Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness (Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom)

No trip to Scotland would be complete without a visit to the mysterious Loch Ness, which is the home to perhaps the oldest crypto-zoological phenomena still running, the Loch Ness Monster. As we travel down the Western side of the long, narrow, straight loch, we can’t help buy look out over the dark waters, hoping to catch a glimpse of “Nessie”. Nestled in the highlands and against a grey foreboding sky and yellow fields on the opposite shore, this entire region is breathtaking. It is the Scotland I have for so long imagined. It is the Scotland that my ancestors knew many generations ago. It is this Scotland where my heart feels at home, unlike any other place it has ever known.

We make our way towards the picturesque Urquhart Castle, which is often seen in pictures of Loch Ness, as it sits on a small peninsula guarding the ancient waterway. Upon reaching the castle’s visitor center, we sit through a short film documenting its storied history. Eventually, we make our way out to the castle ruins, which are still quite substantial. 

Visiting multiple areas such as the stables, guard house, kitchen, blacksmith, pigeon house, it’s apparent that this was more than just a castle; this ancient ruin was once a community. Legend has it that this place was originally the stronghold of a Pictish King. Near death, he was visited and converted to Christianity by Saint Columba in the 6th century. No one knows precisely when the castle was built on this site, but early mentions of the structure date back to the early 13th century. After many years of service and changing hands multiple times, the castle was partially destroyed near the end of the Jacobite Rebellion in 1692 to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. The mighty fortress was never rebuilt, which is quite a shame given its ideal location on the Loch Ness.

The views of the loch from the ruined stronghold are amazing from practically any angle one can find. It feels ancient here, as if shadows of the past are watching over this great structure, or at least what remains of it. I wonder how many Nessie enthusiasts, both present-day and in the past, have spent time here scanning the murky waters for any sign of the monster. Alas, we see no sign of the beast and must move on to our next city and soon return to the states, but this is a trip that will never be forgotten by either of us.