It is one of Scotland’s – and indeed, the world’s – most enduring mysteries. A question that has plagued monster hunters and theorists for centuries: Is the elusive Loch Ness Monster real?
Well, the only way to know for certain is to visit the beautiful freshwater loch yourself. And excellent train connections are your best friend.
Regular direct trains from Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London, including sleeper services, will take you to the mythical loch’s closest station in Inverness – the capital of the Scottish Highlands.
Take a short taxi or bus journey south and you will hit Loch Ness, the largest body of water in the British Isles. Breathe in the fresh Highland air, take in the magnificent landscape, and have your camera at the ready.
Maybe you’ll be lucky! At the time of publishing, there have already been seven reported sightings of Nessie listed on The Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register this year, with some apparently catching the beast on camera.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Jose Miguel Sanchez. Image Location: Loch Ness, Scotland.
Is the Loch Ness Monster real?
While most believe Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, is nothing more than a myth, the strange water beast was reportedly first sighted in the 6th century.
Saint Columba, a traveling Irish monk, heard of a monster in A.D. 565 and thoughtfully sent one of his followers to swim across the River Ness to investigate. According to the ancient text, Columba made the sign of the cross upon seeing the creature approach his disciple and banished it to Loch Ness.
Interest in the monster only really took off in 1933 when a couple told The Inverness Courier, a local newspaper, that they saw an extraordinary beast with a large body and a long, thin neck cross the road in front of their car and plunge into the icy depths of the loch.
While there’s no hard evidence to prove the creature’s existence, eyebrows were raised when a surgeon from London, Robert Kenneth Wilson, was visiting the Great Glen and suddenly spotted something in the corner of his eye. He scrambled for his camera and captured what many believe to be the first formal evidence of the mythical beast.
The Loch Ness Center says there have been more than 1,140 official Nessie sightings since, and the biggest search in 50 years took place in August 2023.
True believers say the creature’s elusiveness is due to the sheer volume of Loch Ness, the largest lake in Great Britain. Its deepest point is 745 feet, and it contains more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Ludovic Debono. Image Location: Loch Ness, Scotland.
Who or what (hypothetically) is Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster?
The Daily Mail newspaper printed Wilson’s photograph, and the story went global. Many speculated that the creature was a plesiosaur, a marine reptile that went extinct approximately 66 million years ago.
Other theories have ranged from the unromantic (wind slicks, reflections, and boat wakes) to the absolutely bonkers (ghost dinosaurs, a swimming elephant from a traveling circus).
Image Credit: Getty Image, Sean Gladwell. Image Location: Loch Ness, Scotland.
Where to start your search for the Loch Ness Monster
If you’re serious about finding Nessie, there are a couple of hotspots you should consider.
Start your visit in the village of Fort Augustus at the south end of the loch. The beautiful Highland village of Drumnadrochit is also a must-see and is home to the famous Loch Ness Center. Discover even more about the unique history of this magical place and everything there is to know about Nessie.
Both towns are also home to a wide range of boat tour operators, giving you the opportunity to both search for the elusive creature and soak up the stunning surroundings.
Depending on the cruise, you could also be basking in the beauty of the towering peak of Ben Nevis and the impressive valley of Glen Coe.
And of course, it’s not a visit to Scotland without a castle! A military stronghold for centuries, Urquhart Castle is one of the most picturesque, with incredible views of the loch below and a good vantage point for Nessie spotting.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Stefan Auth. Image Location: Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness, Scotland.