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Road through the Highlands.
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Early Saturday morning we left Edinburgh for Loch Ness. Our journey was just as exciting as our destination. We passed through the historic town of Stirling, where William Wallace was defeated by Edward 1. We also passed the site of the Battle of Bannockburn, where Robert the Bruce was victorious over Edward II.

You can notice a dramatic shift in the weather as soon as you start the climb into the highlands. We drove through the snow-capped mountains that once seemed far away. Passing through Glencoe, you can see the mountains of Buchaille Etive Mor (the Great Herdsman of the Glen), and Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Scotland.

The beauty of Loch Ness is that you don't have to see the monster to believe in it.

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.
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We first saw Loch Ness just coming out of the town of Invergarry, and we followed her right up to Inverness. The first sighting of the notorious Loch Ness monster was over 1400 years ago. Afterwards, St Colomba banished it to the great depths of the loch. Ever since then there have been thousands of reported sightings of her. And it is not hard to see why. The water is very dark, not with mud, but with the peat that lines the shore. It remains to this day a very mysterious place.

Loch Ness at dusk.
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Just outside Drumnadrochit we stopped at the ruins of Urquhart Castle, built in the 6th century. It is right on the Loch and is a must-see if you are in the area. We joined a boat cruise from the castle over the Loch, but despite our best efforts, there was no sighting of Nessie.

The beauty of Loch Ness is that you do not have to see the monster to believe in it. Everyone who goes there, even the most sceptical amongst us, is secretly hoping to see her. That is why the legend has lasted for a thousand years, and will continue to last long into the future.