We’ve recently returned from a 14-Day Celtic Circle cruise around the British Isles on Holland America Line’s ms Prinsendam. While onboard the 835-passenger”˜elegant explorer’, we visited 10 ports in Scotland, Ireland and England. This post is part of a series detailing our discoveries both in port and on the ship.
It’s difficult to get to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle from the cruise ship port of Invergordon using public transportation. Since we wanted to see first-hand if Nessie “the Wee Beastie” really inhabits Loch Ness, we booked a shore excursion through Holland America line.
Our bus drove through the highlands about an hour and a half to reach the ruins of Urquhart Castle, a place of turbulent history on the hills proximately overlooking the deep waters of Loch Ness. Nessie was rumored to inhabit the water near this castle.
We don’t like long bus rides, but this one provided incredible views, from trout fishing streams to hills and valleys covered in heather to sightings of the rare “Belted Galloway” breed of cattle that look like Oreos.
Whether the wee beastie Nessie lives below the Urquhart castle or not, the deep waters, and surrounding green hills make a beautiful spot to climb the ruins.
What a glorious view on a sunny day! We had about 45 minutes to explore the castle ruins, museum and gift shop.
In the nearby town of Drumnadrochit, there is a “Nessie” in a lake, giving us all the opportunity to shoot grainy photos from the bus.
Next, our tour headed to Inverness, where we had an hour on our own to explore the capital of the Scottish Highland. On the banks of the River Ness with a castle towering above, Inverness seems more like a peaceful town than a capital city.
Do you believe in the Loch Ness monster?
See other posts in this series: