Loch Ness is Scotland’s (if not the world’s) most famous lake (or ‘loch’ in Scotland). Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch. It runs for 23 miles (37km) along the natural geological cleft that stretches from Fort William in the west of the Scottish Highlands, to Inverness in the north. Its surface is 16-metres (52-feet) above sea level.

The Loch Ness Monster

Loch Ness is best known for alleged sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately referred to as “Nessie”. The Loch Ness Monster is possibly a mythical creature, which dwells in the Loch. There have been occasional sightings by both locals and passers-by. There is a remote possibility that a group of survivors of the long-extinct plesiosaurs (which lived up to around 65-million years ago) habitate the loch.

Connected Rivers and Lochs

The Loch 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. This 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. The water visibility is exceptionally low in Loch Ness due to a high peat content in the surrounding soil.

Scotlands Second Largest Loch

Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish loch with a surface area of 56km2 (22 square miles) after Loch Lomond. Thanks to its great depth, it is the largest by volume in the British Isles. The deepest point of Loch Ness is 230 metres. It is the second deepest loch in Scotland after Loch Morar. Loch Ness contains more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined.

Driving around Loch ness

A complete circuit of Loch Ness is an approximate distance of 70-miles. The A82 road which runs along the western bank of Loch Ness offers stunning views of the loch all along the route. Rugged hills climb steeply from the loch’s dark waters. There are many parking places along the road where vehicles can be parked and the beauty of the surroundings savoured. There are some less used roads on the eastern side of the loch.

Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition

Visitors are taken on a hi-tech multi-media presentation leading them through 7 themed areas at The Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition. Discover 500 million years of history of Loch Ness from its beginnings to the third millennium. Natural mystery and legend reveal the unique environment of Loch Ness and the famous Loch Ness Monster.

Operation Deepscan

Operation Deepscan has been by far the largest and most intense search of Loch Ness to attempt to find the proof of the mystery known as the Loch Ness monster. Newspapers claimed it was “a sonar exploration of Loch Ness, an operation which would sweep the unfathomable depths of the loch from shore to shore and end to end with a curtain through which nothing could escape”.

The first day of the operation ended with great optimism after 3 strong sonar contacts were recorded from 78 metres (256ft) to 180 metres (590ft). Day 2 started with 19 boats lined up just north of Fort Augustus and the sweep started back down the loch all the way to Abriachan. Apart from a couple of indistinct contacts, nothing was seen to match the 3 contacts of the previous day.

It was estimated that the search covered 60% of the total loch area as the sides and bays could not be covered. The media left the loch somewhat dismayed that the Loch Ness Monster had not been dragged from the loch for all to see. Regardless of what the press had to say the operation was a success as it had recorded 3 large sonar contacts in the loch of a size too large to be made by anything known to live in the loch.

Travelling to Loch Ness

Loch Ness is approximately 150 miles north of Edinburgh and Glasgow. You can travel from either Inverness in the north or from Fort William and then via Fort Augustus in the south. Both of the entry points are well connected by road to all major cities in the area and beyond.

Inverness Airport is located at Dalcross, 9 miles east of the city, just off the main A96 trunk road. The airport connects to Edinburgh, London and a number of other places.

Travelling by Train

Inverness railway station is located in the City Centre. There are direct services to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and London. Search for your train tickets using Raileasy.

Nearby Accommodation

There are lots of places to stay in Inverness-shire. Loch Ness is surrounded by beautiful countryside.  If you are looking for a short break and would like to explore some of the other attractions in the area then take a look at the self-catering cottages near Loch Ness available from Snaptrip.

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