The Loch Ness Monster - Scottish

My name is Angus, and I’ve lived my whole life on the shores of a deep, dark, and mysterious lake in the Scottish Highlands. The water here is the color of strong tea, stained by the peat from the hills, and it’s so cold it makes your bones ache just thinking about it. From my cottage window, I watch the mist curl over the surface like a sleepy dragon's breath, and sometimes, I see things—a strange ripple when there is no wind, a shadow that moves too quickly beneath the waves. My grandfather, with a twinkle in his eye, says our loch has a secret, a very old one, and her name is Nessie. This is the story of the Loch Ness Monster.

For as long as anyone can remember, people have whispered tales of a great beast in the water. One of the oldest stories comes from a holy man named Saint Columba, who visited the River Ness way back in the 6th century. The legend says he came upon a huge creature about to bother a swimmer. But Saint Columba was very brave. He held up his hand and boomed, "Go no further!" And can you believe it? The beast listened and swam away! For centuries, the story was just a local tale, something our grandparents would tell us by the fire on a stormy night. But then, in 1933, everything changed. A new road was built right along the shore of the loch, and for the first time, lots of people in their motor cars could easily drive by and look out over the vast, dark water. Suddenly, people started seeing things. A man and his wife saw an enormous animal with a long, curving neck rolling in the water. The news spread like wildfire! The next year, on April 21st, 1934, a famous picture was taken, known as the 'surgeon's photograph.' It showed a long, graceful neck and head sticking right out of the water. People all over the world were amazed. Was this proof? For decades, everyone believed it was real. We now know that photo was a clever trick made with a toy submarine, but it didn't matter. The idea of Nessie had captured the world's imagination. She wasn't a frightening monster anymore, but a shy, mysterious creature living hidden from our world.

Today, people still come from every corner of the globe, with binoculars and hopeful hearts, to stand where I stand and hope for a glimpse of her. Scientists have brought submarines with bright lights to pierce the gloom and special cameras to explore the dark depths. They’ve used a technology called sonar, which sends out sound waves to listen for strange shapes moving in the blackness. They have searched and searched, but Nessie has never let them find her. Maybe there isn’t a monster to find. Or maybe, just maybe, she’s the world’s best hide-and-seek champion. I think the not-knowing is the most magical part. The story of Nessie isn't just about a monster; it's about wonder. It reminds us that our world is full of mysteries and that there are still amazing things we might discover if we just look. It inspires people to write books, paint pictures, and dream big. And as long as people look out over the dark, quiet water of Loch Ness and ask, "What if?", the legend of our shy, wonderful monster will live on forever.