Loch Lochy

Loch Lochy (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Lòchaidh) is a large freshwater loch in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland. With a mean depth of 70 m (230 ft), it is the third-deepest loch of Scotland.

Loch Lochy
View from the A82
LocationLochaber, Highland, Scotland
Coordinates56°58′07″N 4°54′38″W
Typefreshwater loch
Primary inflowsRiver Arkaig
Primary outflowsRiver Lochy
Basin countriesUnited Kingdom
Max. length16 km (9.9 mi)
Surface area16 km2 (6.2 sq mi)
Average depth70 m (230 ft)
Max. depth162 m (531 ft)
Water volume1.1 km3 (0.26 cu mi)
Surface elevation94 ft (29 m)
SettlementsClose to Nevis range mountains experience 0.7 km

Geography

Located 16 km (10 mi) southwest of Loch Ness along the Great Glen, the loch is over 15 km (9 mi) long with an average width of about 1 km (0.6 mi). The River Lochy flows from its southwestern end while the Caledonian Canal links its northeastern extent to Loch Oich.

Loch Lochy should not be confused with Loch Loch, which lies to the east of Beinn a' Ghlò.

History

The Battle of the Shirts was fought at its northern end near Laggan in July 1544, between Clan Donald and Clan Fraser.[1]

The Stand-off at the Fords of Arkaig in September 1665 ended a 360-year feud between the Camerons and the Chattan Confederation. It took place at Achnacarry, on the isthmus between Loch Lochy and Loch Arkaig.

Folklore tales mention a supernatural being called the River Horse which was said to emerge from the lake and assume a horse's shape before feeding on the loch's banks.[2] The River Horse was also known as the Lord of the Lake and the Water King and would overturn boats and 'entice mares from their pastures'.[2] Another tradition was that of the River Bull, 'a gentle, harmless creature', who would 'emerge from the lake into the pasture of cows'.[2]

View over Loch Lochy
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References
  1. Appleton's European guide book for English-speaking travellers, Volume 1 page 92 (1886)
  2. "PECULIAR SUPERSTITIONS". The Queenslander. 3 January 1925. p. 36. Retrieved 16 September 2013 – via National Library of Australia.


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