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Home to much more than just Nessie – 5 things you might not know about Scottish lochs

29 December 2017

Paul Murton explored these iconic features of Scotland in his latest Grand Tours adventure. Here are a few things you might not be aware of...

On Loch Morar, Paul meets a man who claims to have seen the legendary monster Morag, (pronounced Voorag)

Paul goes on the hunt for the monster of Loch Morar.

A Fascist newspaper said that the Italian air force blew Nessie up in 1941. This propaganda claim was thoroughly disproved by documentary evidence to the contrary, such as this episode of The Goodies.

The only lake in Scotland: the Lake of Menteith

Paul visits the banks of the most famous lake in Scotland.

Princes Street Garden in Edinburgh was once home to Nor’ Loch before the water was drained. It probably wasn’t a good place for a picnic back then, as it was ‘effectively a effectively a large open cesspit and its stench must have been overpowering’, according to David McLean of Lost Edinburgh.

Archaeologists have identified over 600 crannogs in Scotland. These were thatched, timber roundhouses were ed on huge, wooden piles driven deep into the bed of the loch. The surrounding water was the inhabitants’ defence.

Grand Tours of Scotland’s Lochs

Paul Murton sets out to explore the lochs of Scotland, travelling from the wilds of the west coast to the Grampian Mountains, discovering the secrets of these iconic features of the Scottish landscape

On Loch Morar, Paul meets a man who claims to have seen the legendary monster Morag, (pronounced Voorag)

2. The Italian press said they destroyed Nessie during World War Two

3. Not all bodies of water in Scotland are lochs

The only lake in Scotland: the Lake of Menteith

4. Lochs sometimes disappear (for good reason)

5. We used to live on lochs

Grand Tours of Scotland’s Lochs

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