Sunday 13 April 2008

Not Looking for the Loch Ness Monster

Fed up with the prospect of another Sunday at home alone, I thought I'd take a trundle out to a plant nursery that, considering how close it is, I don't visit often enough. Abriachan Nursery is enviably located on a steep south-facing hillside overlooking the world-famous Loch Ness.

Over the last 25 years, the Davidson family have carved out a tranquil yet exciting garden from native hillside and on a sunny day, looking out over the loch, you couldn't wish for a better way to spend an hour.



It was a mixture of sun and showers, so I spent a soothing half hour only, wandering the many paths of the garden, trying to pick up hints for dealing with my own unsculptured hillside and enjoying the fabulous views.



I treated myself to some primula (Abriachan specialises in alpines)and headed back home feeling refreshed.



Of course, you don't just come to Loch Ness to buy plants. Most people are looking for the Loch Ness Monster, the fabled inhabitant of Scotland's biggest loch by volume. It is very deep - 230 metres at its deepest part - and that is, I think, why people believe that relatively big creatures could live here and yet be seen so rarely (if at all.) If you want to search for him/her/both, you can now do it online, courtesy of this live-streaming webcam. Have fun!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting those wonderful photos. How amazing to have such sights in your neighbourhood. It's been many years since I visited Loch Ness and now I feel a little pang. I must come back for a holiday. You have inspired me to start saving!

Puddock said...

It is a magical spot, though I have to admit I'm not seeing it like that at the moment - feeling a bit isolated, so I'm not appreciating it for the special place it is just now. I'm yearning for the stimulation of the city. We're never happy as humans are we?!

Let me know when you've saved up and we can hold a bloggers' convention on the shores of the loch!

catonhotbricks said...

Hello there - I was just doing some research on our website and came across your blog.
It is so nice to know that other people love our garden at Abricahan as much as we do. I wander round it every day and there is always something new and lovely in flower, or some wee creature feasting on our hard work. i hope you manage to make another visit sometime soon,
All the best, happy gardening,
Cat