This loch, with soundings deeper than any in the German Ocean, has
come into notice in an especial manner, because it forms, in its
twenty-four miles, a large section of famous tourist route, the
Caledonian Canal. The loch is within a few miles of the handsome town
of Inverness; the river Ness, draining the loch, running through the
town to the Moray Firth after a short but lovely course over the
intervening distance. Between Loch Ness and the outlet there lies a
vast gravel peninsula, dividing the section known as Loch Dochfour
from the rest, the barricade thus formed being a safeguard to the town
against the enormous pressure of water that would otherwise flow out
in times of flood. As it is, the records of the town point to terrible
devastations from the Ness coming down in strength. The deep waters of
the loch get lashed into stormy waves by gusts of wind rushing down
from the surrounding glens, so that Loch Ness does not always present
the peaceful aspect of our view, as seen by the summer visitor. But we
will take it on such a day by preference, and can warrant to every one
who comes that the sail in the fine steamers plying on the loch and
canal will be redolent of joy and beauty and grandeur. We may conceive
that there is more comfort and ease in seeing Loch Ness than when, a
hundred and nine years ago Johnson and Boswell rode along its shores.
But the high terms in which Bozzy speaks of the scene are as fresh
to-day as then, for the road shaded with birch trees, the hills above
it, the 'sequestered and agreeably wild' scene, are as fitted to
engross attention as ever. We know also that they would see Castle
Urquhart, on its prominent peninsula, and would probably be struck by
the notable form of the hill called Mealfourvonie. They stopped at the
'General's Hut,' as indeed we all do, for the new hotel at Foyers is
built on its site, whence we take the road to visit the falls of that
name, as described elsewhere.
Fort Augustus, standing at the western end of the loch, is now a
Benedictine monastery and school. Built after the Jacobite rising in
1715, as part of the plan for holding the turbulent Highlanders in
subjection, it remained crown property for a century and a half, and
falling into disuse and neglect was then sold for its present purpose.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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