1. The Lighthouse, Guiding Light

Standing proud at the north end of the great Loch, its powerful light set to guide the ships and barges of old stands the Bona lighthouse. One of only two inland lighthouses in the UK, it may not be the building of old, but its spirit will never be diminished. 

In my younger years, I witnessed its mighty light shining across the inky loch and it still shines for me inside, illuminating the paths around Loch Ness, the mystic sites which pepper its shores. The strength of its spirit endures eternal, the haunting energies pulling you back to those times. 

Horses once stabled behind the main building, were used to tow the barges from the loch down to the seaport of Inverness itself. The spirits of these horses draw us out from our reality to lead us into the magic land of the Loch. When you visit, you awaken their spirits, hear them being readied to guide those who ask, down through the Mystic Canal to journey on.

Hear the horse snort, as it readies, connect the harness to its back, catch the smells, noise, excitement, anticipation of the trail ahead, leading you down to the loch shore, where the water spirit horses rise and lead you onward.

It is here we call upon the Master of the Loch to grant, to guide, protect and bestow his blessing for the Mystic journey ahead.

2. Mighty Monolith Site

A ways down on the western bank, at the end of the old funeral trail, where many were walked down off the hillside on their final journey, lies an ancient graveyard. There is many a story told by those who carried their family and friends to rest, shared over a dram or two to fondly usher them into the beyond. 

Beautiful gardens unfurl in the graveyard, ancient Oak, Douglas Fir and Giant Sequoia stand guard, overlooking the vast expanse of the loch. Here stood the Giant Monolith that once housed the Highland Mystic Eye of legend and folklore. It is said that this stone lies near that path, near its end, covered in moss and lichen, seen but unseen, protected from sight. Still bearing the hole that once housed the crystal Eye, now always fills with fresh spring water, never dry, never frozen.

There we will tarry, to visit the stone, blessing the well where Highland Mystic eye once dwelled. We read the poetry chosen for the day and cast our question to the stone with Highland Mystic reunited sitting next to the well. We meditate, journey in its vision across the Loch and beyond. We call the elements to join the stones again, we raise the monolith with Highland Mystic back in its rightful place, travelling through time and space and beyond to create what was, and ever will be.

3. Bridge On The Ridge

Drumnadrochit stands as a crossroads on the banks of Loch Ness, and it is from here we take the gateway path, along the Enrick and Coiltie rivers to where they meet, and further, down to Urquhart Bay. The journey is not easy, with roots and rocks and rivers to block us, but the destination is worth the journey. 

If we are looking for change in our lives, Urquhart Bay is possibly one of the most powerful places on earth to make it happen. Simply stand in cooling waters and command it to happen. Be careful though, as it is said that St Columba came here to effect the change of the Picts to Christianity and it was in this moment that the Pictish Beastie appeared to him! This first sighting of ‘Nessie’ is well documented in the writings of Monks documenting St Columba’s journey. 

Over the bay, we cast our eyes upon Urquart Castle, once the lair of Pictish King Brude of Scotland and where he was converted to Christianity. Here we evoke the living energies of the Loch, a portal to transport back in time to when Baptisms were performed in the Bay, not only Christian, but way back into Celtic history and beyond.

It is here that the Bay taps the energy generated by the two great quartz crystal sides of the Loch and the great pressure of the vast depth. All the ingredients are present here, (Casimir effect) for the generation of a wormhole, vortex, a spot for further tapping into and connecting with the depths of the Mystic. 

4. Invermoriston and Glen Moriston

Where the twisted bridge stands and waters thunder down the glen on its way to the Loch is the starting point for this mystic site. Dig deeper and you will find a Holy well, a crossing place, a cliffside path through the ancient pine forest, and a crystal mountain. All the ingredients of a magical mystical tour! 

There are stories on the wind as you walk the path, stories of when giants walked through on the night of the gale, the decimated trees left in their wake inspiring the poem Giant Steps. Then, sit in the Holy Well Queen’s circle of tree roots, and discover the stone where Megan’s soul first spoke. See the extraordinary magic pine where another grows from the “first root” born bare from the mother tree.

Glen Moriston is a place where you can wander for hours, taking a break to read the poem Megan’s Well and join the spirits in the fantasy forest, if only for a moment. This is undoubtedly one of my favourite places around Loch Ness and an integral part of the Highland Mystic story.

5. Fort Augustus

Fort Augustus is at the southern end of Loch Ness and is a place where one stops to contemplate the journey/s ahead. The view up the Loch from the Abbey ground is awe-inspiring, and it is there we go to align with the Loch before undertaking the journey.

Here you can visit the vision tree of a thousand colours and gain clarity as you gaze through its multitude of branches, fragmenting the waters before us. It is the place where we speak to the Goat Spirit of the journey itself, and ponder just how prepared are we for its help. 

The first time I visited here there was a goat floating in the Loch. I gave it my blessing and peace on its journey’s end. Later it would tell me of the dancing goats of the Loch, their family that guides and protects pilgrims, giving travellers around the shores the sure-footedness necessary to prevent them from falling into the icy waters. The full tale of this practical spirit guide and their dancing on the Loch under the light of a full moon……..well that is a story for another time!

6. Falls of Foyers

The Falls of Foyers are, without doubt, the most spectacular of sight around the shores of Loch Ness. More than mere water falling, they are a generator of energies, a place of cleansing and a place for refreshing the spirit.

Its thundering voice brings a juxtapositional feeling of peace. While the constant drum invades your ears, instinctively you know that everything is in its place, at one with the universe. As soon as you tune in, you know that not only have the falls flow and purpose, but also the power to create harmony.

This is the place where Aberon and Highland Mystic stopped on their epic night in ‘The Loch Ness Run’. Some say there are still hoofprints under the Waterfall itself! This is the place to cleanse the spirit, to roar with the Waterfall beings as they sparkle in the foam-forming rainbows from the sunlight. This is a place to unburden yourself, to shout it all out to the crows as they wait to take it back to the Crow Tree. Let it begone with them, burden you no more, as you return cleansed. It is then that we join this ‘Rainbow’ in time with the poem Beyond The Waterfall to begin to explore the what-if.