Four interesting facts about Loch Ness that you might not know

If you look past the reason the Loch is known worldwide, there are some strange and interesting facts – from high athlete insurance to rock and roll legends. Here are four interesting facts about Loch Ness:

1. In 2005, athletes came from all over the world to take part in the VisitScotland adventure triathlon. Part of this triathlon involved swimming 1,500m at Urquhart Bay in Loch Ness. To put some athletes’ minds at rest, the Insurance company NIG provided cover for more than 100 athletes of up to £1 million in case any competitor sustained injuries that could be proven to be the result of an attack by the Loch Ness monster.
2. In 2009, a group of American research scientists searched the depths of Loch Ness for a television programme being aired in the states. With hopeful expectations of finding what all scientists look for when in Loch Ness, they stumbled on something they did not expect. Using sonar technology to search the bottom of the Loch, they found thousands and thousands of golf balls. Not what you would expect!
3. On 29th September 1952, John Cobb sadly lost his life trying to achieve the world water speed record. Travelling at 206mph, his boat hit an unexplained wake on the surface of the water and crashed. In 2019, nearly 70 years later, his boat wreckage was found by state of the art sonar technology at the bottom of the Loch.
4. In the 1970s, rock and roll legend Jimmy Page purchased Boleskine House, overlooking Loch Ness, which he owned for 20 years. He didn’t spend much time there, but it is believed that he purchased the property because it was previously owned by the notorious occultist, Aleister Crowley – and it is rumoured that the house was used for dark rituals and black magic. In 1992 the house was sold to a private buyer to be used as holiday lettings, and in 2015 the house was left in ruins after a fire. The house is now being restored and construction work started in December 2019. Who knows who will own it next!