Loch Maree monster and a tragedy.

It is sometimes said to be the most beautiful loch in the Highlands.

Loch Maree is about 13 miles long and up to 3 miles wide in parts and 125 feet deep. It is in a very remote location at Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland and so is a largely unspoilt area with little industry or commerce. The loch is known for trout fishing. The waters of the lake are supposed to have curative powers and it was believed that being submerged in the lake can cure mental illness. It was designated a Wetlands Conservation Area in 1994. There are about 30 islands on the Loch, many of historical significance.

The loch is said to have a monster known as muc-sheilch .A Mr Banks of Letterewe tried at great expense to drain the Loch, in the 1850s, but failed. He also tried to poison it with quicklime .(Though it is not recorded why he did this.)
Over the years, there have been unsubstantiated reports of something large in the water being seen by local fishermen, but no photographs or film seem to have come to light.Most think it is nothing more than a large eel.

A good site about the mysterious loch and it's islands:

http://www.philipcoppens.com/lochmaree.html

I was going to post this some time ago but this stopped me:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8217162.stm

A recent tragedy man and son drowned on the loch

I post it now as a memorial to the tragic loss of two lives and to remind us all to be careful when out researching monsters or simply fishing.