THE ultimate Nessie-hunter’s home has come on the market – with uninterrupted views over the most monster-infested part of the loch.
The beautiful six-bedroom home, just a few metres from the banks of the loch, even allows Nessie-spotting from the comfort of the living room.
The Manse, at Lochend – seven miles outside the Highland capital Inverness – boasts panoramic views across part of the loch which has generated more sightings than anywhere else.
Located near the head of the loch, and just 10 miles from Urquhart Castle, the offers over £310,000 house also looks out over the body of water where the infamous 1934 photo of the monster was taken.
Also included in the view is beautiful Aldourie Castle where actor Charlie Sheen once stayed during his hunt for Nessie.
The traditional former manse house comes with three reception rooms and a quarter of an acre of land and is on the popular Great Glen tourist route – the A82.
In their brochure, Galbraith say: “The Manse, Lochend is a handsome traditional former manse in an outstanding location in the Great Glen with superb south facing views to Loch Ness.
“Until recently The Manse has been run as a successful B&B and with its views to an iconic landmark and easy access to the main tourist centres in the Highlands, the property is ideally positioned to take advantage of the tourism business opportunities in the area.
“Loch Ness is one of the must see destinations for most tourists and with this comes a demand for further accommodation and amenities for which The Manse has huge potential.”
Around one million people visit Loch Ness each year, generating an estimated £30 million for the local economy.
In 1934, the residents of the house would have witnessed from their windows the taking of the most notorious Nessie snap of all.
Known as the “Surgeon’s photo”, the picture was taken by Robert Kenneth Wilson, a London physician, on 21 April 1934.
However, the renowned snap was later revealed to be a fake by one of the participants, Chris Spurling, who, on his deathbed, said that the pictures were staged.
Despite the admission, there have been numerous sightings in the area since including one this summer, less than two miles from the Manse, across the water near the picturesque village of Dores.
On August 22nd a man and three friends were out walking from the Dores Inn to Tor Point when all four saw an unusual shape arch out of the water before submerging again.
The Manse is one of the only properties along the shores of the loch where the view is not obscured by woodland and trees.
Earlier this year Nessie hunters were complaining of trees blocking their view of the water with the lack of sightings being blamed on the overgrown vegetation.
Currently this year there have been seven “official” sightings of the monster, the most recent at the start of this month.
A newlywed couple from Oldham, Lancashire, were spending their honeymoon in the village of Fort Augustus last week when they snap a photo of something strange in the water.
Paul and Rebecca Stewart captured the bizarre shot showing an obscure black figure bobbing about in the water and it has been accepted by the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register.
Each month, according to Google, there are around 200,000 searches for the famous monster, and a further 120,000 for information and accommodation near the loch.
Irish missionary St Columba is first said to have encountered a beast in the River Ness in 565AD.
