Loch Clair

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Loch Clair
Loch Clair. - panoramio (2).jpg
Loch Clair for the southern end
Ross and Cromarty UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Loch Clair
Location in Wester Ross
Location NG99905723
Coordinates 57°33′40″N5°20′43″W / 57.561020°N 5.345385°W / 57.561020; -5.345385
Type freshwater loch
Basin  countriesScotland
Max. length0.55 km (0.34 mi) [1]
Max. width0.19 km (0.12 mi) [1]
Surface area63 ha (160 acres) [2]
Average depth41.9 ft (12.8 m) [1]
Max. depth92.8 ft (28.3 m) [1]
Water volume284,686,148.7 cu ft (8,061,414.00 m3) [1]
Shore length15 km (3.1 mi) [2]
Surface elevation94 m (308 ft) [2]
Max. temperature57 °F (14 °C)
Min. temperature48 °F (9 °C) at 85 feet [1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Loch Clair is a small remote shallow low-altitude freshwater loch, located within the Coulin Forest, some three miles to the south-west of Kinlochewe in Wester Ross. [1] [2] Loch Clair is the lower of two lochs in the same valley and is aligned on a southeast-northwest bearing. The other loch is Loch Coulin [3] which is fed by the River Coulin, the waters of which in turn flow out of Loch Coulin through a short unnamed river into Loch Clair. A small lochan, Loch Bharranch, [4] is located a mile to the west and drains into the western end of Loch Clair through an unnamed burn.

Contents

Loch Clair is drained by another river, A' Ghairbhe, which flows in a roughly north-east direction to Kinlochewe, where it joins the Abhainn Bruachaig to form the Kinlochewe River.

Loch Clair can be reached by the A896 road, which runs from Kinlochewe to Torridon, Shieldaig and beyond.

Geography

Loch Clair is bounded to the north by a mountain massif in the Torridon area that contains the highest peak of Beinn Eighe, which is within Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve. [5] [6] The imposing peak of Liathach at 1024 metres is the most prominent peak that is visible from Loch Clair. [4] To the west, the loch is bounded by a series of low hills, the highest two being Creag Dhubh at 384 metres and Sgùrr Dubh at 782 metres. [7] To the east is open peatland in an area consisting of small hills, burns and peat bogs. To the south is a continuation of the mountainous Coulin Forest, with Meall and Leathaid Mhòir at an altitude of 512 metres.

Fishing

Loch Clair is an excellent fishing location for trout that weigh 10 to 12 ounces. [8] Ideal trout flies for the loch include Soldier Palmer, Greenwell's Glory and Silver Butcher. [8]

Walking

Loch Clair is the location of an almost level hiking route that follows the north coast of the loch, before making a circular walk around Loch Coulin and is about 9.64 km long. [9]

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Loch Maree is a loch in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. At 21.7 km (13.46 mi) long and with a maximum width of four kilometres, it is the fourth-largest freshwater loch in Scotland; it is the largest north of Loch Ness. Its surface area is 28.7 km2 (11.08 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beinn Alligin</span> Mountain in Scotland

Beinn Alligin is one of the classic mountains of the Torridon region of Scotland, lying to the north of Loch Torridon, in the Highlands. The name Beinn Alligin is from the Scottish Gaelic, meaning Jewelled Hill. The mountain has two peaks of Munro status: Tom na Gruagaich to the south, and Sgùrr Mhòr at 986 metres (3,235 ft) to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liathach</span> Mountain in Highland, Scotland, UK

Liathach is a mountain in the Torridon Hills, in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It stands between Loch Torridon and the neighbouring mountain Beinn Eighe. The mountain is a ridge running east–west, with several peaks, and its upper half is made up of many steep rocky terraces. The highest peak is the Munro of Spidean a' Choire Lèith at 1,055 metres (3,461 ft) high. The other Munro peak is Mullach an Rathain at 1,024 metres (3,360 ft) high.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beinn Eighe</span> Mountain massif in the Scottish Highlands

Beinn Eighe is a mountain massif in the Torridon area of Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. Lying south of Loch Maree, it forms a long ridge with many spurs and summits, two of which are classified as Munros: Ruadh-stac Mòr at 1,010 m (3,314 ft) and Spidean Coire nan Clach at 993 m (3,258 ft). Unlike most other hills in the area it has a cap of Cambrian basal quartzite which gives the peaks of Beinn Eighe a distinctive light colour. Its complex topography has made it popular with both hillwalkers and climbers and the national nature reserve on its northern side makes it an accessible mountain for all visitors.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Sionascaig</span> Freshwater loch

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Lurgainn</span> Freshwater loch

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Coulin</span> Freshwater loch

Loch Coulin is a small remote shallow low-altitude freshwater lochan, located within the Coulin Forest, some four miles to the south-west of Kinlochewe in Wester Ross. It is fed by the river Coulin from the south and its outflow is into Loch Clair in the north-west. Loch Coulin is within Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Kernsary</span> Freshwater loch

Loch Kernsary also known as Loch na h-Airde Bige is a small remote shallow low-altitude freshwater loch, located directly southeast of Poolewe in Kinlochewe, Wester Ross. It is fed by the river Coulin from the south and its outflow is into Loch Clair in the north-west. The Kernsary River drains into the loch from the south and in turn is drained through a tiny lochan Loch Poll Uidge à Chrò. The Lochan drains into the Inveran River, that drains a short distance into Loch Maree directly to the south-east.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Ewe Basin Volume II – Loch Clair. p. 222.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Loch Garbhaig". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  3. ↑ "Loch Coulin". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 Sandison, Bruce (1997). Trout & Salmon Rivers and Lochs of Scotland. Ludlow: Stackpole Books. p. 255. ISBN   978-1-873674-31-4.
  5. ↑ Murphy, Alan (22 March 2013). Northwest Highlands of Scotland Footprint Focus Guide: Includes Inverness, Fort William, Glen Coe & Ullapool. Bath: Footprint Travel Guides. p. 103. ISBN   978-1-909268-24-1.
  6. ↑ "The Story of Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve" (PDF). The Story of Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve. Kinlochewe: Scottish Natural Heritage (Now NatureScot). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "walkhighlands Sgurr Dubh". walkhighlands.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  8. 1 2 Sandison, Bruce (1997). Trout & Salmon Rivers and Lochs of Scotland. Ludlow: Stackpole Books. p. 208. ISBN   978-1-873674-31-4.
  9. ↑ "Hiking: Loch Clair and Loch Coulin". Open Street Maps Routes. OS Maps. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
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