LOCH NESS
This is a view of Loch Ness between the towns of Fort Augustus and Urquhart.
The first sights of Urquhart Castle that you'll see.
Urquhart Castle is situated on the banks of the deepest part of that infamous lake, Loch Ness. Apparently this is the favourite spot for 'Nessie' sightings. We didn't see anything the day we were there and unfortunately our stay was not long enough to permit us to take the boat cruise on the loch. On the left of this photo you can see a really big wooden siege engine (trebuichet), a reminder that Urquhart has had its fair share of being attacked. The rocky square patch on the hill in the photo below used to be a church and the smaller round ruins higher up (unseen) used to be a dovecot. There is a path that will take you to the loch (though you are not supposed to go there) if like me you feel that you can't visit and leave without touching the water. The shore of the loch is very rocky and its water is very cold!
Urquart from the path closest to the loch.
This is a close up of the stony beach I walked on that I mentioned earlier.
Having a ride on 'Nessie' at Drumnadrochit. Close by is a fascinating show on monster sightings and why the monster can't exist (Loch Ness is low on nutrients and therefore low on fish and hence monster). The information is available in several languages.
A cute little inn that we ate at in Drumnadrochit. Troll settled for beef and I decided to try venison (deer) to his disgust. I think I'll have to try it again sometime to get a better taste as it was served a bit dry. By the way, wild boar terrine and ostrich are both delicious.
Close by, between Drumnadrochit and Urquhart, are the Falls of Divach. To find them though you'll have to drive up steep hills and it's possible to miss the sign the first time (though you'll soon realise if you have).