nessie sighting appears in a 6th-century biography of St Columba. According to its author, in 565 AD, a “water beast” bit a swimmer, then dragged him down to the depth of the loch and was readying itself to attack another man when the saint intervened, ordering the beast: “Go no further. Do not touch the man. Go back at once.” The monster obeyed and swam away. Of course, the reliability of this narrative has been put into question over the centuries that followed. 

After that, no other sightings were officially reported until 1888 when Alexander MacDonalds said he saw a “a large stubby-legged animal” emerging from the loch and then in 1933 when Alex Campbell published the famous article which renewed interest in the monster in The Inverness Courier about Aldie MacKay’s sighting of a “beast” or a “whale-like fish” emerging from the loch. Widespread public fascination with the creature was cemented when that very same year, a man named George Spicer, along with his wife reported seeing "a most extraordinary form of animal" cross the road in front of them as they passed the loch. Since 1933, many other Nessie sightings have been reported and people describe her with similar, dinosaur-like features which include a very long and narrow neck, a large body, and with one or more bumps peeking out of the water. 

In 1934, the Daily Mail published a photo of the creature supposedly taken by Robert Kenneth Wilson (which has since been identified as a hoax) which left many to believe the monster was a plesiosaur, a marine reptile which went extinct around 65.5 million years ago.  

Many sonar expeditions have been undertaken in the loch in an attempt to identify and locate a potential water creature, but none have produced anything close to conclusive evidence. In 2018, searchers undertook a DNA survey of the loch to try to identify unknown species but although they managed to gather a lot of interesting information about the organisms present in the waters, there was nothing to suggest the existence of any large creature. They did find eel DNA which led some to believe Nessie could turn out to be a giant eel. 

While no definitive proof of Nessie’s existence has been found, visitors keep returning to the loch, perhaps attracted to the legends, or perhaps in the hopes of being the one to crack the case and resolve the loch’s mysteries once and for all. 

Why not explore the loch by taking a boat tour across it? If you’re not too afraid of being attacked and gobbled up by Nessie that is! You’ll find many great companies to choose from, but we liked Jacobite, Loch Ness Cruises and Cruise Loch Ness the most. On average, tours last about an hour and cost around £18 per adult. 

That said, if you prefer to stay firmly and safely on land, there’s nothing quite like walking around the lake and getting to experience the splendor of the nature surrounding it. 

If you’re an avid walker and ready to take on a week-long challenge, the Loch Ness 360 is the one for you! Starting in Inverness, the trail makes a complete circuit around the iconic Loch and allows you to truly feast your eyes on its grandeur. Find more information about the Loch Ness 360 here. 

For more casual walkers, we love the Allt Na Criche trail, near Fort Augustus. This easy 1 hour woodland walk takes you through the woods, past a waterfall and ultimately to an opening with gorgeous views of the Loch. The Dundreggan Estate walks are also a fantastic way to explore the nature adjacent to the Loch. Made up of three waymarked walks and taking around 2 hours to complete, the 4km trail offers stunning opportunities to discover nature and see the Loch and Glen Moriston. 

Urquhart Castle has stood proudly dominating Loch Ness for over a thousand years. It has beared witness to many significant historical events in Scotland’s history, from St Columba performing miracles there in the 6th century to becoming a stronghold under Robert the Bruce’s control in the 1300s in the Scot’s struggle for independence and managing to be the only Highland castle to hold out against the English to ultimately being blown up by a government garrison in 1692 following the “Glorious Revolution”. 

The ruins of the castle were transferred into state care in 1913 and it is nowadays one of the most visited castles in Scotland.  

The castle is open daily from April, May and September: from 9.30am to 6pm; from June to August from 9.30am to 8pm; from October from 9.30am to 5pm and from November to March from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Parking is available and free for visitors but must be booked in advance.

Ticket prices for visiting the castle vary based on when you go, you can check them here (booking online in advance is recommended to guarantee a ticket). 

By car: 

• Via the A9 (principal access road to Inverness from the south, Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow and also from the north). 
• The A82 is a more scenic route option driving from the south (Glasgow) via Loch Ness through the Great Glen all the way to Inverness.
• The B862 on the south side of Loch Ness links all the little villages between Fort Augustus and Inverness, and also connects back to the A9 south to Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow and points south.

Driving is, of course, the easiest way to get around Loch Ness but once you’re there, it is nice to walk around or cycle.