Loch Ness Scotland - Nessie or not the loch is no monster!
Loch Ness some facts
Loch
Ness, the most famous lake in the world. Loch is the Scottish word for
lake and many of you, especially overseas visitors often refer to it
Lake Ness, and even Loch Ness Lake! but to all Scots it is Loch Ness,
and besides who has ever heard of the lake ness monster!
Loch Ness has a larger volume of water than any other Scottish loch.
It is around 250m deep in places and the water is said never to freeze
- it is the same cold temperature whatever the time of year. The water
becomes deep very quickly and the sides of the loch suddenly plunge vertically
down not far out from the shore - swimming is not recommended!
Loch Ness is at the northeast end of the Great Glen in the Highlands
of Scotland. The Great Glen is a geological fault across the entire width
of the Highlands of Scotland. It runs southwest from Inverness down to
Fort William and contains three lochs - Loch Ness - Loch Oich and Loch
Lochy.
These lochs are linked by the Caledonian Canal enabling boating craft to journey from the east coast to the west. The Caledonian canal was built by Thomas Telford in 1803. opened in 1822 and has 29 lock gates along its route.
There have been unconfirmed reports of a Loch Ness Monster since the 15th century, affectionately known as 'Nessie'. Numerous sightings have been reported since a road was built along the loch edge in the 1930's and there have even been serious scientific investigations.
Enthusiasts trace the first sighting of the Loch Ness monster back to St Columba in the 6th century. His early biographer, St Adamnan, tells how he used the sign of the cross to repel a monster in the river Ness.
There are twice daily [all year round] trips from Inverness on Jacobite Cruises which sail along the Caledonian Canal to Loch Ness. Journey along to Urquhart Castle for a photo opportunity and back to Inverness - a round trip of about 3½ hours.
There is also a regular 1 hour boat trip with sonar from Fort Augustus onto Loch Ness and back.
The loch is a very busy stretch of water, especially from Easter until late October and is used by a wide variety of boating craft.
Fully equipped motor cruisers can be hired from Caley Cruisers in Inverness for weekly or short-break charter. Full instructions given. Larger private cruisers and yachts often pass through and sometimes display their flag of origin.
The large yacht on the left is displaying the national flag of Denmark showing it has travelled quite a distance. It was a magnificent sight.
Yachts of all different shapes and sizes can be seen busily tacking against the wind or just drifting on the still waters.
There is a liner, "The Lord of the Glens" that travels from Inverness on a Sunday, through the Caledonian Canal into Loch Ness and down the lochs of the Great Glen.
It then navigates round the Outer Hebrides, returning back to Inverness the following Friday. Trawlers, barges and boating craft of all shapes and sizes travel along the loch.
A car journey round Loch Ness is a distance of about 70 miles. A Journey round Loch Ness provides a detailed car journey with photos.
