 By Eve Hartridge
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I feel we should all visit Scotland at least once in our lives; the Highland landscape is just stunning. There are many breathtaking Lochs in the Highlands, one now very well known as a chain of fine seafood restaurants, but there is only one that is world famous, Loch Ness. Loch Ness is, as far as I know, the only Loch who is home to a monster or Nessie as the creature is better known. What is unique about Nessie is that unlike other monsters, she doesn’t seem to be feared and every day of the year people fearlessly head out onto the water in search of her- rumour has it she’s four times the size of Jaws which is enough to encourage me to observe from afar.
A great spot to “observe from afar” is The Loch Ness Lodge Hotel, which is an extremely welcoming 3 star family owned hotel in the nearby village of Drumnadrochit. The hotel is superbly located a short walk away from the water and nearby woodland, it is the obvious choice for ramblers and cyclists. The hotel has just fifty rooms which are a mix of modern and traditional. Rooms are well appointed with Wi-Fi access, flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations as well as picture postcard views.
Food and drink is high on the priority list for The Loch Ness Lodge and this is a perfect place to sample local cuisine. Highland caught salmon is superb especially from the local smokehouses in addition the bar stocks a large selection of Scottish malt whiskey. Even to the non Whiskey drinker to sample some of the varieties may persuade you to change your mind, many have undertones of heather and are completely different to commercial whiskey or pub bought bourbon. With prior notice it is also possible to book in for a whiskey tasting session as part of your stay.
There is so much to see in the local area, Loch Ness cruises run daily and generally last an hour, in addition there is a pony trekking option at Borlum Farm which is about a mile from the hotel. Set on the banks of Loch Ness is the ruins of Urquhart Castle which makes an enjoyable post lunch walk, a little further is Diviach Falls, around three miles from the hotel. Next to the falls is the house where J. M Barrie lived who wrote Peter Pan.
24 hours may not be long enough!
http://www.lochness-hotel.com/
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