Our next day in Inverness found us checking off another bucket list item: Loch Ness. Although many travel advice blogs and comment board afficianados will tell you that Loch Ness isn’t Scotland’s prettiest loch, and that there are many better sights in Scotland, and they may be right, it’s still LOCH NESS. Come on. Even as an American child growing up in the Midwest, the mythology of the Loch Ness Monster captivated me. Perhaps because I grew up before technology, I believed the storytellers and witnesses, just as I believed in Bigfoot. A few decades, uncovered hoaxes, and the internet later, I am clearly aware of the non-existence of these imaginary creatures. But that doesn’t make it any less fun to look for them.
Prior to arriving in Inverness, this day was completely uncalendared and free for exploration. But as we rode the train into the Highlands from Edinburgh, coming closer and closer to Loch Ness, both Oldest and I realized that we could not deny ourselves the opportunity of Nessie hunting. So we booked the 4 hour “Sensation” tour with Jacobite Cruises. Departing from Inverness bus station, the tour included a cruise on the Loch, a visit to the Loch Ness Monster exhibition, and Urquhart Castle.
Another perfect day – actually it was a bit warm and we both got a bit of a sunburn! – resulted in some pretty amazing photos:
We learned that Loch Ness is Scotland’s second deepest loch, and contains more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined. And because of the high peat content in the soil, its waters are very dark and murky. With soft movement along the water’s surface, it is easy to imagine a large, dark form lurking just beneath.
And best of all: WE FOUND HER! 😉
