Recorder Waterbased Monster Sightings
Loch Ness
Observer: D Mackenzie
Time: 1200
Date: October 1871
Motion: Slow, then moved off at speed
Description: Log like, then up-turned boat
Observer: Roderick Matheson
Time: Unknown
Date: 1885
Motion: Forward
Description: Described as the biggest thing I ever saw in my
Life, neck like a horse with a mane.
Observer: Alexander Macdonald
Time: Early morning
Date: 1888
Motion:
Description: He called it salamander-like.
Observer: Salmon Angler, Forester, Hotel Keeper and Fishing Ghillies
Time: Unknown
Date: 1895
Motion:
Description: Observers reported that a horrible great beastie
appeared in Loch Ness
Observer: F Fraser, 2 others
Time: Afternoon
Date: December 1903
Motion: Could not get closer by rowing towards it.
Description: Hump like upturned boat
Observer: John Macleod
Time: Unknown
Date: 1908
Motion: Motionless, then moved off
Description: Long tapering tail, eel-like head. 30-40ft, creature
lying in the water, flush with surface
Observer: William Miller and D McGillvray
Time: 0730
Date: May 10th 1923
Motion: Stationary, moved off in arc, submerged.
Description: 10-12ft like up-turned boat.
Observer: Mrs Cumming and D McGillvray
Time: 0930
Date: August 1929
Motion: Motionless, sank with a splash
Description: Hump size of horse's body
Observer: Ian J. Milne
Time: 0730
Date: July 14th 1930
Motion: Splash, moved in an arc at 16-17mph, submerged
Description: 2 or 3 shallow humps undulating along back.
Observer: James Cameron
Time: 1600
Date: Feb 7th 1932
Motion: Little or none, sank
Description: Hump like up-turned boat
Observer: Mrs Kirton and P.F.Grant
Time: 1145
Date: 1933
Motion: Disturbance, moved about, great speed, disappeared and re-
appeared 100yds away
Description: 6ft by 1ft hump
Observer: Mr and Mrs Mackay
Time: 1500
Date: April 14th 1933
Motion: Commotion, wake, then humps, turned in arc then sank
Description: 20ft overall, 2 humps, one larger
Observer: Alexander Shaw and Alister Shaw
Time: 1700 to 1800
Date: may 11th 1933
Motion: Wake, then hump moving faster than a rowing boat.
Description: 8ft hump like a log
Observer: Miss N Smith
Time: 1400
Date: August 5th 1933
Motion: Moved circling, submerged
Description: 1 hump, size of a rowing boat
Observer: Miss P Keyes, R.A.R. Meiklem and Mrs Meiklem
Time: 1500
Date: August 5th 1933
Motion: Moved back and forth, submerged
Description: 1 hump,(4-6ft) seen end on with ridge (size of
cart horse)
Observer: Mr A. H. Palmer
Time: 0700
Date: August 11th 1933
Motion: Disturbance, wake, saw head, moved off
Description: Head set low in the water, front view, mouth
opening and closing. Width of mouth 12-18 inches, opened 6inches
Observer: Mr G McQueen
Time: 1430
Date: August 1933
Motion: Moving slightly, ripples, sank
Description: 12ft by 4ft hump
Observer: Mr John Cameron
Time: 1730
Date: August 15th 1933
Motion: Moving fast, V shaped ripple.
Description: 15ft long, hump about 8inches up, like floating
telegraph pole.
Observer: Mrs E Garden Scott
Time: 1100
Date: August 16th 1933
Motion: Submerged
Description: Hump like an up-turned boat
Observer: Mrs B McDonell and Mrs Sutherland
Time: 0900
Date: August 25th 1933
Motion: Moving in an undulating way, submerged
Description: Hump with disturbances 20ft behind
Observer: Mr W. D. H. Moir
Time: 2115
Date: August 26th 1933
Motion: Wash, then moving hump, submerged
Description: Long sloping hump, 40ft by 5ft
Observer: Mrs J Simpson
Time: 0900
Date: October 22nd 1933
Motion: Dived
Description: Impression of 2 flippers
Observer: Mr A Gillies
Time: 1130
Date: October 22nd 1933
Motion: Foam disturbance, submerged, re-appeared
Description: Single hump, 2 to3ft out of water
Observer: Miss C MacDonald
Time: 1245
Date: October 22nd 1933
Motion: Moving slowly, V shaped ripple
Description: Single hump, splashing either side toward front.
Observer: Mr C Macrae and Mr J Mackinnon
Time: 1400
Date: November 10th 1933
Motion: Splashing, sank and rose 2-3 times
Description: Single hump like up-turned boat, 25ft by 2ft
Observer: Miss N Simpson
Time: 0900
Date: November 20th 1933
Motion: Motionless, sank, V-shaped wash
Description: One low hump and one small hump, 30ft overall
Observer: Mr G Jamieson
Time: 1100
Date: December 27th 1933
Motion: Moved across Loch, rapidly dived when car horn sounded
Description: Two humps 15 to 20ft overall by 2ft and 3ft
Observer: Mr Howard Carson
Time: 1825
Date: January 30th 1934
Motion: Wash, moving slowly, submerged.
Description: 2 humps 2ft by 3ft, 13ft overall including head
and neck
Observer: Mrs M MacLennan
Time: 1620
Date: February 25th 1934
Motion: Turned from side to side, submerged, left wash.
Description: Neck was 6ft round column, top small pointed.
Observer: Mr William Mackay
Time: 1030
Date: July 12th 1934
Motion: Slowly moving streak on the water, later object appeared,
disappeared
Description: Single object
Observer: Mr William Mackay and Mr William Campbell
Time: 1630
Date: July 12th 1934
Motion: Surfaced 5 times then moved off
Description: 2 humps, 6ft apart.
Observer: Mr R. J. Scott
Time: 1240
Date: July 12th 1934
Motion: Appeared to swim on it's side, fin or mane where neck
and body met.
Description: Overall 18 to 24ft long, body 2ft out with 3
humps above
Observer: Mr J. Mackintosh
Time: 1015
Date: July 16th 1934
Motion: Moved slowly.
Description: 2 humps 3ft out of water, 3ft apart, 15ft overall
Observer: Mr A Ross
Time: 0820
Date: July 17th 1934
Motion: Turned over and dived
Description: Single hump, 20ft long by 2ft
Observer: Mr D Ralph
Time: 1520
Date: July 24th 1934
Motion: Submerged, no wash.
Description: Hump 8ft by 1.5ft
Observer: Mr P Grant and Mr James Legge
Time: 1020
Date: July 27th 1934
Motion: Moving slowly (50 yds)
Description: Hump, 15ft long.
Observer: Mr R. J. Scott and Mr Evan Strang
Time: 0945
Date: July 30th 1934
Motion: Moving slowly, submerged, re-appeared, submerged.
Description: Hump 14ft, 3 portions showing, second appearance
4ft.
Observer: Sir Murdock MacDonald and son and one other observer
Time: 1800
Date: August 8th 1934
Motion: Moved slowly, about 100yds in five minutes.
Description: 2 humps, 15ft overall.
Observer: Mrs Marjory Moir, Mrs Grant Shewglie and 3 others
Time: Afternoon
Date: October 1936
Motion: Head-neck dipped into water often, stationary, turned,
shot off, returned head-neck only showing, wake.
Description: 3 humps, 30ft overall, middle hump was largest.
Observer: S Grant and Mr Scott
Time: 1100
Date: January 8th 1943
Motion: Not recorded
Description: Observed a moving animal and a second object
disturbing the water.
Observer: C. B. Farrel
Time: 0515
Date: May 1943
Motion: Submerged
Description: Single hump, overall size 25-30ft
Observer: Mr and Mrs Donald MacIver and daughter and 2 cyclists
Time: 1700
Date: July 1947
Motion: Moved at speed.
Description: Single object
Observer: W. H. Davidson, Mother and Sister, Mrs Cary
Time: 0930
Date: July 1954
Motion: V shaped wake, 5 to 6 mph, submerged several times.
Description: Single hump, 30ft by 3ft
Observer: Mr and Mrs Alan Graham Oxford-Cambridge party
Time: 0615
Date: July 1956
Motion: Surfaced, stationary 4 mins, moved off at a fair speed,
wash, submerged.
Description: Single hump, 4ft by 1.5ft
Observer: Peter O'Connor
Time: 1000
Date: July 3rd 1960
Motion: Two separate and parallel wakes 4 to 8mph.
Description: one or two specks at head of a wake
Observer: Bruce Ing
Time: 1850
Date: July 10th 1960
Motion: Moved along, bow waved.
Description: 8 to 10ft by 1.5 to 2ft hump.
Observer: Husband and wife Smiths and crew of small yacht
Time: 1640
Date: August 7th 1960
Motion: Wash, moved 9 to 10mph, 2 pairs of splashes.
Description: Single hump 10ft by a few inches.
Observer: Rev and Mrs W. L. Dobb and son
Time: 1515
Date: August 13th 1960
Motion: Wake, appeared and disappeared.
Description: Single hump, disappeared, then 2 humps.
Observer: Mr McIntosh and Mr Cameron
Time: 2230
Date: 1961
Motion: Saw something cutting water, head-neck appeared
vertically, sank, re-appeared, sank, re-appeared, submerged.
Description: Single hump.
Observer: F.W. Holiday
Time: 0600
Date: August 24th 1962
Motion: Plunged under.
Description: 40 to 45ft object 3ft out, observed to taper
either end below surface.
Observer: Alastair Grant and Mr Ayton
Time: 1930
Date: August 1963
Motion: Wash from front, submerged, re-appeared momentarily
Description: At least 4 humps, 35 to 40ft overall
Observer: Peter and Pauline Hodge
Time: 0815
Date: May 21st 1964
Motion: Moved off when car door slammed
Description: Pole-like object.
Observer: Miss E. M. J. Keith of Rothienorman and James T. Ballantyne
Time: 1920
Date: March 30th 1965
Motion: Commotion, wake, sank twice, moved at speed.
Description: Observed part of body.
Observer: F. W. Holiday, William Fraser and John Cameron
Time: 2230
Date: June 1965
Motion: As moved faster, profile elongated, submerged several times.
Description: Single hump like overturned whale boat, dark ridge
at top, 10ft by 5 to 6ft
Observer: Edward and Vivianne Elliott
Time: 0700
Date: September 30th 1965
Motion: Saw wash 15 mins earlier, sank slowly.
Description: Object protruding
Observer: Mr and Mrs Alistair Macdonald
Time: 1430
Date: May 28th 1966
Motion:
Description: 3 humps 25 to 30ft overall
Observer: Mr and Mrs Pommitz
Time: 1005
Date: May 29th 1966
Motion: Wake, moved in jerks
Description: Single hump
Observer: Mae Macdonald and Sylvia Paterson
Time: 1115
Date: May 31st 1966
Motion: Moving fast
Description: 3 Humps.
Observer: B M Cameron and niece
Time: 0945
Date: June 13th 1966
Motion: Moving at 17 mph
Description: Small object at head of disturbance
Observer: F S Young
Time: 0730
Date: June 14th 1966
Motion: Appeared 3 times in centre of disturbance
Description: Object in centre of disturbance
Observer: Lena Holmgren
Time: 1030
Date: June 20th 1966
Motion: Submerged when observers screamed
Description: Single object
Observer: R W Swan
Time: 1513
Date: June 29th 1966
Motion: Gentle surface swimming
Description: Single hump 15-20ft
Observer: Heather Cary and Mother
Time: 0800
Date: July 28th 1966
Motion: Disturbance
Description: Single hump
Observer: M Pool
Time: 0920
Date: September 5th 1966
Motion: Stationary, not bobbing, wake breaking against it
Description: 6-7ft by 4ft hump, like upturned boat
Observer: Angela Veitch
Time: 1800
Date: September 25th 1966
Motion: Disturbance
Description: 10ft object
Observer: David Wathen
Time: 1900
Date: March 1967
Motion: Commotion, moved around in arc, submerged slowly,
appeared to fall over sideways.
Description: 2 humps approximately 15ft
Observer: Peter Davies
Time: 1720
Date: August 6th 1967
Motion: Submerged with turbulance
Description: Single object 10ft by 3 ft
Observer: Norman Schofield
Time: 0805
Date: August 7th 1967
Motion: Small object submerged, re-appeared with large hump,
submerged
Description: Single hump, triangular 10ft, overall 20-30ft
Observer: Dennis Gartrell
Time: 1205
Date: August 22nd 1967
Motion: Quickly rose up and curling, hit water with commotion
Description: 8ft long, flexible
Observer: Dennis Bland
Time: 1545
Date: September 20th 1967
Motion: Small wave moving along, slowly submerged, wake
Description: Hump 9ft by 3ft
Observer: John Stroud
Time: 1502
Date: September 26th 1967
Motion: Stationary, partially submerged
Description: Long 20ft object
Observer: Miss C Sanders
Time: 1730
Date: April 18th 1968
Motion: Sank slowly, vertically
Description: 2 humps 15ft overall
Observer: Philip Bull and Howard Pratt
Time: 2200
Date: May 5th 1968
Motion: Cruising fast, wash, disappeared
Description: Single 10-12ft hump
Observer: Fred Deacon and Mrs Deacon
Time: 1120
Date: July 10th 1968
Motion: Ripple, surfaced, travelled slowly, submerged
Description: Long body
Observer: Mr and Mrs E A Grummet and son
Time: 1115
Date: September 4th 1968
Motion: Stationary, sumerged twice, final submergance when
boat appeared
Description: Spherical hump 3ft by 2ft
Observer: Cmdr R K Silcock and Mrs Silcock
Time: 1530
Date: September 19th 1968
Motion: Broke surface cruising along, submerged 3 times,
V-shaped wash
Description: 6-8ft hump
Observer: J F M MacLeod
Time: 0830
Date: November 6th 1968
Motion: Slammed door, splash, ripples moved towards centre of
the Loch
Description: Neck 4ft long held at 70 degree angle
Observer: Bruce Marshall and Bill Jobes
Time: 1045
Date: April 7th 1969
Motion: Moved at great speed, disappeared, re-appeared, sank
Description: Single hump, then 2 humps, 20-24ft overall
Observer: Mr and Mrs D Clayton and Mr and Mrs Maurice Smith
Time: 1530
Date: July 26th 1969
Motion: Moved 6-7 mph, submerged, wake
Description: Single hump 6ft by 3ft
Observer: R A Moyse, two sons and a friend
Time: 2030
Date: August 1st 1969
Motion: Moved at 3 mph, submerged
Description: 3 humped object, 20-30ft by 12-14 inches
Observer: Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Craven and 2 children
Time: 0920
Date: August 6th 1969
Motion: Disturbance, surfaced, submerged
Description: 2 humped object, 25-30ft by 3-4ft
Observer: Mr Jenkyns
Time: 1145
Date: November 10th 1973
Motion: Emerged, submerged
Description: A rigid pole-like object.
Observer: Paul H. Biermasz
Time: 10-1100
Date: July 17th 1979
Motion: Speeding from shore
Description: Black object
Observer: Bill Kinder
Time: 1000
Date: April 9th 1996
Motion: Rising out of water
Description: Two humps
Observer: Two people
Time: unknown
Date: April 10th 1996
Motion: Moving across Loch
Description: Two large brown shapes
Observer: Jonathan Murphy
Time: unknown
Date: May 14th 1996
Motion: unknown
Description: Strange object which was photographed
Observer: Staff at Craigdarroch House Hotel
Time: 2030
Date: June 13th 1996
Motion: Zig-zagged across water
Description: Large disturbance followed by a wake
Observer: Emilio Demnio and Nikhi Bayeri
Time: 1415
Date: July 21st 1996
Motion: Emerged, submerged
Description: Large dark hump
Observer: Nick Watson and two others
Time: 1730
Date: August 1st 1996
Motion: Water disturbance
Description: Black hump
Observer: Craig Kerr
Time: unknown
Date: August 18th 1996
Motion: Emerged
Description: Photographed head and neck
Observer: Staff at Clansman Hotel
Time: Around noon
Date: 1996
Motion: Emerged, submerged
Description: Several black humps
Observer: Frank Meyer
Time: 0845
Date: September 1996
Motion: Floating under surface
Description: Dark object
Observer: South African holidaymaker
Time: unknown
Date: March 21st 1997
Motion: Emerged
Description: Two humps
Observer: Film Crew
Time: 0900
Date: June 21st 1997
Motion: Moving fast across Loch
Description: Dark object
Observer: Tourist from England
Time: 0855
Date: May 30th 1998
Motion: Emerged
Description: Large object
Observer: Adam and Mark Sutherland, Peter Gillies and Peter Rhind
Time: 0500
Date: June 17th 1998
Motion: Emerged, submerged
Description: Large object with long tail
Record of Landbased Monster Sightings
Observer: A group of children near graveyard
Date: 1879
Place: North shore
Description: Observed strange creature coming down hillside to
loch. Colour as an elephant, small head turning side to side
on long neck. 'Waddled into water.'
Observer: E.H. Bright and cousin
Date: 1880
Place:Drumnadrochit
Description: Observed 'monster' emerge from wooded area and
'waddle' into water on four legs. Left wash after entering
water. Long neck, dark grey.
Observer: Gypsy woman
Date: 1890's
Place: Unknown
Description: Unknown
Observer: Five or six children including William MacGruer
Date: 1912
Place: Inchnacardoch Bay
Description: Queer looking animal moved to the Loch and
vanished in the water. Compared to a camel but smaller, long
neck, humped- back and fairly long legs, sandy pale yellow
colour.
Observer: Mrs Peter Cameron and 2 brothers
Date: 1919
Place: Unknown
Description: Small head like a camel, long neck, humped-back
and 4 limbs. Colour like a camel.
Observer: Alfred Cruickshank
Date: April1923 at night
Place: Unknown
Description: Body 10-12ft long, tail 10-12ft long. Maximum
diameter of body, 5-7ft, Arched back. Khaki green colour,
lighter underbelly. Four legs, thick like an elephants, with
large webbed feet.
Observer: Alec Muir
Date: 1930's
Place: Inverfarigaig
Description: A 'monster' alleged to have crossed the road in
front of car. Left visible trail and depressed area in moss
where it must have been lying.
Observer: School children
Date: 1930's
Place: Drumnadrochit
Description: They said they had seen a most peculiar and
horrifying animal in the bushy swamp in Urquhart Bay
Observer: Mrs Eleanor Price-Hughes
Date: 1933
Place: Unknown
Description: Alleged to have seen 'monster' emerge from the
bushes and vanish into Loch. Carried something pink in mouth.
(note: it has been said that this sighting was a hoax)
Observer: David Stewart
Date: March 1933
Place: Altsigh
Description: A grey coloured creature came out of the bushes
and disappeared into the Loch, it had a long neck.
Observer: George Spicer
Date: July 22nd 1933
Place: Unknown
Description: Length 6-8ft long, thick body, long neck, greyish
colour, saw near where neck joined body something flapping up
and down. (They later decided it was tail bent round) Maximum
diameter 4-5ft. Observed 150-200 yds away.
Observer: Mrs M. F MacLennan
Date: August 1933
Place: Unknown
Description: Observed a dark grey mass on the beach estimated
20-25ft in length, back looked ridged, had several humps on it.
When asked about limbs, Mrs MacLennan replied saying it had
short, thick, clumsy legs with a kind of hoof very like a pigs
but much larger.
Observer: Mrs Reid
Date: December 1933
Place: Inverfarigaig
Description: Strange animal resting on slope of Loch shore.
Partially obscurred by bracken. Hairy mane on neck, rest of
body seemed hairy. Shaped like a hippopotamus, large round
head, short thick legs, dark colouration.
Observer: Mr Arthur Grant
Date: January 1934
Place: Unknown
Description: Small head and long neck, bulky body with 2
slight humps, long tail, rounded at end. Head like an eel with
large eyes. Overall length 15-20ft, tail 5-6ft, neck 3-4ft
long, maximum diameter 4ft. Colour was black or dark brown.
Four flippers, front flippers strong.
Observer: Doreen Taylor
Date: February 1934
Place: Foyers
Description: Large creature with long neck and short body, its
legs were very thick and it had webbed feet.
Observer: Patricia Harvey and Jean MacDonald
Date: February 1934 at night
Place: Inchnacardoch Bay
Description: Observed an animal crossing a stream by
moonlight, moving out of sight towards the Loch. Thick body at
shoulder tapering towards tail, dark colour, underside of neck
white, 4 short legs. Height about 6ft, length 8-10ft. Moved
with speed.
Observer: Miss Margaret Munro
Date: June 5th 1934
Place: Unknown
Description: Using binoculars observed at 200-300 yds, an
animal almost clear of the water for 25mins. Giraffe like
neck, small head, dark grey body, and two very short forelegs
or flippers clearly seen.
Observer: Mr Torquil Macleod
Date: February 28th 1960
Place: Unknown
Description: Observed on opposite shore of the Loch, grey
black mass at a distance of 1700yds. Used binoculars 7x50.
Estimate animal 45ft in length. Observed one pair of paddles,
thought he saw a third, square end flipper forward of the other
pair, described one end like elephants trunk. Finally flopped
into water
Observer: Members of the Loch Ness Phenomena Investigation
Bureau Ltd camera team.
Date: June 6th 1963
Place: Achnahannet
Description: A dark object was filmed at the water's edge on a
small beach 2.5 miles from the Achnahannet main camera rig,
slight movement seems to occur, but may be caused by wave
action or halation. Size estimated by Joint Air Reconnaissance
Intelligence Centre, 7-17ft.
