by Nish Laverz

Created on: January 18, 2011   Last Updated: January 19, 2011

Loch Ness is one of the most famous places in Scotland. The legend of the Loch Ness monster brings tourists from far and wide, looking to catch a glimpse of the elusive creature. Whether or not the legend is true it is a great money spinner for the local area.

It is a fresh water Loch with a surface area or 21.8 sq miles which makes it the second largest in Scotland. It is the largest body of water on the The Great Glen Fault  which runs from Inverness in the north to

Fort William in the south. It water is very murky due to the high content of Peat in the surrounding landscape. This and its depth of up to 230 meters makes for a great place for a monster legend.

Drumnadrochit on the west shore of Loch Ness is a popular destination for tourists. It has three hotels and a number of  Loch Ness Monster Exhibits. It is said that most people who have sited the monster have been staying in one of the hotels and sampled a few whiskeys. It is also home to The Loch Ness Centre where visitors can explore the natural history of the area.

Urquhart Castle which sits on the west shore of the Loch is a famous land mark. It is also near to where the majority of Nessie sighting occur.

Fort Augustus at the South west End of the Loch had a population of under 650 ten years ago (2001). Prior to 1715 it was known as Kiliwhimin. It was not until  after the unsuccessful Jacobite Uprising at this time that the Fort Augustus was built and the town renamed after it. In 1876 the then owners passed the fort on to The Benedictine Order who turned it into Fort Augustus Abbey and later constructed a school there. They abandoned the site in 1998. Boat cruses operate from this location for those who want to look for the monster or just enjoy the scenery of the Loch. The Clansman Centre where you can find out about the history of the Highlands pre 1746 is situated not far from the old Abbey.

The Caladonian Canal that connects Fort William to Inverness passes through Fort Augustus in a series of locks that step down dramatically before it enters Loch Ness. Caledonian Canal Visitor Centre where you can find out about the history of the Canal is situated near the Fort Augustus Locks.

Dores a village on the South Eastern shore of Loch Ness is the home of the Rock Ness music festival. This festival has been going since 2006 and takes place in June.

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