The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep

The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep

Celtic folklore is steeped in tales of magical and monstrous underwater creatures. One of the most mysterious, the kelpie or water horse, is a supernatural shape-shifting creature from Celtic folklore believed to haunt the rivers and lochs of Scotland. Legend has it the water horse would lure people onto its back and then dive into the loch, vanishing in its depths.

What lurks beneath Loch Ness?

Rumors of an elusive mythical creature living beneath the waters of Scotland's most mysterious loch, Loch Ness, have long persisted. Deep enough to hold the population of the world three times over, Loch Ness is one of the deepest lochs in Scotland and holds more water than all of the English and Welsh freshwater lochs and lakes combined!

The first Nessie sighting is said to have been made by St Columba in the 6th century, while more recently a sighting was recorded by an Englishman in May 2007. Indeed, Nessie is not as camera-shy as you might think - there have been more than 4,000 alleged Nessie sightings since she was first caught on film in the 1930s!

With all these sightings, people have speculated whether Nessie is a completely unknown species, a sturgeon or even the last surviving Scottish dinosaur. The legend has so intrigued scientists, that in the 1960s the Loch Ness Phenomena Investigation Bureau was formed and its scientists spent a decade carrying out surveillance on the loch. To this day scientific experiments continue on the loch, carried out by the Loch Ness and Morar Project, which is spearheaded by Adrian Shine, the world's foremost Loch Ness expert. It is hoped one day this wonderful mystery will be solved.

Do you believe in Nessie? Take part in our Nessie poll.

Scotland - a land of mystery and legend

Learn more about Scotland's mysterious and mythical past by downloading our route planner. Here you'll find ideas on vacations in Scotland and learn more about our myths and legends.

Scotland in Film & TV

Scotland's stunning scenery, historic monuments and unique culture have long inspired film makers. From Braveheart and Highlander to Harry Potter and The Water Horse. Here's how to visit Scotland's film locations. Download our Scotland in Film and TV route planner.

Sightings

The first sighting of Nessie was in 565 AD when St Columba is reported to have warded off a serpent-like creature on the banks of Loch Ness. Camera-shy Nessie was first captured on film in 1934 and last sighted in May 2007.

Jokes and hoaxes

The most famous of the Loch Ness hoaxes was a photo taken in 1934 by a surgeon, Kenneth Wilson. See the neck of the dinosaur-like rising out of the water?

nessie

Sixty years later, the photo was exposed as a hoax at the Loch Ness Centre. Instead of being a real photo of Nessie, it was a model created by a friend of Mr Wilson, who was a well known hoaxer. For more details on sightings, check out our timeline of Loch Ness through the ages.