A Close Encounter with the Loch Ness Monster

          Getting a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster is at the top of the list of every visitor to Scotland and, of course, I was no exception.  Inverness is a picturesque city up north in the Highlands and is the best jumping off place for an expedition to see Nessie.  The train ride from Edinburgh to Inverness took us through Perth and the beautiful Cairngorms National Park in the heart of the Scottish Highlands…and the cost of the train ticket for this spectacular ride was only about $26.  Arriving in Inverness in the early afternoon, I found a great bed and breakfast called the Winston Guest House straight away.  It was located just across the bridge from town right on the River Ness and for about $74 I had a nice room with private bath and it came with a wonderful breakfast.

Loch Ness Connects to the North Sea

          The River Ness flows north from Loch Ness through Inverness (which means mouth of the River Ness) and then empties into the Moray Firth on the North Sea about 8 miles to the north.  With this close connection between Loch Ness and the North Sea, it is easy to understand how such a large sea monster came to reside in an inland lake.  Both Loch Ness and the River Ness are large, as lakes and rivers go, accounting for the monster’s ability to navigate and thrive in these waters for so many years.  It is an interesting fact that the first recorded sighting of the monster was actually in the River Ness in 565 AD.

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness

          As soon as I had checked into my room I headed to the nearby bus station to purchase the $15 round trip City Link ticket from Inverness to Loch Ness.  After a beautiful bus ride through the Scottish Highlands we arrived at Loch Ness and I disembarked near the Urquhart Castle Visitor Center since this is where most of the sightings of the Loch Ness Monster occur.  To get close to the water’s edge from this location it is necessary to purchase the $9 entrance ticket to the castle and visitor center.  I have to say, it was well worth the price of the ticket to have a chance to explore this fabulous old castle and take advantage of the breathtaking views of Loch Ness and the Great Glen, the large valley in which it lies.  The Great Glen was formed by a geological fault that runs northeast-southwest through the Highlands, virtually dividing Scotland in half.  Although much of the castle lies in ruins, visitors are allowed access to most areas and can even climb up into the main tower (Grant Tower) overlooking the water.  Dating back to the 13^th century, Urquhart Castle gives visitors an interesting look into what life was like in medieval Scotland.

Venturing Down to the Water’s Edge 

          After exploring the castle and visitor center, I was anxious to hike down to the water’s edge for the best possible chance of seeing the Loch Ness Monster in the short time I had.  Perhaps I should have been a little more concerned that none of the other visitors were venturing away from the safety of the high ground near the castle.  When I reached the water I immediately noticed a boat offshore that looked like it might be carrying a group of scientists who were probing the waters.  As I stood there searching for any sign of Nessie, I had the distinct feeling that something was watching me from beneath the water.

Nessie Makes an Appearance

          For quite a while the water was completely still and I was beginning to think maybe this whole ‘Nessie thing’ really was just a legend.  Then I heard someone climbing down the embankment behind me so I turned to see who it was, hoping to have some company during the rest of my stake out.  I focused in on the face of a young woman just as her features were turning from excitement to horror.  She suddenly turned around and ran back up the hill towards the castle screaming like a banshee.  Hearing the sound of a loud splash, I swung back around to see what she must have seen and found the water churning with the motion caused by several large concentric rings of water ripples.  I could barely make out a large dark area in the water, just as a large wave hit the rocky beach where I was standing.  With my shoes and lower pants now wet, I scrambled back up to a perch near the foot of the castle and watched as the boat with the scientists quickly moved in for a closer look.  I stood there transfixed, hoping for another chance to see the monster, and probably would have stayed much longer had it not been that the last bus back into Inverness left at 6 PM.  Nonetheless, it was quite a thrill to have gotten that close to Nessie.  I think maybe she’s had a bad rap all these years being called a ‘monster’.  She actually seemed quite friendly and it was as though she just wanted to say ‘hello’.

Inverness

          Still reeling from my near-sighting of the Loch Ness Monster, I wandered around Inverness that evening in somewhat of a daze, checking out the many interesting sights.  Considered the capital of the Highlands, Inverness has a number of historic landmarks, although some were destroyed during several of the ancient battles that took place nearby.  In its earliest times Inverness was occupied by the Picts, a group of late Iron Age people who populated Northern Scotland.  Several beautiful bridges cross the River Ness at Inverness and afford stunning views of the surrounding city.  The Inverness Castle is perched on a hill overlooking the river and was built in 1835 on the site of an 11^th century defensive structure.  On the other side of the river from the castle and the main city is Saint Andrew’s Cathedral built of red stone and completed in 1869.  A walk through the rest of Inverness reveals an impressive variety of architecture and historic buildings.  While its location way up north in the Highlands of Scotland may discourage some visitors, I would definitely recommend making the effort to explore this beautiful city and surrounding region.