Almost everyone knows that Loch Ness is 23 miles long, has historic Urquhart Castle on its shores, and is believed to be home to ‘Nessie’ the Loch Ness monster.

The following are just some of the facts and interesting snippits of information and legends about Loch Ness and the surrounding area which you don’t often hear about! Perfect to fill those gaps in conversation over the Holiday period. (!?!)

Did you know???? Urquhart Bay on Loch Ness and the surrounding woods is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The woods, lying between the Rivers Enrick and Coiltie, are one of Britain’s last remnants of swamp woodland

Did you know???? The Corrimony Chambered burial cairn in Glenurquhart was built circa 2000BC, and is of a type known as a passage grave, encircled by 11 standing stones.

D id you know???? On the 29th September 1952, whilst travelling at 206mph on Loch Ness in his craft Crusader in an attempt to gain the world water speed record, John Cobb lost his life. The people in the area had so taken to the quiet, unassuming Englishman that it was decided to erect a simple cairn, to commemorate the man, from the people of Glen Urquhart, on a site overlooking the measured mile.

Did you know???? The artist George Bain, known as the father of Celtic Design lived in Drumnadrochit for many years after marrying a local girl. The house where they lived can be seen perched high on the slopes near Drumnadrochit and the former manse house where he had his school of celtic design is now the Benleva hotel. George Bain also designed the plaque that is on the Cobb’s Memorial Cairn (see above)

Did you know???? When Johnson and Boswell set off from Inverness to Fort Augustus on the morning of Monday, August 30, 1773, they travelled on horseback, accompanied by a guide and translator, Joseph, and two other Highlanders on foot. “I perceived a little hut, with an old looking woman at the door of it,” wrote Boswell. “I thought there might be a scene that would amuse Dr Johnson.” Sure enough, in they went to the hovel, lit only by a hole punched in the turf and the light of peat fire in the middle of the floor and goats tethered to one end. Where, wondered Dr Johnson aloud, did the woman sleep? Something must have been lost in translation because the old crone interpreted this as an alarming invitation to go to bed. The misunderstanding and her dignity were saved with humour.

Did you know???? Cherry Island near Fort Augustus, about 100m from the shore, is the only island on Loch Ness. In fact is not an island, nor is this its real name! The ‘island’ is in fact a man made structure known as a ‘crannog’. Designed to provide a fortified retreat for the local people when threatened, they were built and used for this purpose between the Iron Age and the 16th century. The real name of the crannog is Eilean Mhuireach or Murdoch’s Island.

Did you know??? The RSPB purchased Corrimony reserve in 1997 with the aim to regenerate a large area of Caledonian pinewood. Black Grouse, Golden Eagles, Scottish Crossbills, Crested tits & Greenshanks can all be found there. Source: www.rspb.org.uk

Did you know??? Strathglass & Glenurquhart Shinty Clubs competed in the fixture considered to be the origin of the rules applied today in modern shinty at Bught Park, Inverness in 1887. This ancient rivalry is still continued with the clubs’ first teams playing each year for the MacDonald Cup and second teams for the Ali Bhan Cup as a curtain raiser to the new season.

Did you know? Legends of Loch Ness-side records that at one time the Great Glen in which the loch now lies was a place of rich pasture, a land of milk and honey with plenty of corn, fish, deer and game for its numerous people. In the Glen there was a well which had been blessed by Daly, the Druid, under the condition that whosoever drew water from the well must always replace its cover. Many years later a woman was drawing water from the well when she heard that her child had fallen into the fire. The poor mother immediately rushed home forgetting to replace the well’s cover. The water of the well overflowed and flooded the whole glen and the escaping inhabitants lamented “The loch nis ann” (there is a lake now). From this saying (nis is pronounced Neesh in Gaelic) Loch Ness took its name. Source: A Brief History of Foyers by the late Gordon Wilson

Did you know?? Urquhart Castle is located on the shores of Loch Ness on the rocky promontory of Strone Point. It dates from early in the thirteenth century, and was built by Alan Durward, son-in-law of King Alexander II. For a time, it was a strong-hold of Robert de Brus (the Bruce), and it met its end in 1692, when English forces blew it up to thwart the Jacobites. It is now in the care of Historic Scotland, and is open to the public.

Did you know?? IN 1890, when Queen Victoria was still using paraffin lamps in Balmoral Castle, some villagers in Fort Augustus had the unlikely luxury of electric light because of a small water turbine installed by the monks at the nearby Benedictine Abbey. This is believed to be Scotland’s first electrical installation and began operating eight years after Edison opened his station at Holborn Viaduct in London in 1882.

Did you know? Divach Falls on the edge of Drumnadrochit drops over 30m (100feet). The falls have inspired artists and authors. The artist John Phillips painted the falls & the painting now hangs in Buckingham Palace. The Falls were also responsible for the first tourism in the area.

Did you know???? In the 2001 census Drumnadrochit had a population of 813, Fort Augustus had a population of 508 & Inverness had a population of 40,949.

Did you know???? In 1895 the North British Aluminium Company started to make use of the River Foyers to generate the electricity needed to process aluminium at Foyers, South Loch Ness. All materials were transported to and from Foyers by boat and a light railway was built to connect the works and a wharf. Aluminium production at Foyers ceased in 1967: though the plant was then used for a while to build narrow boats for English canals. In 1973 the power generation equipment was enlarged and upgraded and the ex-aluminium plant now serves as a hydro electric power station feeding the national grid.

Did you know???? High above the village of Inverfarigaig there is a large hill fort, which probably dates back to the Iron Age. The fort was built on the top of Dun Dearduil, about 925 feet above sea level. The fort was built by the Celts some time around 700BC to protect them from their enemies and to protect their cattle and families. At the beginning of the last century it was excavated and found to be partly vitrified. This means that some of the stones it had been built with had melted and become like glass. Originally, the fort would have been surrounded by a thick stone and timber wall and there are still traces of a separate enclosure which might have been used for cattle.

Did you know???? Some time in the 11th century, the story goes, a Viking prince called Monie landed in Argyll, accompanied by an army of men and his sister. The Scots were having none of it, and he was pursued northwards until he finally reached a rocky crag in what is now Drumnadrochit near Loch Ness, visible for miles around. Though he and his companions bravely held their own, they were eventually defeated and Monie was killed. Craig Monie, as that rocky crag is called, is a local landmark still – so prominent that a gibbet once stood there as a sombre warning for wrongdoers. Source: http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk

Did you know???? Baxter’s Loch Ness Marathon had Twenty-five nationalities represented in this year’s (2007) event with athletes from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, USA & Inverfairgaig.

Did you know???? Brown trout exist in large numbers in Loch Ness and are regularly caught at lengths between 6″ and 10″ or 15cm to 25cm. Some turn cannibal and grow much larger, easily attaining weights of 12 lbs (5.3Kg). These are known as ferrox trout. (please note – if this inspires you to grab a rod and reel, the season runs from the 15th of March to the 6th of October).

Did you know???? Northeast of the village of Dores is Drumashie Moor, where Fingal and his Gaels fought a battle against A’ishidh (Ashie) and his Norsemen. The battle is said to haunt the moor where ghostly columns of soldiers and horsemen march on the moor and silently enact the battle just after dawn on May 1st.
Source: University of St Andrews.

Do YOU have any facts or legends or trivia aboutLoch Ness that you would like to share?

Let us know!

The ‘greatest reunion in rock history’ took place yesterday in London when the surviving members of Led Zeppelin reformed for one night.

When tickets went on sale, the 18,000 seats sold out within seconds. Formed in 1968, Zep sold more than 300 million albums during a career enhanced by a reputation for offstage excess - exceeding even their storming onstage performances.

What does this have to do with Loch Ness?

Boleskine House, on the southern shores of Loch Ness, was bought in 1971 by Zeppelin guitarist, producer and band leader Jimmy Page because he revered its former owner, the Satanist Aleister Crowley (some argue he was the real monster of Loch Ness!).

To find out more about South Loch Ness click HERE 

Page became obsessed with black magic and would ‘wander through Boleskine wearing Crowley’s cloak claiming that the house was haunted by a decapitated head’. There is a graveyard situated across from the property, which may have had a reputation for strangeness before Crowley’s and Page’s occupation. One legend suggests that a tunnel exists linking Boleskine to the graveyard, and the graveyard is said to be the haunt of witches.

Sections of Page’s fantasy sequence in the Led Zeppelin concert film, The Song Remains the Same were filmed at night on the mountain side directly behind Boleskine House.

The house is now privately owned – but many fans still make a pilgrimage to the area…

Loch Ness Monster found in New York

A mysterious creature floating in the waters of a Brooklyn nature reserve has caused passers-by to do a double-take in recent weeks.

But it’s not the mythical Scottish beast, the Loch Ness Monster - it’s the creation of US sculptor, Cameron Gainer which is at the Salt Marsh Nature Preserve and is one of 40 temporary art installations in parks and playgrounds in New York’s five boroughs.

Mr Gainer said the work was inspired by the pose of the iconic ‘surgeon’s photograph’ of Nessie taken in April 1934 at the Scottish loch, taken by Robert Wilson . That photo at least was later revealed as a hoax.

Passers-by think the 600-pound, 12-foot by 12-foot fiberglass, aluminum and foam replica of the mythical monster is real - if only for a moment.

The Parks Department commissioned Nessie and other works for ‘Art in the Parks,’ the 40th anniversary celebration of its public art program.

Gainer’s sculpture is modeled after the plesiosaur, a long-necked, aquatic reptile that became extinct, ‘It looks good,’ said John Fritz, a local resident. ‘The artist did a very good job. I was even expecting it to move. The only thing giving it away is its stillness.’

‘Nessie’ will be on view in New York until December 15, when it moves to Florida.

There has been to date no comment from Nessie herself on how she feels about this likeness.

Find out more about the Loch Ness Monster HERE

Ahhhhh - its the run -up to everyone’s favorite (?) time of year…..

Christmas lights are going up all around Loch Ness and the Great Glen which is a boon on the long winter nights on the run up to the winter solstice on December 21st (The ’shortest’ day) .

Luckily with the clear (COLD!) nights nature has been putting on some spectacular lights of her own with some wonderful moon-rises and gorgeous starry nights.

Fingers crossed that we will get a repeat of the awe inspiring the northern lights / aurora borealis that we were treated to a couple of years ago.

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The Forestry Commission is again selling local sustainable Christmas trees which are available from Forestry Commission Scotland, Strathoich, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness, Scotland. Opening hours are 8.30 - 16.00 Monday to Friday till 24 December (Apart from 20/12) Call 01320 366322 for more info.

White Christmas?

We already have snow on the high hills here around Loch Ness - and bets are being laid to see if we are going to get another white Christmas in the UK.

William Hill White Christmas Betting: 4/1 Aberdeen, 4/1 Glasgow, 9/2 London, 6/1 Cardiff.
16/1 that the lowest recorded temperature in England will be beaten (-26.1C, Jan 10 1982, Shropshire).
16/1 that the lowest temperature in Scotland will be beaten (-27.2C, Jan 10th 1982, Aberdeenshire).
22/1 for the record in Wales to be beaten (-23.3C, 21st Jan, 1940 Powys).
100/1 that the Thames will freeze over between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge.
100/1 Big Ben Fails to chime due to being frozen solid.

I haven’t found odds yet for a White Cristmas at Loch Ness, but The bookies have put up a Nessie Reward of £1 Million to anyone who can convince experts at the Natural History Museum that Nessie exists -with odds of 250/1 about it happening in 2007.

I wonder if this is the year!?! (what is left of it!)

* Can’t find who to credit for this photo…tell me if its you!

To see what special offers are  on this Christmas and Hogmanay in the Loch Ness area click HERE  - check out events HERE