Loch Ness…is it kitschy? maybe, is it touristy? yes. Did I REALLY want to add this to my Scotland trip? also yes!!!!
If you’re like me, you’ve watched a few documentaries about Nessie, at some point in time. I do love a good mystery, and legends about monsters pique my interest too.
Many people don’t believe there is a monster in the loch, (my husband included) but at the risk of sounding a bit fanciful, I think there just might be some leftover creature from days gone by. Cryptozoology they call it, “a pseudoscience and subculture that aims to prove the existence of entities from the folklore record” (wiki)
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Loch Ness from Edinburgh
We visited Loch Ness, as part of a Highlands of Scotland Tour leaving out of Edinburgh. Rabbies is the tour group we chose for our Highlands/Loch Ness tour which saved us from having to rent a car. The Rabbies tour was great! They offer small van tours, so you get a more personal experience. Our tour guide, Grant had a lovely thick Scottish accent, and a quick wit to go with it. He kept us laughing the whole day.
want to go it alone?
Boats leave from Fort Augustus if you’d rather show up on your own. The main car park is located in the centre of Fort Augustus village (PH32 4DD), just next to the petrol station. Cruises on the Loch take approximately 1 hour and run all year long. If you choose to show up on your own, here are a couple of different options for boat tours.
Cruise Loch Ness Have toilets on board, disabled access and you can bring your dog! cost: 18 pounds (prices subject to change, always confirm with the official site.)
Looking for more options? Loch Ness by Jacobite tours the Loch too.
Be sure to check out the Clansman Centre
Near the boat loading dock is The Clansman Centre where you can “take a step back in time to the 17th century.” They’ve recreated the interior of a highland turf house, with authentically dressed clansmen to bring the past into the present. The shop specializes in Celtic and locally produced crafts and gifts. If you have a few minutes before or after your boating excursion, take a peek inside.
…..all aboard! Time for the Loch Ness boat tour!
Loch Ness is 744 feet deep. There’s a monitor on board, so you can keep track of the water depth.
and…..we found her! Just kidding. They have these fun decal stickers on the windows.
The cruise is short, but sweet. They will usher you back into port to the sound of bagpipes. Don’t you love bagpipes!?
video of our tour on Loch Ness
Really this is something that can most be appreciated in person or in video!
We enjoyed our time out on the Loch. I’ll always be glad that I can say I have been to Loch Ness. Although we didn’t really spot Nessie, I think she is down there, swimming the depths of the beautiful and haunting Loch Ness!
Regrets about our Loch Ness tour
Because we chose the tour of the Highlands that included Loch Ness, I wasn’t able to see Urquhart Castle, old castle ruins situated picturesquely on the banks of the loch. The next time we go to Scotland, we ARE getting a car, and we are heading north! The further north you go, the less people you will find. Between 70 and 80 percent of Scotland’s population live further south,
in the Central Belt, where Glasgow and Edinburgh are located.
spooky activities around the world
Hunting the Loch Ness Monster is one of the fun activities included on my Halloween Travel Bucket list. If you like a good scare in the month of October add one of these fearfully fun activities to your travel list now!
2 weeks Ireland, Scotland, England
We toured Loch Ness as part of a whirlwind 14 day trip that included highlights in Ireland, Scotland and England! Get our free itinerary here!
