First 2025 ‘Nessie’ Sighting at Dores Beach

First 2025 ‘Nessie’ Sighting at Dores Beach

A man visiting Dores Beach on January 29, 2025 photographed a large dark mass moving beneath the calm surface of Loch Ness—kicking off the year’s first widely reported ‘Nessie’ sighting. The image was shared with the Loch Ness Centre and posted to their socials, sparking fresh debate as the season began.

According to the Centre, conditions were unusually still for winter—ideal for spotting surface anomalies. The witness described a “large, dark mass” and supplied a photo now under review by local researchers and volunteer groups.

What was reported

• Date & place: Jan 29, 2025, Dores Beach (south side of Loch Ness).
• Claim: A dark, elongated mass just beneath the surface, seen for minutes and captured in a single photo.
• Status: Publicly shared by the Loch Ness Centre; experts and local groups consulted for follow-up analysis.

Local media in the Highlands quickly amplified the account, noting it as the year’s first potential sighting. As ever, the debate ranges from natural explanations (logs, wave shadows, wake patterns) to the enduring legend of an unidentified creature.

‘First potential’ vs ‘first official’

Scotland’s press also recorded the year’s first official sighting weeks later, when multiple eyewitnesses near Fort Augustus described a “long, very graceful creature.” That report was recognized by local outlets as the first formal entry for 2025, reflecting how potential sightings shared to social media sometimes precede entries recognized by the long-running register.

What’s next at Loch Ness

The Loch Ness Centre continues its seasonal “surface watch” events and public engagement (including “The Quest”-style volunteer watches)—encouraging visitors to photograph, log, and submit anything unusual. As spring and summer bring calmer water and more eyes on the loch, expect more reports, more debate—and occasionally, a photo that reignites the world’s favorite lake mystery.

Sources

Tags: Loch Ness, Nessie, Dores Beach, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness Centre, Sightings Register, Scotland