Enjoy a full day tour and experience some of the most dramatic scenery the Scottish Highlands has to offer. Spend time at mysterious Glencoe and have…
Explore Loch Ness on this Freedom package that includes an hour of cruising on Loch Ness and an hour’s visit to Urquhart Castle. Boats depart from…
Enjoy a full day tour & experience some of the most dramatic scenery the Scottish Highlands has to offer. Spend time at the mysterious Glencoe and…
This 2-hour Loch Ness cruise departs from Dochgarroch Lock on the Caledonian Canal, sails down the loch to Urquhart Castle, and returns to…
Enjoy stunning views of Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands on a 1-hour boat cruise from Clansman Harbour to Urquhart Castle and back. Relax with a…
Breath in the fresh air of the mighty Loch Ness as your sail across the open waters. Hop ashore and explore the historic Urquhart Castle before…
If you've only got a day, but want to get to the heart Scotland's history and mystery, this tour is for you. It's the 'monster of all trips,'…
Experience the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands on a full-day coach tour to Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Trossachs National Park. Go to a…
Take the ultimate Scotland tour, experience the beauty of the Scottish Highlands and see for yourself if the Loch Ness Monster is lurking under the…
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Scotland's Loch Ness Monster has been the center of myth and tall tales for 1500 years. Though the Highlands are spectacular to see, its famous loch continues to lure visitors in hopes of a chance encounter with this elusive creature of the deep.
Some say that Scottish lore about mythological creatures living in its waters, such as kelpies, selkies and "water horses," fuels the fire of a monster prowling Loch Ness.
The first encounter was in 565 AD, when St. Columba drove a water beast away with the power of his voice and prevented it from devouring one of his companions in the water.
Road work along the shore in 1933 seemed to rouse Nessie from the deep, and a year later a black-and-white photo revealed a slender neck and small head emerging above the surface.
Nessie's features ironically resemble a plesiosaurus, a sea reptile that looks like a lizard with flippers and lived in the early Jurassic period 200 million years ago.
Extensive use of technology has yet to find the mythical monster. Though if ever caught, ancient legend predicts a catastrophic end of the region--it's food for thought!
If you're renting a car, take the A82 highway to reach the visitors' center in Drumnadrochit, which is on the northwest shore of Loch Ness. If you're relying on bus service, there are daily departures from Inverness (30 minutes) and Fort Williams (1 1/2 hours).
The Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition in Drumnadrochit exhibits the history of the region and the hunt for Nessie. The biggest attraction is, of course, a one-hour cruise on Loch Ness, complete with sonar equipment and underwater cameras just in case. Apart from the monster-mania, Urquhart Castle is nearby and worth a visit. Though blown to bits in 1692 and left in ruins, it provides amazing views of Loch Ness from its elevated location.
Scotland's weather is variable. You could wake up to grey and rain, but then bask in sunshine by lunchtime. May and June are recommendable months to visit, as the weather is generally fine, and the days are long. Consider September, as well, when the crowds are less and fall is in the air.
Priced well, very organized, B and B's were all lovely and well appointed. Great mix of fellow tourists. We had Daniel as our guide...he somehow managed to "herd his sheep" and keep us on schedule...while entertaining us with fabulous historical facts and witty tidbits. He is also an excellent driver...the one lane roads and roller coaster bumps were handled with expertise. We would like to have had more time at Glencoe...otherwise the stops were well timed. Great trio...we will be recommending it to others. Daniel is a charming, easy going, organized guide...glad we met him!
Rose did a phenomenal job guiding us through time and to the highlands. Not only did she share stories of great adventure and myth but of personal life experiences and fun moments. This made all the difference and created a more personable experience even without being face to face! Now that’s talent!! She even shared how much she loves her job and co-worker Stephen... who is apparently a phenomenal human so.. KEEP IT UP STEPHEN! Thanks Rose for the trip!! I hope this review gets to a raise!! I promised you a good one!
Kenny was incredibly knowledgable about every part of the tour, but he didn't stop at giving you the facts, he was kind and entertaining. I loved seeing the highlands and Glencoe was breathtakingly beautiful. No signs of Nessie; she must have been napping. Bring a sweatshirt and a jacket for Loch Ness, it's chilly even in June! If you only have a couple days in Scotland, this is a great way to get a taste of the country.
The sites we visited, Loch Ness and Glenco, were well worth the trip. But we spent the majority of our time on he bus. The bus driver, Paul, was a great driver but I grew very weary of his talking and story telling of Scottish wars and massacres. It’s was somewhat of a downer. But the sites were beautiful and the bus was comfortable.
The enjoyment of the tour was greatly enhanced by Brendan our driver/guide. He was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the area, which he was able to impart with both clarity and wit, holding the attention of all and inducing several outbreaks of laughter along the way.
