List of lochs of Scotland

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Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates This list of lochs in Scotland includes the majority of bodies of standing freshwater named as lochs but only a small selection of the generally smaller, and very numerous, lochans. This list does not currently include the reservoirs of Scotland except where these are modifications of pre-existing lochs and retain the name "loch" or "lochan".

It has been estimated that there are at least 31,460 freshwater lochs (including lochans) in Scotland, and more than 7,500 in the Western Isles alone.<ref name=SNH>"Botanical survey of Scottish freshwater lochs" Template:Webarchive SNH Information and Advisory Note Number 4. Retrieved 1 January 2010.</ref> Whilst lochs are widespread throughout the country, they are most numerous within the Scottish Highlands and in particular in the former counties of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross and Cromarty. The majority of the larger lochs are linear in form; their distribution through the West Highlands reflects their origin in the glacial overdeepening of the straths and glens they now occupy.

Loch is a Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or fjord (cognate with the Irish Gaelic loch, which is anglicised as lough and with the older Welsh word for a lake, llwch) that has been borrowed by Scots and Scottish English to apply to such bodies of water, especially those in Scotland. Whilst "loch" or "lochan" is by far the most widespread name for bodies of standing water in Scotland, a number of other terms exist. The Lake of Menteith is the only natural body of freshwater called a "lake" in Scotland, (although it is also known as Loch Innis Mo Cholmaig in Gaelic) and there are one or two other man-made "lakes", the Lake of the Hirsel being an example. Numerous lochs are called "water", particularly in the Northern Isles, e.g. Roer Water in Shetland and Heldale Water in Orkney. These are not to be confused with similarly named rivers, particularly in the south of Scotland, e.g. Yarrow Water and Blackadder Water. Template:Compact TOC

Largest and deepest lochs

File:Loch Awe.jpg
Loch Awe

This table includes the twelve largest lochs by volume, area and length as listed by Murray and Pullar (1910).<ref>The 13 lochs listed include the 12 largest in these categories. Loch Treig and Loch Glass are listed as the 9th and 12th deepest respectively.</ref><ref>This was not an exhaustive survey, and several of the larger lochs in the Outer Hebrides were not included. However it is highly unlikely any would appear in this tabulation, were full data to be available. Loch Langavat is listed as the 14th longest and 19th largest by area. For Loch of Harray see main text.</ref> The volume of water in Loch Ness is nearly double that in all the lakes of England and Wales combined.<ref name=SNH/> Murray and Pullar also note that the mean depth of Loch Ness is 57.4% of the maximum depth – higher than in any other large deep loch, with Loch Avich coming closest at 52.4%.<ref name=Ness>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of the Ness Basin" pp.381–385, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2010.</ref> Lochs Maree, Shiel and Ness are recorded as being the narrowest of the large lochs in relation to their length.<ref name=Maree>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of the Ewe Basin" p.211, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2010.</ref> Template:Sort under

Loch Volume Area Length
 Max. depth Mean depth<ref name=area>Source for all quantities is the same unless otherwise stated.</ref>
(km3) (mi3) (km2) (mi2) (km) (mi) (m) (ft) (m) (ft)
Loch Ness Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref name=Ness/>
Loch Lomond Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of the Clyde Basin" Template:Webarchive Page 262, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2010.</ref>
Loch Morar Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of the Morar Basin" Page 197, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2010.</ref>
Loch Tay Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref name=Tay>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of the Tay Basin" Page 80, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2010.</ref>
Loch Awe Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of the Etive Basin" Page 270, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2010.</ref>
Loch Maree Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref name=Maree/>
Loch Ericht Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref name=Tay/>
Loch Lochy Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of the Lochy Basin" Page 356, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2010.</ref>
Loch Rannoch Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of the Tay Basin" Template:Webarchive Pages 68–69, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2010.</ref>
Loch Shiel Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of the Shiel Basin" Pages 241–42, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2010.</ref>
Loch Katrine Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of the Forth Basin" Template:Webarchive Pages 1–2, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2010.</ref>
Loch Arkaig Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of the Lochy Basin" Page 359, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2010.</ref>
Loch Shin Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of the Naver Basin" Pages 293–94, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2010.</ref>

Neither the Loch of Stenness nor the Loch of Harray on Mainland Orkney is large enough to appear in the above table (Loch of Harray is 16th by area) but at higher stages of the tide they are connected to one another and to the marine waters of Hoy Sound. The former is the largest brackish lagoon in the UK<ref name="defra1">"Loch of Stennes". JNCC. Retrieved 19 June 2011.</ref> and the latter, whilst predominantly freshwater, does have a transition zone in the vicinity of the Bridge of Brodgar where the two are connected.<ref name=SNH2>"Lochs of Harray and Stenness Site of Special Scientific Interest" Midas 1083. SNH</ref> The two lochs together cover an area of Template:Convert<ref name=SNH2/> but have a volume of only Template:Convert as they are so shallow; Loch of Stenness has a maximum depth of Template:Convert. Although flow between the two lochs and the sea can be observed, the water levels only change slightly with the movements of the tide.<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Orkney" Pages 224–25, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 19 June 2011. Murray and Pullar provide a lower estimate of the combined area.</ref>

Mainland

In reaching an alphabetically arranged list, the words "loch" and "lochan" have been ignored, as have articles and prepositions in both Gaelic (a', an, an t-, na, na h-, nam, nan etc.) and English (of, the etc.). Those that have been converted to reservoirs for water supply or in association with hydroelectric projects and whose levels have been artificially raised by the construction of dams or barrages are annotated as reservoir.

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A

B

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C

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D

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E

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F

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G

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File:Loch Gamhna 1.jpg
Loch Gamhna

H

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I

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J

K

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L

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M

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N

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O

P

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Q

R

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S

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T

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U

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V

W

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X

No entries

Y

Z

No entries

Lochs on islands

There are a very large number of lochs on the islands of Scotland, with the greatest density occurring in the Outer Hebrides. North and South Uist and Lewis in particular have landscapes with a high percentage of freshwater and a maze and complexity of loch shapes. Harris has fewer large bodies of water but innumerable small lochans.

Larger

Those listed in this section are confined to the larger or otherwise notable lochs.

Loch Orasaigh in Lewis is only about Template:Convert in extent but the island of Rainish Eilean Mòr is probably the largest island in Scotland relative to the size of the body of water it sits in, as it takes up about 20% of the loch's surface area.

The meanings of the names are generally derived from Gaelic, Old Norse or Scots.

Loch Meaning of name Island OS Grid ref. Area (ha) Area (acre) Depth (m) Depth (ft) Notes<ref name=area1>Source for area, depth and notes is the same unless otherwise stated.</ref>
Loch a' Phuill Gaelic: Loch of the bog or pool<ref name=MacanTA-E>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Tiree Template:Gbm4ibx Located in the south west near Balephuil.
Loch Ascog Norse: Loch of ash bay<ref name=MacanTA-E/> Bute Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Located south of Rothesay.<ref>"Argyll and Bute Council Reservoirs Act 1975 Public Register" Template:Webarchive (pdf) Argyll and Bute Council. Retrieved 25 August 2012.</ref>
Loch Bà Mull Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Mull" Page 175, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 18 December 2009.</ref>
Loch Barabhat Great Bernera Template:Gbm4ibx
Loch Bì South Uist Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert South Uist's largest loch is in the north of the island and at Template:Convert long it all but cuts the island in two.
Loch of Boardhouse Mainland Orkney Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref name=Murray227>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Orkney" Page 227, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 18 December 2009.</ref> In Birsay parish
Loch Carabhat Grimsay Template:Gbm4ibx
Loch Carabhat North Uist Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert North Uist's third largest loch<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of North Uist" Template:Webarchive Page 197, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 21 December 2009.</ref>
Loch of Cliff Unst Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert Template:Convert long and the most northerly loch in Britain.<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of North Shetland" Template:Webarchive Page 246, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 21 December 2009.</ref>
Loch Coruisk Gaelic: Loch of the corrie of water Skye Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert<ref>"Central Skye" (pdf) skye.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2009.</ref><ref>Douglas, W. (1898) recorded a depth of 96 feet or 29 metres. See "The Climbers' camp at Coruisk" Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal 5 No. 1. Retrieved 29 December 2009.</ref> Located in the heart of the Black Cuillin mountains on Skye.
Loch Druidibeag South Uist Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert<ref>The Loch Druidibeg National Nature Reserve extends to 1677 ha, of which the loch makes up about 30%. See "Loch Druidibeg National Nature Reserve: ‘Where Opposites Meet’ " Template:Webarchive SNH. Retrieved 15 December 2009.</ref> Part of the Loch Druidibeg National Nature Reserve on the west coast of South Uist.
Loch Fad Gaelic: Long loch Bute Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Bute" Template:Webarchive Page 84, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 21 December 2009.</ref> Stocked with Brown and Rainbow Trout the loch is an SSSI.<ref>"Loch Fad" Template:Webarchive Isle of Bute.com. Retrieved 21 December 2009.</ref>
Loch Fada Colonsay Template:Gbm4ibx Colonsay's largest loch
Loch Fada Gobha Lewis Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert This loch, which lies between Lochs Treabhal and Langavat, is Template:Convert long.<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Lewis" Template:Webarchive Page 209, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 21 December 2009.</ref>
Loch Finlaggan Loch of the white hollow<ref name=MacanTF-J>Template:Cite web</ref> Islay Template:Gbm4ibx Eilean Mor was an administration centre of the Lordship of the Isles during the 13th—15th centuries. The English name is derived from Gaelic, but the Gaelic name itself is Port an Eilein and means "island port".<ref name=MacanTF-J/>
Loch Frisa Mull Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert Mull's largest loch<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Mull" Page 174, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 20 December 2009.</ref>
Loch of Girlsta Mainland Shetland Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert
Loch Gorm Blue loch Islay Template:Gbm4ibx Contains Loch Gorm Castle, once a stronghold of Clan Macdonald.
Loch of Harray Norse: Loch of the mound Mainland Orkney Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Orkney" Template:Webarchive Page 225, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 20 December 2009.</ref> Closely linked to the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage site.
Heldale Water Hoy Template:Gbm4ibx One of the largest bodies of freshwater in Orkney not on the Mainland
Loch Langavat Gaelic/Norse: Long lake<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Maxwell, Sir Herbert (1894) Scottish Land-Names: Their Origin and Meaning Archive.org. Retrieved 28 December 2009. Originally published by William Blackwood and Sons of Edinburgh.</ref> Lewis Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Lewis" Page 213, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 20 December 2009.</ref> This loch lies at Template:Convert above sea level, is over Template:Convert long and is at the head of the Grimersta system.
Loch Langavat Gaelic/Norse: Long lake Harris Template:Gbm4ibx
Loch Leathan Gaelic: Broad Loch Skye Template:Gbm4ibx This loch to the east of Portree, which includes Loch Fada, is about Template:Convert long.
Loch Mealt Skye Template:Gbm4ibx Located south of Ellishadder, on the eastern side of the Trotternish peninsula
Loch Mòr Gaelic: Big loch Boreray Template:Gbm4ibx A shallow loch that make up about an eighth of the area of the island
Muckle Water Scots: Big lake Rousay Template:Gbm4ibx One of the largest bodies of freshwater in Orkney not on the Mainland
Loch nan Cinneachan Gaelic: Loch of the "Template:Linktext" or "gentiles".<ref>Beveridge (1903) pp. 25–29. "Gentiles" is a possible reference to Vikings.</ref> Coll Template:Gbm4ibx Contains the crannog Dùn Anlaimh
Loch Olabhat Benbecula Template:Gbm4ibx One of Benbecula's larger lochs, it contains numerous islands.
Loch Orasaigh Gaelic: Tidal island loch? Lewis Template:Gbm4ibx Contains Rainish Eilean Mòr (see above).
Loch Righ Mòr Gaelic: Great loch of the king Jura Template:Gbm4ibx
Loch Sgadabhagh Norse: Possibly Loch of tax bay North Uist Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref name=Sgad>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of North Uist" Page 188, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 20 December 2009.</ref> According to Murray and Pullar (1910) "there is probably no other loch in Britain which approaches Loch Scadavay in irregularity and complexity of outline."<ref name=Sgad/>
Loch an Sgoltaire Colonsay Template:Gbm4ibx
Loch of Spiggie Shetland Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Shetland" Page 244, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 21 December 2009.</ref> Part of an RSPB Nature reserve, the surface is only just over a metre above sea level.
Loch of Stenness Norse: Loch of the headland of the stone Mainland Orkney Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Orkney" Template:Webarchive Page 224, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 20 December 2009.</ref> The largest brackish lagoon in the UK,<ref name="defra1"/> the Stones of Stenness are on the south east shore.
Loch of St Tredwell Loch of St Tredwell Papa Westray Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Named after St Triduana, the loch's waters were traditionally believed to be medicinal.<ref>"Holy Wells and Magical Waters" Orkneyjar. Retrieved 29 December 2009.</ref>
Loch Suaineabhal Loch of Sweyn's Fell Lewis Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) state that its area is "nearly a square mile, or about one-fourth that of Loch Langavat".</ref> Template:Convert This glaciated loch basin has a mean depth of Template:Convert and is the most voluminous on Lewis.<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Lewis" Template:Webarchive Page 216, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 21 December 2009.</ref> The loch may be the deepest on any offshore island in the British Isles.
Loch of Swannay Orkney Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert Located in the north west of Mainland Orkney there are numerous stony shoals in the loch.<ref name=Murray227/>
Loch of Tankerness Norse: Possibly Loch of Tannskári's point.<ref>"Orkney Placenames". Orkneyjar. Retrieved 28 December 2009.</ref> Mainland Orkney Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert North east of Kirkwall, the loch's mean depth is only Template:Convert.<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Shetland" Template:Webarchive Page 227, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 28 December 2009.</ref>
Loch Tanna Arran Template:Gbm4ibx Arran's largest loch is 321 metres above sea level.
Loch of Tingwall Norse: Loch of the field of the parliament Mainland Shetland Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Shetland" Template:Webarchive Page 243, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 21 December 2009.</ref> West of Lerwick
Loch Trealabhal Lewis Template:Gbm4ibx Template:Convert Template:Convert<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Lewis" Template:Webarchive Page 209, Volume II, Part II. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 20 December 2009.</ref> Another shallow Hebridean loch with a complex shape.
Loch of Watlee Norse: Unst Template:Gbm4ibx

Smaller

Less substantial lochs include the following.

File:Loch Leathan from near Storr 2007-08-22.jpg
Loch Leathan, Skye

Historic lochs

See also

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References

  • Beveridge, Erskine (1903). Coll and Tiree. Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable.
  • Murray, Sir John and Pullar, Laurence (1910) Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909. London; Challenger Office.

Notes

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