Beyond Loch Ness – Breathtaking Lochs of Scotland1
Ah, Nessie. Since 1933, the elusive “Marlene Dietrich of Loch Ness” has attracted long-lens wielding tourists from the far-flung reaches of the earth, all hoping to snap the ultimate paparazzi shot. In a country bursting at the beautiful seams with dramatic vistas, positively magical lochs and Wuthering Heights moors, it’s a little unfair that Nessie garners almost all of the attention. Over 31,000 lochs and lochans, though only around 400 – 500 of considerable size, streak landscapes hewn rough and rugged by Ice Age activity. Take a look beyond Loch Ness at what Scotland has to offer:
Scotland’s largest loch by surface area, Loch Lomond nestles in The Trossachs, Scotland’s first national park. The park is a haven for all manner of wildlife, including otters, deer, red squirrels, woodpeckers and even lizards. Inchmurrin, the largest freshwater island in the British Isles, is the most famous of the tens of islands on the loch. With flat beaten-down landscape at one end, and craggy mountain peaks at the other, Loch Lomond is a popular destination for casual walkers and dedicated hikers alike.
Scotland’s longest sea lock, Loch Fyne snakes 41 miles inland from the Sound of Bute along an ancient fault line. Hives of activity are pocketed on its shores, including famous seafood restaurants, numerous marinas, and cultural attractions like the fairytale Inveraray Castle. The majestic Arrochar Alps bookend the loch to the north, while dolphins and otters call its waters home.
The grand Loch Maree is hemmed in by the remote, wild and crumply-faced landscape that typifies the Scottish Highlands. Beinn Eighe, the UK’s oldest natural nature reserve lies on the southern shores and is home to rare species like red deer, pine martins and the golden eagle. Loch Maree even has its own resident monster, the Muc-Sheilch, though she is less famous than her Ness counterpart.
Loch Eilt in the Western Highlands boasts scenery so laugh-out-loud beautiful that open-mouthed gawping is a certainty. Scenes from two Harry Potter movies were shot here, and Dumbledore’s resting place is one of the many tiny islands the loch is dotted with. The most enjoyable way to reach Loch Eilt is by the Jacobite steam train – on the same route used in Harry Potter – which winds its way through vast hills of Caledonian Pine from the historic Fort William.
Perthshire’s Loch Tay is backed on the north by the imposing Ben Lawers mountain, one of the Highlands’ largest mountain ranges and home to the wildcat and a proliferation of rare alpine plants. The spectacular Falls of Dochart cascade at the western end of the loch, while the reconstructed crannog – a man-made island – standing stones, ancient stone circles and other ruins all confess the area’s history.
Laura Mundow is a freelance writer and editor based in Dublin, Ireland. Her interests include literature, movies, music, horses and travelling. She regularly writes for Pimsleur Approach, sellers of almost 30 audio based language learning courses including how to learn Brazilian Portuguese and how to learn Japanese.
Beyond Loch Ness – Breathtaking Lochs of Scotland is a post from Scotland Here and Now
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