Loch Kirkaig

Loch Kirkaig
Loch Kirkaig
	Looking down the length of Loch Kirkaig with the tiny twin islets of Sgeir Mhòr visible in the distance.
	Loch Kirkaig
Location	Sutherland, Scotland
Coordinates	58°07′35″N5°17′21″W / 58.126347°N 5.289161°W Coordinates: 58°07′35″N5°17′21″W / 58.126347°N 5.289161°W
River sources	River Kirkaig
Ocean/sea sources	Atlantic Ocean
Basin countries	Scotland
Max. length	2.15 km (1.34 mi)
Max. width	1.95 km (1.21 mi)
Average depth	20 metres (66 ft)
Settlements	Inverkirkaig

Last updated April 20, 2019

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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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.

Sutherland is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area in the Highlands of Scotland. Its county town is Dornoch. Sutherland borders Caithness to the east, Ross-shire 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 the whole of 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.

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Sharing a border with England to the southeast, Scotland is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, by the North Sea to the northeast and by the Irish Sea to the south. In addition to the mainland, situated on the northern third of the island of Great Britain, Scotland has over 790 islands, including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.

Settlements

Inverkirkaig lies at the head of the sea loch, surrounding a small sand and pebble beach. The principal settlement in the area is the village of Lochinver in Assynt, which is located 2 km northwest of the beach, along the unnamed coast road.

Lochinver is a village 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.

Geography

Loch Kirkaig is bounded by Kirkaig point in the north, and Ribha na Brèige point.

Loch Kirkaig is fed by the River Kirkaig, which drains the lochs of Fionn Loch, Loch Veyatie, Cam Loch Loch á Chapuil, and indirectly Loch nan Ràc, Loch Borralan and Loch Urigill. Travelling in a southeasterly direction along the River Kirkaig through a wooded glen, is the natural wonder and tourist attraction, the 20m Falls of Kirkaig.^[4]

Loch Veyatie is a large body of water in north-west Scotland. It stretches for 6 km north-westwards from the settlement of Elphin, and lies between Suilven and Cùl Mòr. It reaches depths of around 30 m.

Cam Loch is one of a number of water supply sources for the Crinan Canal. The impounding reservoir lies to the south of the canal and about 3 kilometres west of Lochgilphead. It has an earthwork dam 8.5 metres high, with records showing that construction was before 1860.

Falls of Kirkaig is a waterfall of Scotland.

The small island of Sgeir Mhòr is located close to the southern coast of the bay.

Gallery

Paddling up Loch Kirkaig Returning to Inverkirkaig in two double sea kayaks, passing close along the north shore of Loch Kirkaig. Suilven lies inland brooding under an overcast sky just starting to clear after a windy morning
River Kirkaig where the river flows out of Fionn Loch with the imposing peak and most distinctive mountain of Suilven at 731 m, visible in the distance. It can't be seen from the bay, due to undergrowth and small undulating hills.
River Kirkaig. For a short distance after it leaves Fionn Loch the river meanders before garthering speed and tumbling down the Falls of Kirkaig. Caisteal Laith the highest summit of Suilven dominates the scene.
Inverkirkaig On the shore of Loch Kirkaig with pebbly beach.
The start of the River Kirkaig The outflow from Fionn Loch where the River Kirkaig commences. Suilven can be seen in the distance.
Fionn Loch and Suilven. The path by the River Kirkaig leads to the shore of the Fionn Loch, where boats wait for anglers. The distinctive bulk of Suilven dominates the view.
Soyea Island off Loch Inver is seen here in a view from a sea kayak passing Kirkaig Point.

Suilven is one of the most distinctive mountains in Scotland. Lying in a remote area in the west of Sutherland, it rises almost vertically from a wilderness landscape of moorland, bogs, and lochans known as Inverpolly National Nature Reserve.

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References

↑ Microsoft; Nokia (22 November 2017). "Enard Bay" (Map). Bing Maps . Microsoft. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
↑ "Kirkaig, Loch". The Editors of The Gazetteer for Scotland. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
↑ "Inverkirkaig". Undiscovered Scotland. Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
↑ "Kirkaig Falls". Discover Assynt. Assynt Tourism Group. Retrieved 23 November 2017.

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[1] Microsoft; Nokia (22 November 2017). "Enard Bay" (Map). Bing Maps . Microsoft. Retrieved 22 November 2017.

[2] "Kirkaig, Loch". The Editors of The Gazetteer for Scotland. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2017.

[3] "Inverkirkaig". Undiscovered Scotland. Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 6 January 2018.

[4] "Kirkaig Falls". Discover Assynt. Assynt Tourism Group. Retrieved 23 November 2017.