How often will you find yourselves in an area where you could realistically tick multiple things off your personal bucket list?
One thing I’ve always wanted to do was visit the home of the Loch Ness Monster. After decades of reading about ‘Nessie’, I’d finally been given the chance to investigate the most famous legend in Scotland thanks to Invergordon Tours. My long-suffering wife has listened to every explanation of what ‘Nessie’ could be. Would our trip finally put an end to this?
We were met in the lounge area by Joan, who’d be our guide this day. It was as if Joan and I were cut from the same cloth because she, like me, was a person who adored facts and history. During the whole excursion, she would feed me with as much fascinating information as I could handle.
Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle
After a very comfortable and picturesque ride in a top-of-the-range BMW X5, we were dropped off at Urquhart Castle, the starting point of our journey. Situated right on the bank of the river Ness, the castle is one of the biggest and most visited in the area. Today, the 13th-century-built fortress is mostly in ruins, having fallen victim to the Jacobean rising.
It is now a scheduled monument and is open to the public. The views from Urquhart Castle were incredible. The loch looked endless and was framed by majestic hills wrapped in low-lying mist and centuries-old forest.
It started to rain, so we were pleased to see our boat pulling in at the jetty. Every direction we looked during our cruise offered spectacular scenery with rolling hills and stunning countryside. Fortunately, the rain stopped, and the sun started peaking through the clouds providing clear views from the upper deck. But did we see anything in the shimmering water? Well, that would be telling!
I will say that the subject of ‘Nessie’ in the Godbold household has not been put to bed yet! Nonetheless, it was an unforgettable trip. And, if the views weren’t enough, the onboard commentary and singing provided by Kenny, the resident guide, would’ve done the job.
Joan was waiting for us at the jetty and whisked us off through the countryside back to Inverness for a hearty lunch at the river-fronting Mustard Seed Restaurant. As we tucked into the very timely lunch, Joan told us what was next on the agenda, a historic castle tour. Joan paused as she noticed a little hesitance from Natasha and me.
She asked what we’d like to do, and we said, “It would be a shame not to visit Culloden, and we’d probably regret not seeing it as we are so close”. Joan was wonderful, informing us that this was not a problem, and Invergordon Tours prided itself in its ability to adapt. With that, we were off in the car once more, heading to the legendary battlefield.
Talk to any true ‘Scot’ about Culloden, and you’ll understand why it holds a special place in many a heart. The Battle of Culloden took place in 1746 on Drumossie Moor and was the last full-scale battle on British soil.
On the day we visited, it was overcast and breezy. As we walked around the museum, reading about the history and looking at the artefacts, it caused this Englishman to re-evaluate some long-held opinions. Walking around the moor allowed us time to reflect as we looked at the burial sites and gravestones, imagining the true reality of what happened here.
We were very pleased with the last-minute change to the itinerary. Culloden is packed with fascinating facts and history and gives you an insight into the passion and single-minded attitude of the country’s people.