It was clear from the display and through speaking to the representatives that a great deal of thought and professionalism has gone into creating the new terminal and pier. It will be a very carefully landscaped building with car parking and pick nick areas in the surrounding forest and will tie up with the Great Glen Way.
Of prime concern to many is that the new exhibition is not just another tartan tat or Nessie emporium as we have plenty of those already (and I suggest visitors save their money and avoid them). Assurances were given that the new centre will offer an interesting exhibition about the natural history of the area around Loch Ness and will not deal with cryptozoology or Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster (a crytid living in the loch). It will also feature environmentally friendly systems such as heat pumps which will extract heat from the loch to heat the new premsises and modern sewage treatment systems etc.
The architect told us that, while it won’t be a zero carbon structure, their aim is to make it as close to zero as possible.
Worryingly, another proposal for a harbour has been thrown into the ring as the owners of the Loch Ness 2000 exhibition (or whatever they call it now) in Drumnadrochit have said they want to build a harbour and stuff some 800 yards from this new development. A prime concern here has to be the use to which this second new centre would be put as the company’s existing exhibition is, in my opinion, extremely dull and boring having been put together by a formally unqualified naturalist who seems to want to dissuade people from believing that Nessie exists. It also contains a huge variety of tacky fluffy Nessies for sale and other tourist “souvenirs”. This area certainly doesn’t need yet another outlet like that, nor does it need two harbours just 800 yards apart on a busy, fast and dangerous road, and I believe Highland Council should back Jacobite’s sensible and high quality addition to the area and steer clear of any new Nessie emporiums.
We will keep a close eye on what’s brewing by Loch Ness and use our best efforts to ensure that only the right plan goes ahead and, in my opinion, that is the Jacobite Cruisers plan. Watch this space…
Jacobite Cruisers plans for the Loch Ness harbour are online here. They are welll worth a look.