Loch Ness, Culloden, and Inverness - What is Real and What is a Marketing Ploy…

Since the odds have been in our favor with sightings, I woke up today certain we would spot Nessie the Loch Ness Monster when we passed the lake on our way to Inverness.

Loch Ness is the largest body of fresh water in the UK. An icon of Scotland, it attracts a lot of tourists every year - including us. When planning a trip to Scotland, it is hard to skip Loch Ness and routing it into our itinerary was easy.  We all know the tale of the sea serpent lurking in the dark expanse of Loch Ness. My intent, like everyone else, was to search for the elusive Loch Ness Monster - known affectionately as 'Nessie' - and decide whether or not she exists.

As we drove alongside the lake, I felt like we were in a Scotland travel brochure. Blue skies over Loch Ness? Surely all part of the promotional gimmick. It was then that I realized the probability that the Loch Ness Monster - like blue skies in Scotland - only exists in travel brochures.

Someone photoshopped a blue sky over Loch Ness.  It is so life-like!

What is that blinding light??

Nessie ... is she real?

The ruins of Urquhart Castle along the shores of Loch Ness are a popular destination. I stole this picture while "just turning around" in their parking lot. Otherwise trees and bushes completely block your view.

Just above Loch Ness is Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. One person we met said that Inverness didn't live up to their expectations and another person recommended we spend 7 days there. Our itinerary included just enough time to see nearby Culloden Battlefield and take a bike tour.

A brief stop in Inverness

I am embarrassed to admit that I didn't know what a Jacobite was, but after researching it, I was able to put together all the pieces. First I had to understand that the Stuart line of Scotland kings were all named James. Then I taught myself the part in history when the Stuarts lost the crown. Finally, I discovered that "Jacob" is Latin for James - hence Jacobites were the supporters who wanted to put the Stuarts back on the throne. Easy peasy. But there's just one more missing piece … who is Bonnie Prince Charlie? He led the Jacobites to win the crown back for his father, James! And the big battle against the British (aka the Government) took place at Culloden. Sadly, the Jacobite uprising came to a final bloody end in 1746. In less than an hour, 1500 Jacobites were wiped out - also putting an end to Scottish culture: the wearing of clan tartan, the playing of bagpipes, and the speaking of Gaelic. Ok that is your history for today in a nutshell.

The Culloden Battlefield's visitor center - well worth a visit - has a movie that does a very good job of putting you in the center of the battle. They also have an hourly  guided tour of the battlefield where you can see the mounds from the mass graves of the Jacobites.

Culloden Battlefield Visitor's Center

A memorial cairn at Culloden Battlefield (free to visit), a tribute to the thousands that lost their lives in less than an hour

Trying to figure out what to do for a few hours in the town of Inverness, I came across great reviews for a bike tour. Alison of Inverness Bike Tours knows Inverness and greeted every single person we passed. She picked some key highlights around town and told us all sorts of interesting tidbits.

Biking along the Caledonian Canal which connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast near Fort William

After the bike tour we drove to Edinburgh and returned the car. Our vacation is starting to wrap up, but we still have a couple days left to explore Edinburgh.

View from our place in Dean Village for the next 3 nights.