The mystery of the Loch Ness Monster is something that has been confusing scientists, locals, and religious icons for centuries. Nessie has been the subject of multiple movies, cartoons, and serious scientific studies over the year. And the fascination the world has for this mysterious monster doesn't seem to be waning.
But does this submerged Scottish celebrity exist, is it a hoax, or could it be something else entirely? Prestige Chauffeur is based near the loch in Inverness so is very well-placed to give you the lowdown on the mysterious beastie should you wish to come to the Highlands to spot Nessie for yourself!
Where is Loch Ness?
Loch Ness is a deep, freshwater loch 30 minutes outside Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. The Loch is over 23 miles long, extending southwest, right the way down to the village of Fort Augustus.
How Big Is Loch Ness?
Loch Ness is the second-largest Scottish loch by surface area in Scotland. Just beaten to the top spot by Scottish balladeer favourite Loch Lomond. But, due to its greater depth, Loch Ness is actually the largest loch by volume in the British Isles! At its deepest point, it's a gigantic 230 metres! That’s over 122 Ted Dansons deep! To further drive home how big the Loch is, Loch Ness contains more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined! Now that’s a lot of water – no wonder Nessie likes it there!
What Does Nessie Look Like?
Eyewitness accounts of what Nessie looks like vary, but the lions-share of reports say that she's long and thin, usually green and with black humps, a long tail and a snake-like head. The Loch Ness Monster sightings range from just seeing a shape travelling fast through the water like a giant eel, to sightings of long necks and dinosaur-shaped bodies.
Who Saw Nessie First?
According to records, the first sightings date back to the first century A.D. when Romans arrived in the Highlands and saw Pictish depictions of an unusual animal. The Romans described this animal as having an elongated beak or muzzle, a head locket or spout, and flippers instead of feet. Another significant mention of a mysterious animal in the loch came around 500AD when Saint Adamnan described the meeting of the monster and Saint Columba. As the story goes, Columba was on his way to visit a Pictish king near Inverness when he stopped along the shore of Loch Ness. There, he saw a large beast about to attack a man swimming in the lake. But Columba invoked the name of God, commanding the monster to "go back with all speed," and the beast obeyed, saving the swimmer from certain doom. It seems Nessie may be a god-fearing monster after all!
Sightings Of the Loch Ness Monster
In 1934 a famous photo was picked up by the Daily Mail after being published in The Inverness Courier. The ‘Surgeon’s Photo’ was front-page news and caused quite a stir and a resurgence of interest in Nessie that has not subsided since, with several tourists and locals alike reporting sightings of the reclusive beast.
Over the years, many have tried to uncover the mystery of the Loch and find Nessie. There have been several sonar explorations, but unfortunately, none have provided conclusive evidence. In 2018, researchers conducted a DNA survey of Loch Ness to identify the organisms that inhabit the waters. Although they didn't find any signs of dinosaur-like creatures, the results did show the presence of numerous eels, which aligns with the theory proposed by the loch's resident Nessie Hunter - Steve Feltham.
Steve has spent an incredible 3 decades watching the Loch for any signs of mysterious movements. He's watched the loch more than any other person and has come to believe that most of the sightings are probably eels or Wels Catfish, a native fish that can grow up to 13 feet long.
Despite the fruitless findings, the possibility remains that Nessie could be an oversized fish of some sort. Nevertheless, the Loch Ness monster remains a hugely popular attraction, generating almost £50 million every year for Scotland's economy.
Where is Nessie Now?
Every year there are multiple sightings of the mysterious Loch Ness monster and 2023 is no different. The last sighting was in early March where Eoin O'Faodhagain, 58, spotted not one but two shadowy figures emerge from the water.
According to Mr O'Faodhagain, webcam footage shows ‘two Nessie-like humps are moving over a two-minute period, and the larger hump of the two has changed position from the smaller one. Given the fact that there is no disturbance of water visible between objects you would have to concur they are two separate moving creatures.' Click the link and have a look at the footage yourself and decide if it really could be a couple of Nessies!
What can you do when you visit Loch Ness?
The best thing to do at Loch Ness is to keep an eye out for Nessie, but the area is still one of the most beautiful places to visit in Scotland. Despite the cold temperatures of the water, people like to take a short dip, or you can paddleboard or kayak on Loch Ness, being careful to not disturb Nessie’s snoozing.
Tours of Loch Ness also take place on the water from Jacobite Cruises, travelling down the loch and past iconic places like the ruined Jacobite fort Urquhart Castle.
The castle is a great example of 18th-century fortifications and is jam-packed with information about the area and life in the Highlands pre-20th century, so it’s a great place to visit with the family. Nearby you have the wee village of Drumnadrochit which plays host to the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre – a cracking resource for everything Nessie-related that is currently being refurbished but should soon be open to give you all the information you could ever need on our Loch Ness Monster. Learn everything there is to know about the monster and maybe pick up a souvenir or two if you don’t manage to spy the monster in the flesh.
What’s the best way to see Loch Ness?
There are many ways to visit Loch Ness on your visit to the Highlands, but a luxury tour with Prestige Chauffeur will have you visit the landmark in style!
Whether you're visiting the Loch with loved ones or showing a client the sights of Scotland, our drivers can show you the hidden corners of the Loch and help you get ahead of the crowd when trying to get a view of the notorious monster!
Book your luxury tour or transfer with us through one of our many booking methods:
Call and speak to our friendly team on 01463 217087
Visit our website
Drop into the local office – 55 Church Street Inverness Scotland IV1 1DR
At Prestige Chauffeur we pride ourselves on great customer service and being accommodating to every passenger’s needs, so don’t hesitate in getting in contact to arrange your next journey today!
