Loch Ness is thirsty work.

A beautiful week at Loch Ness with high temperatures and blue sky days and it was good to go down to the nearby beach to sit on the seats and watch the world go by. Lots more boats and yachts have taken to the water.

It is also essential to ensure the wildlife has plenty of clean drinking water.

Dog is RNLI's new best friend

Dog and four holiday makers from Leicestershire rescued on Loch Ness.

Drumnadrochit based RNLI volunteers launched to assist a group of four holidaymakers and their pet dog after their cruiser runs aground near Foyers. RNLI Loch Ness lifeboat crew, Neil Stebbings, Joy Cameron and Martin Douglas took the Atlantic 75 lifeboat, B707 Mercurius, to the scene at the mouth of the River foyers. Tourist vessel, Ness Express, skippered by Rory Brown had been keeping a watch on the cruiser until the arrival of the RNLI lifeboat.

RNLI crew member Neil Stebbings boarded the cruiser to check on the well being of the holidaymakers and to confirm that the vessel was still watertight. All was well and the cruiser was towed free and into open water before being escorted to the pier at Foyers.

Loch Ness RNLI Volunteer, Neil Stebbings says: 'The cruiser had struck a shingle bank that was covered due to the loch surface having been raised by recent heavy rainfall.'
He added: 'The holidaymakers and even the dog had life jackets on and vital reassurance was given by having Rory in Ness Express on scene until we arrived, our thanks, once again, go to the team at Cruise Loch Ness in Fort Augustus.'

Aberdeen Coastguard team directed the rescue and coordinated resources whilst keeping the holidaymakers informed of proceedings

A video of the rescue can be viewed here

New Loch Ness sign at Fort Augustus

Here is a photo recently taken at Oich Pier, Fort Augustus where the community have funded this new sign. Both the new sign and the new orientation panel for the canoe trail are drawing a lot of interest with many taking the opportunity like below to have a snap taken beside the Loch Ness sign.

 

South Loch Ness Trail News

The South Loch Ness Trail  

 4^thJuly

Destination Loch Ness are pleased to report that after further delays in the construction schedule caused by landowner legal requirements, the contractor finally got back on site early in June and the trail is now due for completion the first week in August. 

Information on the trail route is presently available on our website http://www.visitlochness.com/south-loch-ness-trail/ but this will be added to in the next 3 weeks with downloadable maps of the trail route. The trail is for all users although a few sections are difficult for cyclists and horses to access and use. 

The trail is 28 miles long stretching between Loch Tarff near Fort Augustus to Torbreck on the edge of Inverness, via Whitebridge, Foyers, Inverfarigaig and Dores. 

If you have any questions or wish further information please contact Graeme@visitlochness.com