From the 10th of June global visitors to the Highlands and wannabe monster spotters have been able to walk through 500 million years of history, delve deeper into ancient Scottish myths, and discover the scientific research behind the Nessie legend, as the reimagined Loch Ness Centre opened its doors to guests.
Located at the old Drumnadrochit Hotel, where 90 years ago Aldie Mackay reported seeing a ‘whale-like fish’ or ‘water beast’ in the waters of Loch Ness, Continuum Attractions has invested £1.5m in a full upgrade to enhance the visitor experience, allowing people to explore the legend and myths of Loch Ness through immersive tours and also via trips aboard the attraction’s famous research vessel, Deepscan.
The unique one-hour experience is truly immersive, allowing guests to become part of the legend and unearth real stories about Loch Ness along the way.
The entirely newly imagined attraction, at the site that sparked the global phenomenon of the Loch Ness Monster 90 years ago, has seven immersive rooms to explore. In ‘The Search for answers’ guests will delve deeper into some of the scientific research carried out by Adrian Shine of The Loch Ness Project, utilising scientific methodology, submarines, underwater cameras, sonar equipment and more in the quest to uncover the secrets of the 23 miles long and 754 feet deep Loch.
In ‘People and Stories, guests will explore some of the most famous sightings of Nessie, starting with Mrs Aldie Mackay – the manageress of the Drumnadrochit Hotel, and how one sighting from a historic village hotel located on the banks of Loch Ness changed history forever, and gave birth to a modern legend.
Guests’ hunt for the truth doesn’t end after the tour, tickets include an optional 12-month membership to The Loch Ness Quest, giving exclusive access to the latest Nessie sightings, news, and discounts for events. One upcoming event ‘Nessie or Nonsense?’ is an exciting live debate, where believers and non-believers will share their stories of Nessie in a lively discussion.
For those wanting to go one step further and explore the depths of the world’s most famous loch for themselves. Local skipper for The Loch Ness Project, Captain Alistair Matheson, is delighted to welcome you on board the vessel, Deepscan, named after the Operation Deepscan expedition famously carried out on the loch in 1987.
This one-of-a-kind experience takes up to 12 guests on a journey through the past 40 years of scientific research into the mysteries of Loch Ness. Witness the breath-taking beauty of Urquhart Castle and search the depths of the loch using world-class sonar equipment on board, whilst hearing the unparalleled perspective on famous sightings of the monster and the history of Scotland’s most mysterious loch from expert skippers who have dedicated their lives to uncovering the secrets of this remarkable body of water.
Juliana Delaney, Continuum CEO, said: “We are thrilled to open the doors to the brand-new The Loch Ness Centre. We want to protect the story of this legend in a truly modern and immersive way and bring this incredible story to Nessie enthusiasts and the next generation of monster hunters. Nessie truly is one of Scotland’s best stories, so it was incredibly important to us at Continuum to get this right. We look forward to welcoming guests from all round the world to enjoy our unique one-hour experience and discover the legend, as well as giving them the chance to search the famous loch for themselves with our one-of-a-kind Deepscan cruises.”
