Loch Ness. Loch Ness Loch Ness (/ˌlɒx ˈnɛs/; Scottish Gaelic: Loch Nis, [l̪ˠɔxˈniʃ]) is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately 37 km (23 mi) southwest of Inverness. Its surface is 15.8 m (52 ft) above sea level. Loch Ness is best known for alleged sightings of the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, also known affectionately as "Nessie". It is connected at the southern end by the River Oich and a section of the Caledonian Canal to Loch Oich. At the northern end there is the Bona Narrows which opens out into Loch Dochfour, which feeds the River Ness and a further section of canal to Inverness.
It is one of a series of interconnected, murky bodies of water in Scotland; its water visibility is exceptionally low due to a high peat content in the surrounding soil. Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area at 56.4 km2 (21.8 sq mi) after Loch Lomond, but due to its great depth, it is the largest by volume. Villages and places[edit] Overview of Ness, Loch. Lying 10 miles (16 km) to the southwest of Inverness, Loch Ness runs for 23 miles (37 km) SW-NE along the Great Glen from Fort Augustus. Set in a dramatic situation between steeply sloping mountains, the loch is a popular tourist attraction. It lies on the route of the Caledonian Canal, which runs from Clachnaharry to Fort William. During the construction of this canal, the level of the loch was raised by 3m (9 feet) to ease navigation. Averaging 182m (600 feet) in depth, the maximum depth, recorded just to the southwest of Urquhart Castle, is at least 230m (754 feet). Loch Ness holds the greatest volume of water of any loch in Scotland and remarkably contains more water than in all of the lakes of England and Wales put together!
Of course, Loch Ness is most famous for its monster. Saint Columba (521 - 579) is said to have subdued a mysterious 'water beast', but it was not until 1932 that a plethora of sightings began, bringing enormous tourist interest. Loch Ness and Loch Ness Monster Information. Facts about Nessie, Loch Ness Research and Exploration. Loch Ness Hotel Accommodation Information Shops and Loch Ness Monster Exhibition. Loch Ness. Loch Ness Urquhart Castle with Loch Ness in the background Loch Ness is Scotland's (if not the world's) most famous lake (or 'loch' in Scotland).
It runs for 23 miles (37 km) along the natural geological cleft that stretches from Fort William in the west of the Scottish Highlands, to Inverness in the north. About a mile wide at most places it is the purported home of the Loch Ness monster, a possibly mythical creature, which dwells in the Loch and is occasionally spotted by locals and passers-by. Regions[edit] The Scottish Highlands consist of a plateau dissected by glacier scoured glens (valleys), many of them containing lochs (lakes).
Loch Ness extends from Fort Augustus at one end to Lochend near Inverness at the other. Loch Ness near Lochend Lochend Cities/Towns/Villages[edit] Apart from A82 several other roads coverge on the city – A9 comes from beyond Aviemore in the south-east and then moves further north-west to Alness and beyond, A 96 comes from the north-east. Understand[edit] Loch Ness Project and Adrian Shine Index. Loch Ness Accommodation Inverness Scotland Holiday Guide. Loch Ness and Glen Affric. Select area Nessie, the legendary monster, has made Loch Ness the most famous of all Scotland's lochs; at twenty three miles long it is the second largest lake in Britain by area.
Its great depth, however, means it holds several times more water than its nearest rival, Loch Lomond. There are many shorter and beautiful woodland walks on either side of the loch. Further north, Glenurquhart is the gateway to the magnificent pinewood-clad Glen Affric - Scotland's most beautiful glen. This is a wonderful area of the Highlands for walkers, having the highest mountains north of the Great Glen but also some splendid lower level and forest walks.
To the east is the fertile Black Isle, packed with beautiful villages and some fine beaches, whilst further north still is Dingwall, a gateway to the Northern Highlands. Map of Loch Ness region derived from SVG map of Scotland by Eric Gaba; licenced under CCSA. Loch Ness Monster. The Loch Ness Monster is a cryptid, a creature whose existence has been suggested but is not discovered or documented by the scientific community.[3] It is reputedly a large unknown animal that inhabits Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next. Popular interest and belief in the animal's existence has varied since it was first brought to the world's attention in 1933. Evidence of its existence is anecdotal, with minimal and much-disputed photographic material and sonar readings. Origins Loch Ness History Saint Columba (6th century) The earliest report of a monster associated with the vicinity of Loch Ness appears in the Life of St.
Spicers (1933) In August 1933 a motorcyclist named Arthur Grant claimed to have nearly hit the creature while approaching Abriachan on the north-eastern shore, at about 1 a.m. on a moonlit night. Chief Constable William Fraser (1938) C. Loch Ness Monster. Urquhart Castle. Urquhart Castle ( listen ; Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal na Sròine) sits beside Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland. The castle is on the A82 road, 21 kilometres (13 mi) south-west of Inverness and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of the village of Drumnadrochit. The present ruins date from the 13th to the 16th centuries, though built on the site of an early medieval fortification. Founded in the 13th century, Urquhart played a role in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century.
It was subsequently held as a royal castle, and was raided on several occasions by the MacDonald Earls of Ross. The castle, situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness, is one of the largest in Scotland in area.[2] It was approached from the west and defended by a ditch and drawbridge. History[edit] Early Middle Ages[edit] The early castle[edit] The remains of the 13th-century "shell keep" or motte is the earliest part of the castle to survive The Grants[edit] The Grant Tower viewed from Loch Ness.
Castle Urquhart.