A top police officer believed that the fabled Loch Ness Monster in Scotland existed "beyond doubt", a file released from archives shows. William Fraser, the chief constable of Inverness-shire, expressed concerns about protecting the "strange creature" from hunters, in a letter to a British government minister in 1938 made public on Monday. Read more
Loch Ness group bids for World Heritage Site status Securing World Heritage Site status for Loch Ness could net an £80million boost for the local economy. That was the figure placed on earning the international designation as the official campaign was launched on a boat on the loch by a group of local businesses. If successful, the loch and Great Glen would be ranked alongside sites such as the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon and the Great Pyramids. Destination Loch Ness (DLN), the organisation behind the venture, estimates that the famous loch generates about £25million a year for the local economy. But World Heritage status could provide an extra £80million a year. Making a bid will cost £150,000 but backers say the local economic boost will far outweigh the cost. The selection process could take several years, with lists of prospective sites considered just once a year by the World Heritage Committee.
"Applying for World Heritage status will help re-emphasise Loch Ness's iconic status in Scottish tourism, and I hope it will galvanise local businesses and agencies to work together to attract more people to the area and to improve the visitor experience when they are here" - Local MP Danny Alexander.
Like tartan, bagpipes, and shortbread Scotland's Loch Ness Monster is as much an emblem as a tourist draw. And now Nessie's back. An amateur scientist has captured what Loch Ness Monster watchers say is among the finest footage ever taken of the elusive mythical creature reputed to swim beneath the waters of Scotland's most mysterious lake.