Scotland - Loch Ness

When we visiting Urquhart Castle in Scotland we, of course, took in the views of Loch Ness.  With Urquhart Castle on the shore of Loch Ness, it's impossible not to take in the views.  Loch Ness is a hot tourist spot, so Urquhart Castle had several tour buses dropping off tourists every hour.  Thus it was quite packed with people.  Don't let that stop you from visiting the castle, however, as you'll miss out big time on a historic castle in ruins on a beautiful loch surrounded by mountains.

So let's talk about Loch Ness and the Loch Ness monster.  I will be blunt.  There is no ancient sea monster tens to hundreds of feet long living in the depths of Loch Ness.  There just isn't.  There's plenty of anecdotal evidence from people who saw something, but literally zero credible evidence of any kind supporting a sea monster.  Loch Ness is beautiful and you should visit for the views, but don't visit in hopes of seeing a sea monster.  You might see a floating branch or random pile of trash (Loch Ness shores were very clean), but you are not seeing a sea monster.

A day prior to visiting Loch Ness we had lunch at a restaurant in which the owner came over and asked us about our visit and what we were doing next.  A very friendly and polite conversation.  He then pulled out the local newspaper that had an article on the second sighting of Nessie in Loch Ness in 2017.  Um...no.  Just...no.  The picture in the paper was a picture of a blurry blob floating in the distant waters.  It could have been anything!  As far as I could tell it was an ink splotch on the paper!  Sigh.

There is so much REAL beauty in the world that one shouldn't waste one's life seeking the non-existent.  Marvel at Loch Ness for what it is, a body of water surrounded by the Scottish Highlands.  Don't marvel at a sea monster that no evidence supports even exists.

While touring the castle and loch, I did quite a bit of drastic pointing with a shocked look on my face.  My kids thought it was funny, but my wife told me to stop because some people were going to believe that I found Nessie.  LOL!