Loch Ness Monster received a nomination for local award scheme’s Highland Ambassador of the Year 2010 category.

The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards (HITA) event management team were delighted to read the latest nomination for the Highland Ambassador of the Year category, which proposed The Loch Ness Monster for the honour.

Elizabeth Mackintosh, chairwoman of HITA said:
“Under normal circumstances all entries and nominations are held strictly confidentially but we felt that we had to share this one with the public.  Nessie has made a major impact on the positive profile of the Highlands and Islands worldwide over the years and perhaps we should seriously consider this nomination for HITA’s Highland Ambassador of the Year 2010.”

The 12 categories for 2010 are Best Use of Social Media Award sponsored by 4TM, Best Visitor Experience Award sponsored by Chivas, Community Tourism Initiative Award sponsored by Highland Council, Customer Care Award sponsored by VisitScotland, Developing People Award sponsored by Babcock, Highland Ambassador of the Year, Highland Dining Out Experience Award sponsored by Scottish Provincial Press, Young Ambassador of the Year Award sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, Leadership Award sponsored by Inverness College & UHI Millennium Institute, Marketing Initiative Award sponsored by British Waterways and The Green Award sponsored by Kennan Recycling and Most Enterprising Business in the Great Outdoors Award sponsored by the Cairngorms National Park Authority. 

The shortlisted finalists will be announced in October and the winning businesses and individuals will be revealed at the awards ceremony and gala dinner at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on Friday, 19^th November.  The high profile event attracts more than 350 representatives from the region’s top tourism, hospitality, and leisure and travel businesses.  Tickets can be purchased from 

The 12 categories for 2010 are Best Use of Social Media Award sponsored by 4TM, Best Visitor Experience Award sponsored by Chivas, Community Tourism Initiative Award sponsored by Highland Council, Customer Care Award sponsored by VisitScotland, Developing People Award sponsored by Babcock, Highland Ambassador of the Year, Highland Dining Out Experience Award sponsored by Scottish Provincial Press, Young Ambassador of the Year Award sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, Leadership Award sponsored by Inverness College & UHI Millennium Institute, Marketing Initiative Award sponsored by British Waterways and The Green Award sponsored by Kennan Recycling and Most Enterprising Business in the Great Outdoors Award sponsored by the Cairngorms National Park Authority. 

The shortlisted finalists will be announced in October and the winning businesses and individuals will be revealed at the awards ceremony and gala dinner at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on Friday, 19^th November.  The high profile event attracts more than 350 representatives from the region’s top tourism, hospitality, and leisure and travel businesses. 

Earlier this year Destination Loch Ness,(DLN)  AKA – visitlochness, in addition to its own efforts to raise money, was awarded funding for the development of a long distance trail on the south side of Loch Ness. This exciting project called the “Loch Ness Trail” will, when completed early next year, provide a trail for all types of users, walkers, horse riders, cyclists etc and which will stretch from Loch Tarff, a few miles out of Fort Augustus, all the way to Inverness, the Highland capital. That is about 27 miles !  Some sections are already well established, such as that over the Fair Haired Lad’s Pass (stunning views of Loch Ness) and the project does not actually involve the construction of much new trail as it’s more a case of linking up some of the existing forest and farm trails to develop an unbroken off road route.

In the long term, the Loch Ness Trail could link up with the Great Glen Way to form a complete circuit of Loch Ness, which is, in parts, pretty spectacular so we look forward to even better long term prospects for walkers and riders in our area. Along the length of the trail, at key points, there will be information points detailing the history, flora and fauna.

Have a look at our interactive Loch Ness map for a great selection of existing printable walks, rides and many more holiday ideas all in one place. The new loch Ness Trail willbe available here as soon as the trail is opened.

Welcome to the new look updated Loch Ness Blog! 

Welcome too, are the blue skies and warm breeze as I write and from my window I can see and envy the holidaymakers gliding past in their luxury cruise boats.  Cruise boat hire has become very popular on the loch in recent years. Note – I refer to cruiser hire, not Loch Ness cruises  where you spend an hour or two on a large boat and get taken for a trip on the loch. No – I mean family holidays in luxury cabin cruisers – you hire a cabin cruiser for a week or so and by navigating the Caledonian Canal, sail all the way down the Great Glen to Fort William, or just “mess about on the water” for a few days and nights – it’s very relaxing, so I am told.  I have never actually done the cabin cruise holiday thing but have always promised myself to give it a go one day.   

I almost decided a long time ago to try a cruising holiday on the Norfolk Broads but then saw the congested waterways which I could only liken to the  waterways answer to the M25 in the rush hour! Heaven knows what it’s like nowadays!  Hey, you don’t get that on Loch Ness – the only time you might have to queue is when you pass through the lock gates on the Caledonian Canal stretches and that’s a great opportunity to say Hi to other adventure cruisers.

Take a look at Caley cruises, the most popular cruiser hire company on Loch Ness and see how much it costs.  Not just cruising though  - you can hire bikes to take with you as there are some excellent cycling trails along the way. You can also hire fishing rods – what better way to fish the waters of the Great Glen.   Thinking back, I am inclined to feel that the Norfolk Broads is a little bit tame for me compared to exploring the whole of Loch Ness and the Great Glen.