Loch Ness Monster: Around 200 people turn up for the biggest search of the last 50 years

Culture
28 Aug 23

Lough Ness, Scotland

Affectionately called "Nessie", the Loch Ness Monster has been a part of Scottish folklore for almost 100 years.

Apprximately 200 people showed up to an organised search for the Loch Ness Monster - the biggest search in 50 years. Around 300 people also tuned into the efforts via a livestream.

With boats running from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, August 26, and Sunday, August 27, searchers stopped at 17 different spotting locations around the Loch, where volunteers involved in running the search could keep an eye on proceedings.

The Loch Ness Monster hunters have reported to hear "four distinctive noises" while braving the "horrific" Scottish weather.

Recently undertaking revamping, the Loch Ness Centre has joined forces with the Loch Ness Exploration (LNE) to carry out this hunt. LNE is an independent research and volunteer team.

Travelling from Edinburgh for the hunt, Alan McKenna took part in this record breaking search on a boat, using a hydrophone system. The hunter described the hydrophone system as “an underwater microphone so we can listen to the underwater world of Loch Ness”.

McKenna claimed a test of the system on the Friday had already raised questions about Nessie’s whereabouts: “When we were testing the equipment, we did hear four distinctive noises that we didn’t know where it was coming from.

An old 'sighting' of the Loch Ness Monster.

“We didn’t know the origin of it was, which is quite exciting.”

McKenna spoke about those who travelled to take part in the hunt, saying: “The weather in Scotland was horrific over the weekend, so much so that the Scottish Highland Games were cancelled for the first time in 75 years, but that didn’t stop us – and that didn’t stop our volunteers.”

According to Alan, visitors came from all across the world, including Spain, France, Germany and Finland to "band together."

General manager of the Loch Ness centre, Paul Nixon, said he felt there was “something” in the lake worth looking for.

“I believe there is something big lurking in the depths of Loch Ness," Nixon stated. “Now I don’t know whether it’s a monster – I don’t know what it is but I reckon there’s something down there.”