Month: March 2012

Monster hydro electric scheme planned for Loch Ness

by Mikko on Sat 07 Nov 2009 11:42 GMT

News is just coming in of a proposed monster-sized 600mW hydro electric installation at Loch Ness. It would be the largest in Scotland and one of the largest in Europe.

Offering no more than one or two full-time local jobs (running these things is all done remotely) it is being planned by SSE Scottish and Southern Energy – the company that appears to care nothing for Scotland’s picturesque landscape.

Just take a look at what they are building between Beauly and Denny: over 100 miles of giant sized pylons that will completely blight some of our most beautiful areas. The plant at Foyers and the broken one at Fort Augustus also produce noise pollution and are in every way unsuitable for this wonderful place.

There are many reasons to oppose this development and we will be following it very closely. It surely promises to finally ruin Loch Ness as a beauty spot and environmentally sensitive area – and for nothing but corporate greed.

Robert Rines – Loch Ness Monster Hunter dies

by Mikko on Thu 05 Nov 2009 17:43 GMT

So, R.I.P. Robert Rines, who invented lots of gadgets and hunted for the Loch Ness Monster, Nessie. He lived in Boston USA and some of his “photos” of Nessie are very controversial.

More here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/science-obituaries/6502999/Robert-Rines.html

Plus, read more about other famous Loch Ness personalities – including some of the good, the bad and the ugly.

Monster sized £1 million Loch Ness harbour proposal

by Mikko on Mon 28 Sep 2009 18:47 BST

Local residents learned this week that a cruiser company is planning to develop land on the north side of Loch Ness into a million pound harbour complex.

Located at Brackla, the scheme will provide parking and services for punters wishing to take a cruise to various places around the loch including Urquhart Castle and Fort Augustus. There are serious concerns about traffic entering and leaving the new site from the dangerous high speed A82 carriageway (which is in shocking condition and already recognised as one of the most deadly roads in Scotland). Indeed, several people have recently died near to the proposed development.

On the plus side the scheme promises jobs and the developers have pledged to hold public meetings to seek local views and feelings about the best way to proceed. They have also said that expensive solutions such as a pedestrian underpass will be considered to enhance visitor and staff safety and the amenity of the site.

It’s early days with no firm planning application yet lodged at Highland Council and we don’t know what Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, or local residents and businesses think about this new venture – but it will be interesting to see how things proceed.

Welcome to the relaunch of the Officially Original Loch Ness Monster Blog!

by Mikko on Mon 28 Sep 2009 10:37 BST

Yes, we’re back! After a summer of various problems including a thunderstorm that temporarily knocked out a lot of our livecam equipment, we are delighted to say that the main panoramic cam is back in action and the enhanced Urquhart Castle cams and interactive cam is ready to be installed.

Big things are happening at Loch Ness and I’m writing up more about those as you read this.