This morning we descended the Fort Augustus locks into the infamous Loch Ness. Of course, we all hoped for a sighting of the loch’s most famous alleged resident - the Loch Ness Monster. St. Columba supposedly encountered it when he was on his way to convert the pagan Picts. More recent sightings began when construction of the modern highway was being done. A number of scientific expeditions have tried to solve the mystery without success. The loch is very deep and the water cloudy with peat. Though it seems impossible that a plesiosaur or any other large creature could survive in its waters, people continue to report strange things in the loch.
Our traverse of the loch was uneventful monster-wise, but we did get a great view of Urquhart Castle. Also, there was time for our leader Steve Blamires to give a talk on the upcoming Scottish referendum in September about becoming independent from the rest of Britain. Once at Muirtown Locks, just above Inverness, the captain did an amazing 180-degree turnaround of the ship in the narrow canal before docking.
After lunch, we were off to visit the Culloden Battlefield, where Bonnie Prince Charlie was soundly defeated by the British army in 1746. A relatively new visitor center dramatically displays the tragic events that led up to this battle and the end of Highland life.
From Culloden we went to Clava Cairns, a group of mysterious Bronze Age stone tombs.
Back on board, we dressed up for our farewell dinner, which was presented as a Robbie Burns Supper. Burns, of course, being the famous Scottish bard. Traditional haggis, tatties and neeps were served and at least a few of us washed it down with a wee dram.
After dinner, we were pleasantly surprised by a troupe of young school girls and a boy dancing in Highland dress accompanied by a piper. The perfect end to a superlative voyage.
