Walks around Loch Ness are so peaceful. The legend of the Loch Ness Monster has been around for thousands of years and has been handed down from generation to generation. The infamous “Nessie” is said to live in the depths of the beautiful Loch Ness in the North of Scotland.
At EasyWays, we want to help you discover the legend of the Loch Ness Monster and help you explore the surrounding areas.

Loch Ness

Loch Ness is located approximately 23 miles from the city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Loch Ness is the largest lake in Britain, containing more water than all the lakes in Scotland, England and Wales combined. However, Loch Ness is the second largest lake in Scotland in terms of surface area, following Loch Lomond. Also, walks around Loch Ness are so popular, people always want to explore more!
At 22.5 miles long, a mile and a half wide and 734 feet deep, it’s no surprise that the lake holds so much water. With the lake being so big, it’s no wonder that so many people believe an ancient creature lurks in the depths of Loch Ness.

Sightings of the Loch Ness Monster

Supposedly, Nessie has lived in Loch Ness since the days of St. Columba in the sixth century. It is said that while St. Columba was staying in the land of the Picts (a Scottish Tribe) one of the local men was dragged into the depths of the lake by a “water beast” which, ultimately, killed him. Some also say that St. Columba sent one of his followers to swim across Loch Ness, and when Nessie approached the man, St. Columba held up his cross and commanded that the beast swim away.
Following the original sightings of Nessie in the sixth century, there was almost no mention of the monster until the 1800’s. In the early 1870’s one man claimed to see a log like object squirm and wriggle in the water before diving into the depths of Loch Ness with some speed.
The legend of the Loch Ness Monster became more popular around the 1930’s and beyond as “sightings” became more and more frequent. The modern interest in Nessie was sparked by a sighting in the summer of 1933, when a couple saw a huge creature walking across the road towards Loch Ness. Supposedly, the creature was an enormous 25 feet long, with a large neck,  almost like an elephant’s trunk.
Later on that same summer, a motor cyclist claimed to see the same creature near the side of Loch Ness. However, many people believe that he used the Loch Ness Monster as an excuse for his motorbike accident.

The following months were filled with supposed sightings of Nessie, which was quickly followed by “photos” of the monster. Many people believe the photos are simply fakes. The original photo of the Loch Ness Monster is believed to be a photo of a dog carrying a stick, rather than a prehistoric creature.
The second photograph of the Loch Ness Monster, known as the “Surgeon’s Photograph” (1934) is the most famous photograph of Nessie, recognised around the world. Although many people believed in the beast because of this photo, it has recently been discovered to be an elaborate hoax.
Following the early sightings and photographs of the monster, there have been many photos and films of the Loch Ness Monster, however, many of them can be easily explained as logs, or ripples in the water. Despite many of the photos having a valid explanation, many people still believe in Nessie, with tourists flocking to the area with the hopes of catching a glimpse of the infamous Loch Ness Monster.
Exploring the area surrounding the stunning Loch Ness couldn’t be easier, and there is no better way to do it than by walking along this trail. It stretches 28 miles from Fort Augustus at the southern tail of the loch, to the outskirts of Inverness, at the northern end of the lake. With so much to see on the walks around Loch Ness, there is every reason to book a walking holiday there!

Walks Around Loch Ness

Also, the trail winds along the southern side of the lake, allowing you to take in some breath-taking views of the beautiful lake, both from above on hilltops, and down low on the edge of the lake. Not only does the route allow you to see some of Scotland’s greatest scenery, but it also gives you the opportunity to see the remains of an Iron Age Fort, the historic General Wade bridge and visit the famous Falls of Foyers.
By exploring the area by foot, you may also be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the famous Loch Ness Monster, and learn more about the legend of the great water beast.

Explore Loch Ness with EasyWays

Walks around Loch Ness are some of the most beautiful in the world. And walking holidays in Scotland, with EasyWays, are always great fun! It couldn’t be easier to visit the famous Loch Ness, our self-guided walk along the South Loch Ness Trail allows you to take in all that the area has to offer, while we take care of your accommodation, transfers, maps and more. If you are interested in finding out about walks in the highlands, look at our last post!  To find out more about how we can help plan your trip to Loch Ness, get in touch today.
Thanks to pixabay.com for the photos.