Never mind Nessie: what about the Badenoch croc!
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Walkers did a double take today as beautiful Loch an Eilein, on the back road from Aviemore to Kincraig, took a wilder turn than usual for a Saturday morning.
Rearing out of the shallows on the famous Rothiemurchus Estate beauty spot there appeared to be a basking crocodile taking the air.
"We just wondered if the Strathy was aware of the crocodiles in Loch an Eilein," wrote Fiona Hawkins, stalwart of the Cairngorms Riding for the Disabled Association group, who happened to have her camera with her at the ready.
The Strathy's forensic experts analysed the photo and were drawn to the conclusion that the monster in the loch was of the wooden variety, a piece of the old Caledonian forest which had probably been lurking beneath the surface until this particular sunny, dry spell.
But they could, of course, be wrong...
All paddlers beware!
And any other photographers with interesting and mysterious images of local 'wildlife' are welcome to send in their own contributions.
