Loch Katrine

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Loch Katrine
Above Stronachlachar, looking eastward along the length of the loch
Location	Stirling, Scotland
Coordinates	56°15′16″N 4°30′56″W / 56.25444°N 4.51556°W / 56.25444; -4.51556Coordinates: 56°15′16″N 4°30′56″W / 56.25444°N 4.51556°W / 56.25444; -4.51556
Lake type	freshwater loch, reservoir
Basin  countries	United Kingdom
Max. length	13 km
Max. width	1 km

Loch Katrine (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Ceiterein, pronounced [lˠ̪ɔx kʲeʰd̊ʲəɾʲɛɲ]) is a freshwater loch in the district of Stirling, Scotland. It is roughly 13 kilometres long by 1 kilometre wide and runs the length of Strath Gartney (Gaelic: Srath Ghartain). It is a popular destination for tourists and day visitors from Glasgow and other nearby towns.

Settlements

Stronachlachar from Loch Katrine with Factor's Isle in the foreground.

The main access points for Loch Katrine are either via Trossachs Pier at the loch's eastern end or Stronachlachar (Gaelic Sròn a' Chlachair "the headland of the stonemason") towards the western end of the loch. Trossachs Pier essentially consists of a parking space, pier, gift shop and restaurant (the Anchor's Rest) which are open from the first to the last sailing of the cruise boats.

On the northern shore are the Brenchoile hunting lodge and the farms Letter (Gaelic: Leitir), Edra (Gaelic: Eatarra "between them"), Strone (Gaelic: An t-Sròn "the nose"), Coilachra, Portnellan (Gaelic: Port an Eilein "port of the island") and Glengyle (Gaelic: Gleann Goill "glen of a lowlander"), on the southern are The Dhu (Gaelic: An Dubh "the black") at the western end of the loch, Stronachlachar, the Royal Cottage, Culligart and Glasahoile (Gaelic: Glas-choille "greywood").

The roads and paths do not circle the loch completely, as the southern road stops at Glasahoile.

Islands

There are several small islands in Loch Katrine such as Ellen's Isle (Gaelic: An t-Eilean Molach "the shingly isle"), the Black Isle and Factor's Island (Gaelic: Eilean a' Bhàillidh).

History

Loch Katrine is owned by Scottish Water and is the primary water reservoir for much of the city of Glasgow and its surrounding areas. The water level has been artificially raised by around 6 feet - the Loch can be drawn down by a maximum of 7 ft in order to provide gravitational flow to the Milngavie water treatment works via two 26 mile long aqueducts. Milngavie itself is situated at almost 400ft above sea level - sufficient to provide adequate water pressure to the majority of Glasgow without the need for pumping. The system can deliver up to 50,000,000 gallons a day. Construction was started in 1855 and the works was opened by Queen Victoria in 1859. The aqueduct project was built under the guidance of James Watt and Thomas Telford, an example of their engineering prowess that can still be seen working today. The second aqueduct was opened in 1901.

Water levels are supplemented via a dam and short tunnel from Loch Arklett, a reservoir located between Loch Katrine itself and Loch Lomond, beside the road to Inversnaid, this project was completed in 1914. A longer tunnel beneath Ben A'an which brings water from the Glen Finglas Reservoir was completed in 1958, with dam being completed in 1965.

Oil-fired vessels are not permitted to sail its waters due to the danger of pollution to the drinking water of Glasgow. Instead a wood-burning, steam-powered boat named the SS Sir Walter Scott, currently being refurbished to enable it to run on biofuel, offers local tourist transport between Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar during summer. Robert Roy MacGregor was born at the head of the loch.

Other information

The view of Cruinn Bheinn, with Beinn Mheadhonach and Meall Gaothach to the right, on the northern shore of Loch Katrine.

Fly and boat fishing for trout is permitted on the loch from spring to autumn.

The lake of Sir Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake is Loch Katrine.

Loch Katrine is also the name of a lake in North Canterbury, New Zealand.

References

• Newton, M. Bho Chluaidh gu Calasraid Acair 1999 ISBN 0-86152 265 6

2008

• Loch Katrine tourist brochure produced by the Scottish Tourist Board