Loch Eck | |
---|---|
Location | Argyll and Bute, Scotland. |
Coordinates | 56°04′46″N4°59′40″W / 56.079508°N 4.9944191°W National grid reference NS 13753 91453 |
Type | Freshwater Loch and Reservoir. |
Native name | Loch Eich (Scottish Gaelic) |
Primary inflows | River Cur |
Primary outflows | River Eachaig |
Catchment area | 139.9 km2 (54.0 sq mi) [1] |
Basin countries | Scotland, United Kingdom. |
Designation | Site of Special Scientific Interest |
Surface area | 4,259,000 m2 (45,840,000 sq ft) |
Max. depth | 43 m (141 ft) |
Water volume | 67,400,000 m3 (2.38×109 cu ft) |
Surface elevation | 24 m (79 ft) |
References | [2] |
Loch Eck (Gaelic: Loch Eich) is a freshwater loch located on the Cowal peninsula, north of Dunoon, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is seven miles (11 kilometres) long. It is oriented in a north-south direction. Its main inflow, at the northern end, is the River Cur, and its main outflow, at the southern end, is the River Eachaig, which meanders somewhat within the confines of the broad strath before flowing into the head of Holy Loch, about 5 km further south.
Along with Loch Lomond, it is the only naturally occurring habitat of the powan (fish), [3] [4] although it is closely related to the gwyniad and other similar fish. The loch also has salmon, sea trout, brown trout and arctic char. [5]
Loch Eck is within the Argyll Forest Park, which is itself part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. [6] [7] It is close to the Benmore Botanic Garden and the Benmore Outdoor Centre, which uses the loch and its surrounding for outdoor learning. [8]
The A815 road bounds the east side. [9] A pathway runs along the west side of the loch, and gives access to the Paper Caves, set in the steep hillside with caving access to a platform set above a steep scarp within the cave. [10] A legend holds that the Argyll family documents were hidden in the caves when the 9th Earl of Argyll was arrested, to prevent his lands from being made forfeit. [8]
The loch is also an impounding reservoir with a water treatment works, that were upgraded in 2012 by Scottish Water, which supplies the freshwater to much of the southeast of Cowal, including Dunoon. [11]
In July 2013, two dogs died due to algal bloom present in the loch. Warnings were then posted advising that people and animals should avoid contact with the water. [12] [13] Recently there have been three further incidents, one in June 2019 and two in July 2021. [14]
The actress Emma Thompson owns a house on the shore of the loch. [15]
Argyll and Bute is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area. The current lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute is Jane Margaret MacLeod. The administrative centre for the council area is in Lochgilphead at Kilmory Castle, a 19th-century Gothic Revival building and estate. The current council leader is Robin Currie, a councillor for Kintyre and the Islands.
Lochgoilhead is a village on the Cowal peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. It is located within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful areas in Argyll and in Scotland as a whole.
Dunoon is the main town on the Cowal peninsula in the south of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located on the western shore of the upper Firth of Clyde, to the south of the Holy Loch and to the north of Innellan. As well as forming part of the council area of Argyll and Bute, Dunoon also has its own community council. Dunoon was a burgh until 1976.
Cowal is a rugged peninsula in Argyll and Bute, on the west coast of Scotland. It is bounded on the west by Loch Fyne and on the east by Loch Long and the Firth of Clyde. The Kyles of Bute separate it from Bute to the south.
Loch Long is a body of water in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The Sea Loch extends from the Firth of Clyde at its southwestern end. It measures approximately 20 miles in length, with a width of between one and two miles. The loch also has an arm, Loch Goil, on its western side.
Kilmun is a linear settlement on the north shore of the Holy Loch, on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands.It takes its name from the 7th century monastic community founded by an Irish monk, St Munn. The ruin of a 12th-century church still stands beside the Kilmun Parish Church and Argyll Mausoleum.
Benmore Botanic Garden is a large botanical garden situated in Strath Eachaig at the foot of Beinn Mhòr, on the Cowal peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The gardens are on the west side of the A815 road from Dunoon, between the Holy Loch and Loch Eck, and include footbridges across the River Eachaig. It is one of the sites of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Ardentinny is a small village on the western shore of Loch Long, 14 miles (23 km) north of Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands.
Glen Croe is a glen in the heart of the Arrochar Alps on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The glen is surrounded by large and rugged mountains characterised by huge boulders. The glen is within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
Whistlefield is a hamlet on the east shore of Loch Eck on the Cowal peninsula, Argyll and Bute, West of Scotland. It is home to the Category C listed building, the Whistlefield Inn, which was established around 1801–1804. The hamlet is within the Argyll Forest Park, which is itself part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
Strachur and Strathlachlan are united parishes located on the Cowal peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Strachur is a small village on the eastern coast of Loch Fyne.
The A815 is a major road located in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It runs for about 37 miles (60 km) from the A83, near Cairndow, in the north to Toward in the south. It passes beside three lochs, while its final stretch is along the Firth of Clyde.
Beinn Mhòr is the highest mountain on the Cowal Peninsula west of Loch Eck in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It has a high topographic prominence to height ratio and consequently commands a good all round view.
Argyll Forest Park is a forest park located on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. Established in 1935, it was the first forest park to be created in the United Kingdom. The park is managed by Forestry and Land Scotland, and covers 211 km2 in total.
Loch Restil is a freshwater loch that lies in the pass between Glen Croe and Glen Kinglas on the Cowal peninsula, Argyll and Bute, West of Scotland. One of the main roads to the west of Scotland coast, the A83, passes Loch Restil. The burn that flows from Loch Restil is one of the feeds of Kinglas Water, in Glen Kinglas, which flows under the Butter Bridge.
Coylet is a hamlet on Loch Eck, Cowal peninsula, Argyll and Bute, in West Scotland.
Rashfield; is a hamlet on the Cowal peninsula, situated between Loch Eck and the head of Holy Loch, in Argyll and Bute, West of Scotland. The hamlet is on the A815 road and the River Eachaig flows pass from Loch Eck to the Holy Loch. Rashfield is within the Argyll Forest Park which is itself within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
The River Eachaig is a river on the Cowal peninsula, Argyll and Bute, in western Scotland.
Puck's Glen is a river-formed ravine on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, with a popular scenic walking trail beside the Eas Mòr stream. In 2020 the glen and adjoining trails were closed temporarily due to COVID-19 restrictions, issues of stability of the gorge, and felling of trees infected by larch disease.
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