Drumnadrochit
The name of the village might not be easily recognisable but you will certainly know about it. Drumnadrochit is the small village located on Urquhart Bay, in the shadow of Urqhuart Castle, on the banks of Loch Ness. This is the place to go to learn all that there is to know about the elusive Loch Ness Monster. Despite that fact that on the surface the place seems overly commercialised with all things Nessie, there is much more to the place than what may or may not inhabit the Loch. Look past the images of Nessie and the gift shops and you will find a very pretty highland village.
The Loch Ness Monster
It would be wrong to talk of the village without mentioning something about the monster that is reputed to lurk within the icy depths of the loch. Modern fascination with the monster dates back to 1933, though the first ever reference of there being a strange creature in the waters of the lock dates as far back as the seventh century. Many people have tried and failed to find the elusive creature, yet despite all of the scientific research that has been done no one as yet has come up with a definitive answer to say that she does or doesn’t exists.
Just outside the village is the Loch Ness Visitor and Exhibition Centre where you can enjoy a state of the art audio visual presentation about the mystery surrounding the loch. The presentation leaves you to make your own mind up about whether the creature exists or not. The gift shop and whiskey shop that are located at the centre are a world away from some of the smaller novelty gift shops you may find elsewhere.
The Village
The village is centred around a pretty village green which, during spring, is ablaze with golden daffodils. One feature of the green that many visitors overlook is the reproduction of Urquhart Castle created from the hedges and some very creative planting. There are a number of traditional village shops supplying all of the basics you might need while in the area, as well as a post office. Though only a small village it attracts millions of visitors each year, thanks to the reputation of the loch. There is a handy tourist information centre giving you plenty of information about the village and the surrounding area. Just outside the village is another impressive tourist attraction, Urquhart Castle.
Urquhart Castle
No visit to the banks of Loch Ness would be complete without stopping off at the ruins of Urquhart Castle. The site of the castle is quite extensive, perched on the very edge of the promontory or Urquhart Bay. This is where the loch is at its deepest and the castle was an important defensive outpost within the Great Glen. The ruins are accessed through an excellent visitor centre, complete with gift shop and bistro café. The views to be had here are incredible, and if you brave the narrow stone staircases that lead to the tops of the remaining towers the views, and occasionally the breeze can take your breath away.
