Walter’s and Arthur’s Epic Adventure to Loch Ness
- Jan 17
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 25
This week, join our Golden Retriever explorers- Walter and Arthur- as they take over the blog to tell you all about their adventure at Loch Ness! Our journey includes explorations both on land and water with a certain famous ‘monster’ making a guest appearance. So, get your binoculars ready because we’re headed to the Highlands for an epic ‘explore and discover’ mission!
Hello, everyone! My name is Walter and I’m the lead canine tour guide with Wee Walking Tours. I often assist my dad on our fun and historic walking tours in Edinburgh. However, today I’m joined by my younger brother, Arthur, (who is in-training to be a canine tour guide) and we’re ready to tell you all about an incredible trip we took last summer to Loch Ness. My parents have been before, but it was mine and Arthur’s first time and we had so much fun. Most of this article will be narrated by me, but I might let Arthur chime in at some point.
The fun all began late last July when my parents informed us that we were going on a wee trip to Drumnadrochit….”Drumna- what?!” Arthur and I asked ourselves. Dad must have seen the look of confusion on our faces because he explained that Drumnadrochit is a village in the Highlands on the banks of Loch Ness. That’s right, you heard me correctly, we were headed up north to one of the most famous places in Scotland. I remember hearing my older brothers, Sawyer and Finn, telling tales about the Loch Ness ‘monster’, but I couldn’t believe I was finally going to meet Nessie in person!
To add to the excitement, we found out that we were going to stay at the Loch Ness Drumnadrochit Hotel (part of the Loch Ness Centre complex) and go on a boat ride with Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises! Arthur and I were brimming with excitement and immediately began to pack our adventure bags for the trip. As Dad tucked us in for the night, he told us a bit more about his past explorations at Loch Ness, and I wasn’t sure how we would be able to sleep knowing that we were setting off on our journey the next day.
Return to the Loch Ness Centre
The following morning, we packed all our stuff in the car. Mom muttered something about how it seemed were had enough belongings for a couple of weeks rather than a few days. What can I say? Sure, my extra memory foam dog bed and Arthur’s collection of stuffies might not have been strictly necessary, but a dog needs to travel in comfort.
The car ride was long, but Mom and Dad made sure to make plenty of stops so that we could stretch our legs and ‘take care of business’. However, before we knew it, we were pulling into the Loch Ness Centre car park. The Centre is just one part of the site that includes the hotel, a variety of gift shops, and a café.
After we dropped off our luggage in the room (the lodge rooms are dog-friendly), we decided to explore the grounds and get a lay of the land.
My Dad last wrote about the Loch Ness Centre in 2021. However, he informed us that a lot has changed since then as they now have a new exhibition and tour. Dogs are allowed inside the Centre, but Mom and Dad thought that it best that we sit this one out as Arthur was (and is) still in-training and someone needed to look after him. Sometimes I think the burden of being the big brother is overlooked, but perhaps I’m being a bit melodramatic.
Nevertheless, my parents shared their pictures and video with us afterward and told us all about it. We don’t want to reveal too much, so we’ll just show some photos of the highlights.
My parents were very impressed with the new exhibition at the Loch Ness Centre and highly recommend you add it to your itinerary when you are in the area. Head over to the Centre's website for more information on how to plan your visit (including tickets for the Centre and the accommodation options). I can tell you that my review of the lodge family room was that it was quite comfortable and Arthur and I were very happy with our stay there. We also recommend it to all our canine friends who visit the area.
Setting Sail with Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises
My Dad wanted me to let you know that the Loch Ness Centre does have their own boat rides- ‘Deepscan Cruises’- and he wrote about that on his previous post on the Centre.
While dogs are allowed on those cruises, my parents decided to book with Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises because their boat is a lot bigger and can better accommodate two big dogs like me and my brother, Arthur. My Dad has been following them for years on social media as well, so he was thrilled that we were finally setting sail with them.
We arrived early for our booking, so Dad used his time wisely and made sure to get adorable (Mom’s word) photos of me and Arthur.
I know I can sometimes come off as a bit over serious at times, but that’s usually because someone must be in charge and Arthur often needs my firm guidance. However, be assured that I do know how to have a good time, and I couldn’t contain my happiness while we waited in the queue to board our boat.
The name of our vessel- ‘Jacobite Warrior’- caught my attention right away. My imagination shifted into overdrive as I pictured myself as a Jacobite warrior sailing down Loch Ness. Sometimes my imagination can be overactive, and this reminds me of the time I envisioned myself as a knight setting sail on Loch Katrine to find my princess.
Anyway, back to the present adventure. I guided Dad onto the boat, and we quickly made our way to the bow.
There was a viewing area that was perfect for me as it was safely encased in glass, which allowed me to still see our surroundings. I felt like Leonardo DiCaprio on the Titanic with the wind blowing my hair. Okay, that’s probably not the best example, but you get the idea. Overall, I cannot express just how much fun I had sailing down the Great Glen and Loch Ness. I think the photos capture my joy though. I highly recommend Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises for all my canine friends and their humans. Be sure to explore their website so you can plan your very own sailing on Loch Ness.
This was Arthur’s first boat ride, and he was a wee bit nervous at first, but seemed to have a good time as well. I suppose I will let him tell you more about his experience.
Arthur’s Take on Nessie and the Jacobite Cruise
Hi everyone! I’m so thrilled that my big brother, Walter, is letting me recount some of my perspective on our trip to Loch Ness. Now, to begin with, I heard Nessie called a ‘monster’ quite a bit on the trip, but I don’t think that title is fair. I’m sure she is just misunderstood and is perfectly friendly. I think it would be fun to swim with her in Loch Ness.
The Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises were my first boat ride, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was a little nervous to be honest. Walter assured me that he was also a little apprehensive on his first boat ride on Loch Katrine but enjoyed it once it got going. My excitement at the chance to look for Nessie soon took over and I eagerly looked for her as we sailed along the Loch.
Do you see those ruins in the distance? Dad says that is Urquhart Castle, and it was once a mighty fortress. It would be fun to explore it, but, unfortunately, only assistance dogs are allowed. I guess I’ll just have to use my imagination, but at least I got to see it from a distance.
I spent a lot of time looking for Nessie, but I didn’t see her. Maybe the sound of the boat scared her off. Mom said we’ll return for another visit in the future and can camp on the Loch, so we’ll have plenty of time to keep an eye out for her. I think that is a splendid idea because I love camping. In fact, I have been camping since I was wee pup (just type in ‘summer blog series’ into the search bar of our blog homepage to read more about our fun adventures while camping in Aberdeenshire). Overall, I had a great wee visit to Loch Ness. It sure is a beautiful part of Scotland, and a must-do part of your travel itinerary (a phrase I heard Mom say).
Walter’s Closing Thoughts
I also looked very carefully for Nessie throughout our trip to Loch Ness, but I’m not positive if I spotted her. There were a few times on the Jacobite Warrior when I thought I may have had a glimpse of her. Or that might just have been the wake from our boat. Who knows? 🤷♂️
However, what I do know is that Arthur and I believe in the magic that is Scotland and everywhere we go we find ourselves faced with incredible beauty, folklore, myths, and tales that will always fuel our imagination.
I’m also fortunate that I often get to help my dad share such fascinating history and magical tales on our Edinburgh walking tours. If you would like to experience some of the Scottish magic for yourself, be sure to book one of our tours! You can also follow along with our explorations around Scotland through our various social media platforms- Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, YouTube, and TikTok.
Until next time- Explore & Discover!
