Cam Loch, Sutherland

Cam Loch, Sutherland
Cam Loch, Sutherland
	Looking from Suilven, past the middle summit of Meall Meadhonach to Cam Loch in the distance.
	Cam Loch, Sutherland Location in Sutherland
Location	NC21331348
Coordinates	58°04′26″N5°01′51″W / 58.0740°N 5.0308°W
Type	freshwater loch
Primary inflows	River Ledbeg
Primary outflows	Abhainn Mhòr
Max. length	4.18 km (2.60 mi)
Max. width	0.917 km (0.570 mi)
Surface area	253 ha (630 acres)
Average depth	38 ft (12 m)
Max. depth	122 ft (37 m)
Water volume	1,025,740,415.89 cu ft (29,045,734.000 m3)
Shore length1	17 km (11 mi)
Surface elevation	124 m (407 ft)
Max. temperature	56.2 °F (13.4 °C)
	1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Last updated November 10, 2023

Cam Loch (the crooked loch)^[3] is an irregularly-shaped freshwater loch, about 5 km long, on a north-west to south-east orientation, located slightly north of the village of Elphin, in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Scotland.^[1]^[2]^[4] The loch is located in an area along with neighbouring Coigach, as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area ,^[5] one of 40 such areas in Scotland.^[6]

Geography

Located immediately to the south-west of Cam Loch, and at a slightly lower level, is Loch Veyatie, which is roughly parallel to it.^[4] The two lochs are connected by Abhainn Mhòr, which consists of extensions of the two lochs with a waterfall between them. It is an area that holds several large lochs, for example the irregular-shaped Loch Sionascaig, directly to the west. The loch is overlooked by the twin peaks of Cùl Mòr at 849m to the south-west. Directly south of the loch is Canisp at 847m. To the south-east, is the steep-sides ridge that forms the mountain of Suilven at 723m. Cam Loch sits in an area of wilderness landscape of moorland, bogs, and lochs and lochans.

Cam Loch is fed by inflows from Loch Urigill and Loch Borralan via the River Ledbeg.^[7] The loch drains via Abhainn Mhòr, into Loch Veyatie, that is part of the Fionn Loch Drainage System, that drains into Fionn Loch, that in turn is drained by the River Kirkaig into the sea.^[7]

Interglacial site

Cam Loch is internationally important as one of the most intensively studied late glacial sites in Scotland, in studies by members of the Freshwater Biological Association.^[8] It is a reference site for the stratigraphy of the late glacial in north-west Scotland and used to compare paleoecological research with sites elsewhere in the United Kingdom and Western Europe.^[8] The sediments preserved on the loch bed are important for reconstructing the late glacial period between 13000 and 10000 BP.^[8] The evidence provided by the sediment shows a rapid and marked climatic change during that period.^[8] Due to richness of the evidence, the loch has been intensively studied over the years.^[8] The sediments have been studied for their inorganic and organic geochemistry, pollen stratigraphy and diatom stratigraphy.^[8]

Bibliography

Inorganic geochemistry

Pennington, Winifred; Sackin, M. J. (September 1975). "I. Numerical Analysis". New Phytologist. 75 (2): 419–453. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1975.tb01405.x .
Pennington, Winifred (October 1975). "A chronostratigraphic comparison of Late-Weichselian and Late-Devensian subdivisions, illustrated by two radiocarbon-dated profiles from western Britain". Boreas. 4 (3): 157–171. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3885.1975.tb00687.x.
Pennington, W. (1977). "Lake Sediments and the Lateglacial Environment in Northern Scotland". Studies in the Scottish Lateglacial Environment: 119–141. doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-020498-7.50013-3. ISBN 9780080204987.

Organic geochemistry

Cranwell, P.A. (September 1981). "Diagenesis of free and bound lipids in terrestrial detritus deposited in a lacustrine sediment". Organic Geochemistry. 3 (3): 79–89. doi:10.1016/0146-6380(81)90002-4.
Cranwell, P.A. (1977). "Organic geochemistry of Cam Loch (Sutherland) sediments". Chemical Geology. 20: 205–221. Bibcode:1977ChGeo..20..205C. doi:10.1016/0009-2541(77)90044-4.
Pennington, W. (1977). "Lake Sediments and the Lateglacial Environment in Northern Scotland". Studies in the Scottish Lateglacial Environment: 119–141. doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-020498-7.50013-3. ISBN 9780080204987.

Pollen stratigraphy

Pennington, Winifred (October 1975). "A chronostratigraphic comparison of Late-Weichselian and Late-Devensian subdivisions, illustrated by two radiocarbon-dated profiles from western Britain". Boreas. 4 (3): 157–171. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3885.1975.tb00687.x.
Pennington, W. (1977). "Lake Sediments and the Lateglacial Environment in Northern Scotland". Studies in the Scottish Lateglacial Environment: 119–141. doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-020498-7.50013-3. ISBN 9780080204987.

Diatom stratigraphy

Haworth, Elizabeth Y. (July 1976). "Two Late-Glacial (Late Devensian) Diatom Assemblage Profiles from Northern Scotland". The New Phytologist. Wiley. 77 (1): 227–256. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1976.tb01516.x . JSTOR 2433656.
Pennington, W. (1977). "Lake Sediments and the Lateglacial Environment in Northern Scotland". Studies in the Scottish Lateglacial Environment: 119–141. doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-020498-7.50013-3. ISBN 9780080204987.

Gallery

Images of Cam Loch and surrounding areas
The Cam Loch Looking across the southern part of the Loch. Cul Mor is in the distance on the right, with Cul Beag and Ben More Coigach on the left.
Cam Loch From the Lochinver/Ledmore path with Suilven in the background.
The Cam Loch Looking across the broad middle part of the loch, from where the Elphin to Lochinver path leaves the loch and heads inland. Cul Mor is beyond.
Cam Loch. From path to Suilven from Elphin.
View over Cam Loch towards Suilven

Related Research Articles

Sutherland is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area in the Highlands of Scotland. Its county town is Dornoch. Sutherland borders Caithness and Moray Firth to the east, Ross-shire and Cromartyshire to the south and the Atlantic to the north and west. Like its southern neighbour Ross-shire, Sutherland has some of the most dramatic scenery in Europe, especially on its western fringe where the mountains meet the sea. These include high sea cliffs, and very old mountains composed of Precambrian and Cambrian rocks.

Suilven is a mountain in Scotland. Lying in a remote area in the west of Sutherland, it rises from a wilderness landscape of moorland, bogs and lochans known as Inverpolly National Nature Reserve. Suilven forms a steep-sided ridge some two kilometres in length. The highest point, Caisteal Liath, lies at the northwest end of this ridge. There are two other summits: Meall Meadhonach at the central point of the ridge is 723 metres (2,372 ft) high, whilst Meall Beag lies at the southeastern end.

Lochinver is a village that is located at the head of the sea loch Loch Inver, on the coast in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. A few miles northeast is Loch Assynt which is the source of the River Inver which flows into Loch Inver at the village. There are 200 or so lochans in the area which makes the place very popular with anglers. Lochinver is dominated by the "sugar loaf" shape of Caisteal Liath, the summit peak of nearby Suilven.

Assynt is a sparsely populated area in the south-west of Sutherland, lying north of Ullapool on the west coast of Scotland. Assynt is known for its landscape and its remarkable mountains, which have led to the area, along with neighbouring Coigach, being designated as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland.

In geology, the term Torridonian is the informal name for the Torridonian Group, a series of Mesoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic arenaceous and argillaceous sedimentary rocks, which occur extensively in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The strata of the Torridonian Group are particularly well exposed in the district of upper Loch Torridon, a circumstance which suggested the name Torridon Sandstone, first applied to these rocks by James Nicol. Stratigraphically, they lie unconformably on gneisses of the Lewisian complex and their outcrop extent is restricted to the Hebridean Terrane.

The Northwest Highlands are located in the northern third of Scotland that is separated from the Grampian Mountains by the Great Glen. The region comprises Wester Ross, Assynt, Sutherland and part of Caithness. The Caledonian Canal, which extends from Loch Linnhe in the south-west, via Loch Ness to the Moray Firth in the north-east splits this area from the rest of the country. The city of Inverness and the town of Fort William serve as gateways to the region from the south.

Ben More Assynt is a mountain in Assynt in the far north-west of Scotland, 30 kilometres north-northeast of Ullapool. The name translates as "big mountain of Assynt", and with a height of 998 metres it is the highest point in Sutherland.

Loch Assynt is a freshwater loch in Sutherland, Scotland, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) east-north east of Lochinver.

Clashmore is a scattered township in Assynt, in Sutherland, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is situated on the Rubha Stoer, 10 km north west of Lochinver, overlooking the Loch na Claise.

Loch Veyatie is a large freshwater loch in north-west Scotland. It stretches for 6 km north-westwards from the settlement of Elphin, and lies between Suilven and Cùl Mòr. The loch is located in an area known as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland.

Loch Kirkaig is a small tidal sea loch, located in the region and parish of Assynt in south-west of Sutherland, in the west coast of Scotland and in the Scottish Highlands. Loch Kirkaig is 1.25 miles south of Loch Inver. The scattered crofting township of Inverkirkaig is located at the headland of the bay, next to the pebbly beach, on the round bay, which has no known name. The name Kirgaig comes from old Norse, Kirkju-vik meaning church bay, perhaps suggesting that in Viking times, there was a church, with a village located in the bay.

Loch Beannach is a small v-shaped loch, located 2 miles to the west of Loch Assynt and 3 miles northeast of Lochinver within the Assynt area of Sutherland, Scotland. The loch is located in an area known as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland.

Loch Culag also known as Loch na Doire Daraich is a small freshwater shallow loch, located south of Lochinver in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. The loch is located in an area along with neighbouring Coigach, as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland.

Loch Cròcach is a large irregular shaped, shallow loch, located about three miles north of Lochinver in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. It is one of five lochs in Scotland with the same name. Loch Cròcach is located in an area known as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland.

Loch Urigill is a freshwater loch near Elphin at the southern tip of the Assynt District in north-west Sutherland, Scotland.

Fionn Loch is a small irregular-shaped shallow freshwater loch, on a north-west to south-east orientation that is located 3 miles southeast of Lochinver in the Assynt district of Sutherland in Scotland. The loch is located in an area known as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland.

Loch a' Mhadail or Loch a' Mhiotailt is a small freshwater lochan that lies immediately to the south-west of Loch Veyatie and is connected by a channel to Loch Veyatie within the area of Inverpolly. The channel measures about 20 foot in length, 10 feet in width and 1 foot in depth. When the water level is low, Loch a' Mhadail is separated from Loch Veyatie by a dyke made of Gneiss.

Loch an Doire Dhuibh is a small irregular shaped freshwater loch, situated on a north-east to south-west orientation in northern Wester Ross and located 7.5 miles southeast of Lochinver, Scotland. Directly to the northwest of the loch is Loch Gainmheich, considered the "northern portion" of the loch, by the editors of Bathymetrical Survey that is connected by a narrow channel with water flowing out of Doire Dhuibh and northwest to Loch Sionascaig. Loch an Doire Dhuibh is part of the Assynt - Coigach National Scenic Area.

Loch Sionascaig is a large irregular shaped, freshwater loch in the remote Coigach area of northern Wester Ross. It is located 5.5 miles southeast of the village of Lochinver and is situated within the Inverpolly Forest.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Kirkaig Basin Volume II – Cam Loch. National Library of Scotland. p. 161. Retrieved 20 January 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
1 2 3 4 "Cam Loch". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
↑ The New Statistical Account of Scotland: Sutherland, Caithness, Orkney, Shetland, General index. Vol. XV. Edinburgh, London: W. Blackwood and Sons. 1845. p. 107.
1 2 Gittings, Bruce; Munro, David. "Cam Loch". The Gazetteer for Scotland. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
↑ "Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
↑ "National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
1 2 Yu, Ge (1995). Lake Status Records from Europe: Data Base Documentation. World Data Center-A for Paleoclimatology, NOAA Paleoclimatology Program. p. 262.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Birks, H.J.B. (6 December 2012). "Cam Loch". In Gordon, J. E.; Sutherland, D. G. (eds.). Quaternary of Scotland. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 134. ISBN 978-94-011-1500-1.

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[bathy-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Kirkaig Basin Volume II – Cam Loch. National Library of Scotland. p. 161. Retrieved 20 January 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

[britlakes-2] 1 2 3 4 "Cam Loch". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

[3] The New Statistical Account of Scotland: Sutherland, Caithness, Orkney, Shetland, General index. Vol. XV. Edinburgh, London: W. Blackwood and Sons. 1845. p. 107.

[git-4] 1 2 Gittings, Bruce; Munro, David. "Cam Loch". The Gazetteer for Scotland. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Retrieved 21 January 2022.

[5] "Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.

[6] "National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.

[Some_kind_of_drainage-7] 1 2 Yu, Ge (1995). Lake Status Records from Europe: Data Base Documentation. World Data Center-A for Paleoclimatology, NOAA Paleoclimatology Program. p. 262.

[Gordon-8] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Birks, H.J.B. (6 December 2012). "Cam Loch". In Gordon, J. E.; Sutherland, D. G. (eds.). Quaternary of Scotland. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 134. ISBN 978-94-011-1500-1.

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Cam Loch, Sutherland
Looking from Suilven, past the middle summit of Meall Meadhonach to Cam Loch in the distance.
Cam Loch, Sutherland Location in Sutherland
Location	NC21331348
Coordinates	58°04′26″N5°01′51″W / 58.0740°N 5.0308°W / 58.0740; -5.0308
Type	freshwater loch
Primary inflows	River Ledbeg
Primary outflows	Abhainn Mhòr

Max. length	4.18 km (2.60 mi)^[1]
Max. width	0.917 km (0.570 mi)^[1]
Surface area	253 ha (630 acres)^[2]
Average depth	38 ft (12 m)^[1]
Max. depth	122 ft (37 m)^[1]
Water volume	1,025,740,415.89 cu ft (29,045,734.000 m³)^[1]
Shore length¹	17 km (11 mi) ^[2]
Surface elevation	124 m (407 ft)^[2]

Max. temperature	56.2 °F (13.4 °C)
¹ Shore length is not a well-defined measure.