From a Highland Grotto to a Global Adventure: The Making of ‘Santa’s Adventure at Loch Ness’

Sometimes, the best stories don’t start with a plan; they start with a cracking idea and a very late night. “Santa’s Adventure at Loch Ness” is a piece that holds a very special place in my heart—not just because it’s about my favourite local monster, but because of the whirlwind journey it took from a simple “yes” to a published children’s book.

The Grotto That Started It All

This whole adventure began when my daughter (who now runs the wonderful North Gateway Café) came to me with a brilliant spark of an idea. She wanted to put on a Santa’s Grotto and asked if I’d be up for helping out. Well, of course, I said yes! But I didn’t want it to be just any old grotto. I wanted her to have something truly unique to share with the children—a story they wouldn’t hear anywhere else.

I sat down that evening to ponder the idea. I told myself I’d just jot down a few bullet points and then head off to bed. It was 10:00 pm.

The Midnight Creative Sprint

I don’t know if it was the Highland air or just a bit of Christmas magic, but once the first line hit the page, I couldn’t stop. I was absolutely in the zone! I remember hitting the “save” button after writing the very last line of the poem, stretching my arms, and glancing at my watch.

It was 2:00 am. Blimey! I had been writing for four hours straight without even noticing. It took another two weeks of polishing and tweaking to get the rhythm just right, but that initial “midnight sprint” is where the soul of the story was born.

A Change of Plans

I marched over to my daughter, ready to present her with the masterpiece for her grotto. But life, as it often does, had other plans. She looked at me and said, “Oh, sorry Dad… I’ve decided I’m actually far too busy to do the grotto this year!”

I’ll admit, I felt a bit deflated as I trudged back home. But as I sat with the poem, I realised I couldn’t just let it sit in a drawer. The story of Santa at Loch Ness was too much fun to keep to myself!

From the Desk to the Bookshelf

I decided then and there to take the leap and turn the poem into a Children’s Picture Book. I went on a bit of a hunt and found an absolutely fantastic illustrator online who truly brought the Highlands (and Santa!) to life. Seeing those first sketches was a “Result!!!” moment if I ever had one.

Today, that little poem is a physical book that families can read together every December. It just goes to show that even when one door (or grotto) closes, another one—usually filled with illustrations and Highland monsters—opens right up!

Bring the Magic Home: You can find the fully illustrated version of Santa’s Loch Ness journey, alongside his friends Luno and Rupert, right here in my books section.