More Scottish Lochs
More Scottish lochs -
Loch Laggan
Loch Laggan is a freshwater loch situated east of Fort William, in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. Since
1934 Loch Laggan has been a reservoir, retained behind the Laggan Dam, forming part of the Lochaber
hydro-electric scheme. This area became very well known in recent years with the filming of the popular
TV series "Monarch of the Glen".
Loch Leven
Lying beneath the shadow of the Lomond Hills is Loch Leven, the largest loch in lowland Scotland and
one of the most important sites for waterfowl in Britain. A National Nature Reserve since 1964, its
position, size, shallowness, richness and variety of habitats provide a unique environment that attracts,
not only the largest concentration of breeding ducks found anywhere in the UK, but many thousands of
migratory ducks, geese and swans every autumn and winter.
The loch has seven islands, and on one of these, Castle Island, you will find the ruined 15th century
Lochleven Castle. Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned here in 1567 but escaped in 1568 with the help
of William Douglas.
Loch Linnhe
This sea loch on the west coast of Scotland runs from Fort William in a south westerly direction for
about 22 miles. At it's head is the the southern end of the Caledonian canal, overlooked by the rugged
Ben Nevis and near the opposite end is the impressive Castle Stalker.
It is believed that Castle Stalker, much in its present form, was built by the then Lord of Lorn, Sir
John Stewart, who had an illegitimate son in 1446, and it is reasonable to suppose that he built and
occupied the Castle about that time. In 1463 Sir John Stewart was keen to legitimise his son by getting
married to his Mother, a MacLaren, at Dunstaffnage when he was murdered outside the church by Alan
MacCoul, a renegade MacDougall, although he survived long enough to complete the marriage and legitimise
his son, Dugald, who became the First Chief of Appin. The Stewarts had their revenge on MacCoul at
the Battle of Stalc in 1468 opposite the Castle when the Stewarts and MacLaren together defeated the
MacDougalls, and Alan MacCoul was killed by Dugald himself. The site of this Battle is marked by a
memorial stone in the Churchyard in Portnacroish.
Loch Lochy
Loch Lochy is a large fresh water loch in the Great Glen which forms part of the Caledonian Canal.
The canal locks at Gairlochy is an interesting and picturesque place to watch vessels navigate the
canal.
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond can be found in the Trossachs National Park, northwest of Glasgow. It is Scotland's largest
loch and it is also the largest area of inland water in Britain. It is 24 miles long. At its wider
southern end there are some 30 wooded islands, many of which were inhabited in the 5th century by Irish
missionaries. On Inchmurrin, the largest, St Mirren is believed to have founded a monastery in the
6th century and there are ruins of the 14th century castle of the earls of Lennox. lnchcailloch, owned
by Scottish Natural Heritage, means ‘island of the old women’, leading to the belief that
there was a nunnery there, though no trace has been found. It is the burial place of the MacGregors
and the Macfarlanes. The West Highland Way long-distance path runs along the east bank. The Loch Lomond
Golf Club is a championship course and is currently used for the annual Scottish Open.
Loch Long - Firth of Clyde
Loch Long is about 16 miles long and is just one of a number of sea lochs reaching deep into the Scottish
Highlands from the Firth of Clyde. Having access from the open sea, Loch Long was frequently used by
the Vikings during their raids. The most famous raid was in 1263 when 60 Viking boats sailed to Arrochar
to be hauled overland to Tarbet and relaunched in Loch Lomond to create havoc along its shores.
Loch Long - Wester Ross
This is a small sea loch which joins Loch Alsh and Loch Duich at Dornie, with Eilean Donan Castle nearby
this meeting of waters.
Loch Lubnaig
Loch Lubnaig lies in the midst of the Strathyre Forest. The village of Strathyre of ‘Bonnie Strathyre’ fame,
lies just past the northern end of the loch. The loch is 3.5miles long and the deepest part is approximately
100ft. On its western shore Beinn-an-T'sithean (Ben Shian) is 1800ft high and a signed footpath leads
through the forest and exits onto the open hillside.
Fishing is available and permits can be obtained locally. This loch is not suitable
for sailing due to its adverse wind conditions but is often frequented by canoes. Migrating salmon
pass through the loch on their way to the spawning grounds further upstream.
Loch Luichart
Loch Luichart lies just west of Garve and drains into the River Conon. The poet Robert Browning is
said to have visited Lady Ashburton here in 1869. When the Dingwall and Skye railway line first opened,
the Lochluichart station was a private platform built for Lady Ashburton's use but it was opened to
the public in 1872. The original station was closed in 1954 and submerged when the level of Loch Luichart
was raised in connection with the Conon Hydro-Electric Scheme.
Loch Lyon
This loch lies at the western end of Glen Lyon and is almost enclosed on three sides by high hills
and Munros. At the eastern end of the loch is the Lyon Dam and hydro-electric scheme, leading onto
River Lyon and the remainder of Glen Lyon.
Loch Maree
Loch Maree is 20 kilometers long and definitely one of the most beautiful lochs in Scotland. It is
the fourth largest fresh water loch in Scotland. On the north-side of the loch the impressive Slioch
mountain can be found. A very steep mountain which rises 980 meters above loch Maree.
Nearby is the Beinn Eighe mountain reserve. It has a visitor centre and two
remarkable very well maintained trails, the woodland trail and the mountain trail. Both the walks
pass through the remains of the great Caledonian forest. The Scotch Pines are of an outstanding
beauty. They have grown for thousands of years, untouched and unspoilt. They are very compact
Bonsai-like trees and a walk through this forest is an unforgettable experience.
Loch Melfort
This is a small sea loch in Argyll just south of Oban. It forms a bay with the islands of Shuna and
Luing bordering it's western side.
Loch Monar
This is a remote loch to the east of Loch Carron and is approached from the east along a track which
runs along Glen Strathfarrar. Loch Monar is surrounded by many hills and Munros.
Loch Morar
A freshwater loch to the south-east of Mallaig. It is the deepest freshwater in Scotland at 328m(1077ft).
Loch Morlich
Situated in the Cairngorm National Park this small freshwater loch is very tranquil and lends itself
to some tremendous photo opportunities with the Cairngorm Mountains as a fantastic backdrop to the
south. Nearby, you will find the Cairngorm ski slopes and the very popular mountain railway.
Loch Ness
The most famous of all Scottish lochs and also the largest by volume of water. The loch is most famous
for it's mysterious sightings of the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie) although, after many scientific expeditions,
no conclusive evidence has been forthcoming to prove or disprove the habitation of the loch by a large
creature. Another major attraction of the loch is the beautifully set and historic Urquhart Castle
which is one of Scotland's most visited attractions. Add to this, the spectacular beauty of the surrounding
area and you can understand why hundreds of thousands of visitors flock there each year.
Loch Nevis
This is a sea loch just off the Sound of Sleat to the east of Mallaig. This bay once bustled with fishing
boats landing their catch.
Loch o' the Lowes
This is a small freshwater loch in Ayrshire, well known for it's wide range of bird life.
Loch of the Lowes - Perthshire
This small loch can be found near Dunkeld in Perthshire and is famous for it's Scottish Wildlife Trust
hide that enables visitors to view the pair of osprey's which have been breeding there for many years
now. Also, red squirrels and great spotted woodpeckers can be seen from our viewing windows, and fallow
and roe deer are often seen from the hide. Wildfowl numbers peak in early winter when up to 3,000 migrant
greylag geese roost on the loch as well as goldeneyes, mallards, goosanders, wigeons, teals, tufted
ducks and great-crested grebes that usually breed near the hide.
Loch of the Lowes - Borders
A small scenic loch separated from St Mary's Loch by a short stretch of land.
Loch Oich
Loch Oich is part of the Caledonian Canal. It is a small narrow loch found between Loch Ness and Loch
Lochy.
Loch Ossian
This small, remote, freshwater loch is situated at the western end of Rannoch Moor. There is no road
or track to this loch but there is a train station and a youth hostel to the west of it.
Loch Quoich
Part of the Garry-Morriston hydroelectric scheme in Inverness—shire. Built in the 1950s, the
Ouoich Dam flooded many of the old settlements in the area, including Glen Quoich Lodge. A single-track
road goes along the loch shore to Kinloch Hourn on the west coast.
Loch Rannoch
Loch Rannoch is about 10 miles long, averaging about 1 mile in width, and is popular for its fishing.
Like so many other of the famed Highland lochs, there is a road along both sides. The main road on
the north bank is the faster route, while the road on the south bank is the more scenic. Neither road
ever moves far from the edge of the loch, and there are excellent photo opportunities.
Loch Ranza
This is a sheltered sea loch on the north coast of the Isle of Arran. Loch Ranza means ‘loch
of safe anchorage’. On a spit of land in the bay stands Lochranza Castle which dates from the
early medieval times.
Loch Shiel
This lovely loch, which lies about 12 miles to the west of Fort William, is 17 miles long and runs
from Glenfinnan to Acharacle. Bonnie Prince Charlie sailed up this loch in 1745 and raised his standard
at Glenfinnan where a monument now stands to commemorate this event.
Loch Sunart
This long winding sea loch runs from Ardnamurchan to Strontian. Nowhere else in the UK is there such
an amazing set of moss, liverwort and lichen-rich Atlantic Oakwoods than on the banks of this loch.
Loch Tay
The beautiful Loch Tay is 14 miles long and runs from Killin in the west to Kenmore in the east and
here it runs off into the River Tay. On the loch itself you can participate in many watersports or
fish from the shore or from locally hired boats. The loch is of very significant archeoligical and
historical significance as there are at least 18 crannogs which are basically homes built on wooden
stilts, dating back about 2500 years. The Scottish Crannog Centre is a reconstruction of a crannog
and is open to the public.
Loch Torridon
This is a sea loch running from Torridon to Fearnmore in Wester Ross.
Loch Tummel
Loch Tummel lies just to the west of Pitlochry in Perthshire. This freshwater loch is famous for having
the most photographed view in Scotland. This is the view from Queens View along the loch to the west.
The loch runs into the River Tummel which is very popular for white water rafting enthusiasts.
Loch Voil
A freshwater loch in the Balquhidder Valley in the Trossachs where salmon can be fished for. The grave
of Rob Roy lies nearby in Balquhidder.
In and Around Aberfeldy
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