District
Loch Ness Tartans Page
The Loch Ness tartan is a predominantly green and black tartan with red. Loch Ness is a vast and beautiful body of water, with Urquhart Castle watching over it and of course the Loch Ness Monster languishing in its depths? The Loch Ness tartan most certainly dates earlier than the first sightings of Nessie.
Loch Ness Tartans
1 variationsEach tartan can have multiple variations, the most common of which are Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress
About tartan variations
- Ancient
- Modern
- Weathered
- Hunting
- Dress
Ancient Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans, mossy greens and sky blues, a more orangey red and some would say showing off the pattern to much greater effect as as the contrasts are much brighter than the Modern tartans. The pattern or sett remains the same across all variations of a single tartan, and only the shades or tones vary.
Helpful Advice
Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Modern Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans. Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Helpful Advice
The Modern tartans are often the more subtle combinations such as the classic Black Watch Modern
Weathered Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer, more earthy colours typical of the Weathered tartans, reminiscent of bolder colours subjected to wind, rain and sunshine producing beautiful faded tones, olive greens and browns, and very light blues with reds that are more pink than red.
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Some mills refer to the Weathered tartans as Muted.
Hunting Tartan
The Hunting Tartans are the camouflage tartans and some clans don't have these variations because they are already predominantly green or brown and don't need amendment to blend in with nature's colours. The Black Watch or Gunn tartans are examples of these, whereas a tartan such as the Fraser is predominantly red and would not provide much cover for men out hunting.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
Dress Tartan
The Dress Tartans were designed as the name suggests for celebrations and highland dance. The sett or pattern of the tartan remains the same and the main colour is changed to white, or extra white is added to the pattern to give it a brighter, more "fancy" appearance. The Scots do like to bend the rules and occasionally instead of white thread, yellow is used and this is where the rather wild MacLeod Dress Modern and Barclay Dress Modern came from.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
From the start
Loch Ness Tartan Origins & History
Explore the history
How it all started
Territories
Loch Ness is one of the most iconic Scottish landmarks and is a large, deep, freshwater loch extending for approximately 23 miles. It is situated in the Scottish Highlands, just southwest of the city of Inverness. It is best known for alleged sightings of the legends Loch Ness Monster, also known kindly as "Nessie", who allegedly lives deep beneath the dark expanses of Loch Ness have circulated the world since the first photograph emerged in 1933. With over 1,000 supposed eye-witness accounts, sightings and unexplained evidence, many continue to be baffled by the existence of the mythic creature. See for yourself on a boat trip and Nessie cruise from Inverness, Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit, and see if you can catch a sight of Nessie with your own eyes!
Regardless of the mysterious monster, Loch Ness is still a beautiful place to visit. Despite the wintry temperatures of the Scottish holiday spot, Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin, a beachy national reserve, is a lovely nearly spot for a picnic. However, still bear in mind the breezy highland winds, you might end up with a sandy sandwich..! When visiting, to learn more about the Loch Ness monster and its history, you can visit the Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit, which is a village nearby. Tourists can also explore the Urquhart Castletoo, which is right next to the loch, and see some excellent views from its tower.
Clan Chief
The Loch Ness tartan is a district tartan and therefore does not have a Clan Chief.
Let's talk about tartan...
The Loch Ness tartan is a predominantly green and black tartan with red, to represent the colours of the water. The Loch Ness tartan most certainly dates earlier than the first sightings of Nessie.
The Hunt for Nessie
There has been much speculation over the existence of the Loch Ness Monster since it was first brought to the attention of the world in 1933. Stories evolve about sightings of the monster almost every year. Have you ever seen Nessie?
The first recorded sighting of a monster in the Loch Ness area was actually recorded in 565 AD, where Saint Columba, an Irish monk, was travelling through Scotland and came across a group of people burying a man near the River Ness. When he asked what had happened they claimed the man had tried to cross the river and was attacked by a monstrous water beast. Curiously, Columba asked one of his followers to try swimming across the river with the mythical being supposedly approached him. There are no more recorded sightings of the monster until the 1930s, but that isn’t to say the Nessie was not seen. Interest in the monster only really took off in the 1930s, with many sightings following the famous ‘Surgeon’s Photograph’ which was taken in 1934. The photo shows what appears to be a dinosaur-like creature which has sparked several theories about what the creature was and why its there, and it gave us the image of Nessie who we know and love today.
Loch Ness is an extraordinary body of water, so its size and depth can undoubtedly hide many a mystery! The loch has hosted many expeditions and studies every since, with many scientists concluding Nessie is nothing but a myth. However, many still believe he is hiding in the depths and continue to find the truth of the mysterious being. So, is there a monster in Loch Ness? The only way to know for certain is to visit yourself!
Urquhart Castle
Urquhart Castle stands on the shores of Loch Ness on the rocky promontory of Strone Point. It dates from early in the thirteenth century, and was built by Alan Durward, son-in-law of King Alexander II. For a time, it was a strong-hold of Robert de Brus (the Bruce), and it met its end in 1692, when English forces blew it up to thwart the Jacobites. It is now in the care of Historic Scotland, and is open to the public.
Loch Nis is gaelic for Loch Ness
Discover the Loch Ness Hub
Meet Russell Fraser, Manager of the Loch Ness Hub, a community initiative that has taken over the visitor information centre guaranteeing great service and information for tourists and local alike, improving transport links and incorporating Great Glen Way and Loch Ness 360 Baggage Transfers. Come with us to Drumnadrochit to learn more.
