Searching for the Loch Ness Monster
The ‘surgeon’s photograph’ of the Loch Ness Monster fooled people for 40 years before it was exposed as a hoax. However, it still continues to spark curiosity in the minds of those fascinated with the legends of Loch Ness. This was the picture I kept on my shelf for many years as a reminder of my fascination with the creature.
Ever since I was young, I’ve had a fascination with two things – strange and wonderful cryptid creatures (animals claimed to exist but without definitive scientific proof); and ancient mythology, especially Greek and Egyptian. My fascination with these two led to many incidents, which have since become humorous mainstays of family history.
As a child, I remember sitting next to my dad watching TV and some of the only programmes that my dad actually enjoyed were documentaries. My dad loves learning about things, whether it be building something, handicraft, or even about the natural environment or mythological creatures. One of my earliest memories is of watching a documentary about the famed Loch Ness Monster, affectionately called Nessie.
Nessie has long been a part of Scottish folklore as a cryptid inhabiting Loch Ness, a freshwater lake near the city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Nessie’s physical form is said to be reminiscent of a large dinosaur, with a long neck and protruding humps along its back. I remember watching people talk of this mysterious creature and seeing images flash up on the screen of Nessie rearing her head just above the Loch’s waters. I was enthralled by her and couldn’t wait to learn more.
Saint Columba saving his disciple from Nessie and banishing her to the depths of Loch Ness
Legends of Nessie have been around for hundreds of years. The first mention of her is from the life of Saint Columba (521-597 CE), an abbot from Ireland famed for spreading Christianity among the Picts of Scotland. Nessie is said to have killed a Pict after she was attacked and, in her rage, set sight upon killing one of the Saint’s disciples. But the Saint came to the rescue, calmed Nessie down and then banished her to live forever in the depths of the Loch. There have been many accounts of Nessie since then, but there has been no definitive ‘scientific’ proof of her existence. Many people, however, recount seeing her or even taking photographs of her. Learning more about her, all I could think about was that I wanted to see if she was real for myself.
The opportunity presented itself when I was around 15 years old. My parents had a long weekend off from work and were thinking of going on a short break with my elder brother and I. The problem was, they didn’t know where to go or what to do. At that time, the only thing that I could think of for some reason was Nessie. So I went around collecting travel magazines and going to various travel agencies in the town centre asking about how to go and see Nessie. I voraciously compiled a list of contact numbers and started calling around, gathering information. My parents thought I was crazy, but nevertheless I continued.
As the long weekend fast approached, I became anxious as my family didn’t really want to entertain my idea. And then, one Sunday evening, the perfect plan hatched inside my head. As an entire family, one of the TV shows we watched was called Monarch of the Glen, and I remembered that it was filmed somewhere near Inverness. I was in luck! After doing some research, I found out that the show was filmed in Inverness-shire and it is not that far from Loch Ness. So, I thought to myself that my family wouldn’t mind visiting to see the famed house and its grounds.
Ardverikie House in Inverness-shire, Scottish Highlands. It was here that Monarch of the Glen was filmed. I used visiting this place as an excuse to visit Scotland in my attempt to see Nessie. Unfortunately, it was closed to visitors at the time of my family’s trip.
A couple of days later, I took my dad’s credit card from his wallet and proceeded to book a hotel near the Loch in his name. My parents were horrified when they found out and scolded me to no end. But once they had calmed down, they thought that visiting Scotland wouldn’t be such a bad idea. However, they informed me, that in my eagerness and youth, I had forgotten one very important factor – transport! My dad laughed and informed us that we would drive all the way there, after all, the countryside would be beautiful since it was the beginning of spring.
The weekend approached and we left before dawn, passing through rolling hills and untouched landscapes like Sherwood Forest, famed for its association with Robin Hood. We arrived at our hotel late into the night. The next morning, I ran to the reception to get as many brochures about the local attractions as possible, and guess what? The main attraction was Loch Ness! My parents acquiesced, and we ended up visiting the Loch on a bright sunny day. I spent hours sitting on the shore of the Loch, but much to my dismay, I didn’t see Nessie. My mother and brother were irritable so I suggested visiting the nearby Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition. Needless to say, I was enraptured with the history of the Loch and the legends of Nessie that surround it. I spent the rest of the day in there accompanied by my father, only to be ushered out at the closing time. When we got out, we found my mother and brother sitting, looking extremely bored on a bench. My dad smiled and took us all out for pizza in Inverness that night.
Some people believe that Nessie is said to resemble a plesiosaur, a prehistoric sea creature.
The next day, I wanted to go back to the Loch, but my mother had had enough and diverted us to visit the estate that the Monarch of the Glen was filmed at. Unluckily, it was closed to visitors for renovations! My dad turned the car around and took us further along the Loch, away from the usual tourist destinations. We found a secluded area to have lunch which my mother had packed for us earlier, and we spent the afternoon talking and playing games on the shore-front. But every so often, I would peak out the corner of my eye over the Loch, hoping so badly to see Nessie. But she never did show herself to me. My family thought the trip was a failure, but we talked about Nessie the whole way back the next day, and by the time we reached home, they thought the holiday had been a success. Later on, I printed out a supposed photograph of Nessie, known as the ‘surgeon’s photograph’ and had it framed. It sat on a shelf in my family house for years.
The entire saga has been a source of amusement for my family since then, and every time I see pictures of Nessie, I remember that trip, the trepidation leading up to the trip, the excitement of being there and hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Though I have never been back since, I do hope one day to visit again and maybe this time, she will grant me my wish of seeing her.
Pastor Niral Patel
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- The Mysterious Bermuda Triangle
- The Hidden Nature of Trolls
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Loch Ness, a place filled with mystery and legend. Well it is the home of the Loch Ness Monster and so many other wonderful Scottish myths, legends and historical happenings. In Scottish folklore, the Loch Ness monster is said to be a creature that inhabits . It is often described as large in size with a long neck appearing from the water. There have been countless sightings of the legendary creature, with many exposed as hoaxes. It is the greatest unexplained mystery with legends of the mythical beast known far and wide. So far there is not much scientific evidence to proof its existence. A wonderful experience so near yet so far, for Pastor to get a glimpse of this creature during your outing with your family.
Thank you Pastor Niral Patel for this wonderful sharing.