A Holiday on Loch Ness
In August of 2017 my family and I took our summer holiday in Scotland just outside the village of Drumnadrochit overlooking Loch Ness. Our Yorkshire friends warned us of rain and midges, but contrary to expectations, the weather continued sunny the entire week. We were able to eat dinners at the picnic table overlooking the famous loch, kayak on the water, and walk in the Highlands surrounded by heather. Having grown up in the southern United States, summer vacations wearing jeans is not a thing unless you enjoy the feeling of denim glued to sweaty skin. Humidity-free air with temperatures in the 60s was a welcome novelty.
We arrived at our holiday cottage at dusk where our hosts welcomed us with Dundee Cake. It was impossible to see just how amazing the views from the cottage were until the morning. The view out each window looked like a painting of bright green pasture, distant mountains, and the loch glistening in the sun. I especially enjoyed the evening stampede of grazing cattle moving down the mountain for the night. A great thundering pounding preceded mothers and calves running down the hillside and past the cottage.
This area is a great place to stay to explore Loch Ness. The remains of the medieval Urquehart Castle are nearby, and Drumnadrochit has a fantastic museum dedicated to the history of the Loch Ness Monster story. An unexpected bonus to visiting in August was being there at the same time as their local Highland games. I highly recommend looking up local games if you’re planning a summer visit to Scotland. The atmosphere is a little like a county fair with rides, snacks, vendors, and competitions for local schoolchildren. You also get to see men in kilts tossing cabers, hear the pipes, and see Highland dancing. It’s stepping into everything you’ve ever read about Scotland in the most delightful way.
For more pictures check out the Highlands and Islands picture gallery.