The Loch Ness Monster
Written: Aug 30 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful area, mystery, and history
Cons: Destruction of the natural beauty of the area
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| mattjoe's Full Review: Scotland |
Loch Ness, the storied body of water said to be the home of a prehistoric plesiosaur, located in the Scottish Highlands is one of the most beautiful places on Earth to visit.
Throughout my life I have been interested in the legend of The Loch Ness Monster. It was a few years ago when I actually had the opportunity to make my pilgrimage to the storied Loch.
Traveling through the Highlands is unlike anywhere else I have ever been. Cool air, tall mountains, and green, so much green surrounds you. Fields covered in lush mountain grass, and purple heather greet the travelers through the mountains. It literally looks like the roads were cut through and around the mountains, and nothing else exists except for the occasional farm house, herds of sheep and the rare castle, set way in off the roadside. It is truly a beautiful land.
Traveling along the Loch makes you realize just how large this body of water is. It stretches more than 20 miles, and at some points is over a mile and a half deep. The water is dark, and the ripples and waves on the surface hide something. They hide one of the greatest mysteries of the world. Does something live down in the depths of this Loch?
Does it matter?
When arriving at the main area for traveling to Loch Ness, you will find a small little collection of houses and shops. A quaint little mountain village if I've ever seen one. It is not terribly crowded, as this point along Loch Ness is really in an out of the way area. There is little attraction for those not interested in the legend of Nessie. There is a small souvenir shop, a tiny museum which gives a small guided tour which is more or less a slide show with the photos of Nessie sightings over the years, combined with a few pieces of Loch Ness lore, such as a small boat used to search for Nessie. This is all located across the street from the true attraction.
The Loch Ness.
Leave the small visitors area, and you will see Nessie. Well, a big replica of a plesiosaur in a tiny pond. Here everyone takes pictures with the monster floating around in the background. It's cheesy but has to be done. Then, you walk across the street and behold the sight made famous in one of the pictures said to be of Nessie.
Urquhart Castle stands alone on the shore of the Loch. With about a 300 yard walk to reach the castle, you notice the seclusion this castle once had. The slope of the mountain fields to one side, the loch to the other. Three distinct sections of Urquhart Castle now remain. They are enclosed in what remains of the Castle Walls, with a large mound in the center of the sections. The domestic farm animals of the inhabitants of the castle would be kept here when not grazing on the mountainside.
Urquhart Castle exists today in much the way it was left. It is an old medieval castle which shows its' age. There are small sections which you can roam about, a staircase takes you to the top of the castle where you may look out over the Loch in hopes of catching a glimpse of the elusive Nessie. There is a small prison inside the castle. A very, very small prison. There sure wasn't anyone advocating criminals rights back then, and if they did, they'd likely be thrown into an already tiny cell with the prisoner. I've seen closets bigger than that cell.
From the Castle, there is a good chance you will hear the sounds of bagpipes emanating from where? You'll look around and not be able to tell, as the bagpipes get closer you will eventually see the piper who plays them. He will walk slowly playing his bagpipes up to the top of the castle, there he will stop and play for all to take pictures, and if you want to pose near the piper, he will keep right on playing and allow you to. Then after a good amount of time, he will disappear as quickly as he arrived.
Leaving the castle you can walk down to the shores of the Loch. You can reach out and touch the cold, dark water. Standing on the rocks along the shore, you know it is here that many have stood before, and looked out with wonder on the mysteries the Loch holds. Sighted first in AD 665 by St. Columba, one has to wonder, what is out there?
Said to have underwater caves, if there is anywhere on Earth which a prehistoric creature may live, this is the place. Deep, dark waters, a disproportionate amount of fish for a body of water this size, and newly discovered thermal vents at the bottom, coupled with the possibility of a dormant underwater volcano. One theory of Nessie's survival during the ice age suggests Nessie would have been able to thrive on large sulfur eating sea life, and plenty of plankton while swimming around these warm areas in the Loch.
Sadly, it appears construction has begun near the castle. With a new government controlling things in the United Kingdom from London, they are seeking to cash in on the Loch Ness Monster. They have torn up the areas around the castle and apparently the castle is off limits right now while it undergoes construction. Alongside the castle will no longer be lush green grass of the mountainside. There will now be increased parking, and a stupid visitors area for The Loch Ness Experience. Neatly packaged and forced on the people who visit the area. No longer will the area appear as it has for hundreds of years. It will now be presented as if a Disney attraction. This project has even applied to dump 60 metric yards of RAW SEWAGE into the Loch, per DAY! Those seeking to cash in on Nessie, show a complete disregard for Nessie's own habitat. Nessie will apparently be living in a sewer. This is disgusting. There is a group working to block the project, but they don't appear to be gaining any ground when talking to the government. This is normal when common sense reasoning is presented to a government. If William Wallace, Braveheart, were alive today, he surely would stand up and be heard about the rape of the Scottish interior. To see the destruction of what was once a beautiful area, go here:
http://www.lochness.co.uk/castle/build/index.html
Sadly, future generations will no longer see Loch Ness, and Urquhart Castle as many through history have. The Loch Ness Experience will no longer be a pilgrimage made and an experience all of ones' own. It will be the same for everyone. Gone will be the mystique of this previously unmolested land. It will be a loss for everyone around the world, except for those who care nothing about the area, and only seek to make money.
Loch Ness, a beautiful place, does Nessie exist? I didn't see her, but I will be back someday. I still believe.
Recommended:
Yes
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mattjoe
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