The Story of The Loch Ness Monster
Derek McCreadie
Head Experience Creator &
Scotland Tour Guide
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One of Scotland’s most fascinating and famous mysteries is the myth and legend of the Loch Ness Monster. The first recorded sightings of the Loch Ness Monster date back to when St Columba visited the area in around 565 AD.
Let’s take a saunter through some of the most famous theories and stories that surround these sightings of the Loch Ness Monster.
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St Columba Visits Loch Ness
This is the earliest recorded sighting of a “watery beast” in Loch Ness. St Columba had come to Scotland from Ireland with some of his companions to convert the Pictish folk to Christianity and spread the word of God.
A story tells of Columba converting a Pictish Clan Chief to Christianity who was on his deathbed in the local area of Urquhart. On his travels, he came across some folk burying a local man who had drowned.
St Columba questioned the circumstances of the man's death and was told he was “attacked by the watery beast” in the Loch. He then decided to take care of this monster and sent out one of his companions to swim across the same stretch of water the man had previously.
Now I don’t know about you, but if St Columba asked me to swim across the water where a monster had just killed someone, I would be telling him where to go.
But, luckily, I was not that companion and he had faith that Columba could handle this situation. He got into the water and began to swim. Then the Loch Ness Monster appeared, torpedoing straight towards his next snack.
St Columba made a cross sign and proclaimed “Go no further! You will not touch that man. Be gone!”. The Loch Ness Monster halted in place and retreated in fear back to the depths of the Loch. The locals and St Columba’s companions thanked him profusely (especially the companion in the water) and perceived they had just witnessed a miracle.
A Trusted Opinion?
Jumping into the 1920s, a doctor is believed to have witnessed the Loch Ness Monster on land! The theory coming from a doctor is thought to be a trusted source back then. He’s a doctor, he’s a smart guy and people believed him and valued his opinion.
He claimed that as he was driving along the shoreline of Loch Ness, when the Loch Ness Monster had leapt out from the forest into the middle of the road, crawled across it and splashed back into the deep watery depths.
The trustworthy doctor had to slam the brakes on to avoid colliding with the enormous creature. Who’s to say this actually didn’t happen? Should we believe the good doctor and take his word that he almost became a mechanical pancake on the side of an enormous water Monster?
I’ll leave that for you to decide…
The “Surgeon’s Photograph”
This is probably the most famous photograph of the Loch Ness Monster ever shown or taken. When you think about the Monster, it’s probably this image you think about.
It was taken in 1934 by another doctor (anyone noticing a theme here?) from London. The esteemed gentleman’s name was Dr Robert Kenneth Wilson.
The image was published in the Daily Mail Newspaper on 21st April 1934, but Dr Wilson refused to have his name associated with the image, hence why it became known as the “surgeon’s photograph”.
His account of taking the incredible image is he was watching the waters of Loch Ness and up popped the Loch Ness Monster’s long neck and humped back. He quickly grabbed his camera and snapped four images of the beast.
So why would he not want to be credited for one of the most famous images ever taken?
Unfortunately, upon his deathbed, Dr Robert Kenneth Wilson apparently confessed that the photograph was staged… or was it?
The Circus is Coming to Town
Around the 1930s is when the Loch Ness Monster sightings really began to reach their height. So is it too much of a coincidence that the circus had elephants?
Heading to the next town to set up its marvellous show tents and display its talented performers & incredible foreign creatures, the circus train is said to have stopped along the way by Loch Ness. I think you can see where this is going.
Apparently, the elephant trainers used to let the massive elephants out and play about in the water. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen an elephant swim or seen an image of one swimming. But just have a look at its shape.
Could it be that simple of an explanation?
Do You Believe in the Loch Ness Monster?
I now put this question to you and ask do you believe in the Loch Ness Monster?
My answer is… YES!! I BELIEVE! What kind of self-respecting Scottish man would I be if I didn’t believe?! The elephant theory is a load of…
Every time I’m out on our Loch Ness Day Tour, I take my Loch Ness hunting kit. It includes the following:
Telescope
Snorkelling Mask
Whisky (obviously)
I take the whisky because it gets cold out on the deep, dark waters and it’s a well-known fact that whisky is a very reliable heating source in Scotland.
Let us know if you believe in the Loch Ness Monster, or if you have ever had a glimpse of the mysterious creature.
Thank you for taking the time to read the blog post.
