It runs parallel to the Caledonian Canal for the first half of its course, which is six miles (10 km) long in total.

[1] At Inverness, the river contains a group of wooded islets known as the Ness Islands, some of which are linked to the shore by footbridges.

[5] According to Adomnán, when Columba visited King Bridei I of Pictland at his house on the River Ness, he met a wizard named Broichan who had an Irish slave-girl that he refused to release even though Columba pleaded with him.

He said that the pebble would be used to heal many sick people in Pictland, and that Broichan was suffering for his sins at that very moment.

Columba gave them the stone and said to dip it in water to give to Broichan, if he agreed to release the slave-girl.