Loch Lurgainn

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Loch Lurgainn
Loch Lurgainn - geograph.org.uk - 2199111.jpg
Loch Lurgainn
Sutherland UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Loch Lurgainn
Location in Wester Ross
Location NC11130889
Coordinates 58°01′17″N5°10′34″W / 58.0214°N 5.1760°W / 58.0214; -5.1760
Type freshwater loch
Max. length4.8 km (3.0 mi) [1]
Max. width1.6 km (0.99 mi) [1]
Surface area322 ha (800 acres) [2]
Average depth61 ft (19 m) [1]
Max. depth155 ft (47 m) [1]
Water volume16,237,602,958 cu ft (459,797,712.0 m3) [1]
Shore length119 km (12 mi) [2]
Surface elevation56 m (184 ft) [2]
Max. temperature56.1 °F (13.4 °C)
Min. temperature50.3 °F (10.2 °C)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Loch Lurgainn is a large remote and deep freshwater loch with a crescent shape with its concave side turned to the south. [1] It is located in the Coigach peninsula [3] in Lochbroom, Wester Ross. [1] [2] Loch Lurgainn is located 8 miles north of Ullapool [4] and two miles south of Loch Sionascaig and is 3.5 miles southeast of Enard Bay. [1] The scenic qualities of Coigach, along with neighbouring Assynt, have led to the area being designated as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area , [5] one of 40 such areas in Scotland. [6] The main settlement in the area, located directly to the north-west is Achiltibuie. [3]

Contents

Geography

Loch Lurgainn is one of three lochs that extend on generally western direction [7] and drains the loch in Enard Bay. The first of these is Loch Bad na h-Achlaise, a small lochan that drains into Loch Bad a' Ghaill in turn into the large Loch Osgaig, which drains through an unnamed river into the small Garvie Bay. To the north of Loch Lurgainn is the large loch of Loch Sionascaig.

The three lochs are contained in a long valley that is bounded by a series of peaks consisting of large hills and mountains with associated ridges. At the western edge of the loch is the mountain Cùl Beag at 769 m. At the southern, flanking the loch is Sgòrr Tuath, a hill at 587.5m. Moving west along the loch at its mid-section, and to the north is the mountain of Stac Pollaidh. As you move towards the sea, there is a ridge to the south with the small peak of Meall Doire an t-Sidhein at 181m, that gets progressively shallower as you approach Enard Bay.

Fishing and walking

Loch Lurgainn at four miles long, has excellent fishing, but is infrequently fished. [7] Due to its exposed position and strong currents, a good boat with a strong engine is recommended. Wearing of a Lifejacket is recommended. [7] Trout that weigh more than 5lb's have been landed. [7] The best flies are Black Pennel, Greenwells Glory and Dunkeld. [7]

Loch Lurgain has a large number of well established walks of different grades. [8]

Related Research Articles

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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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coigach</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Coigach is a peninsula north of Ullapool, in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The area consists of a traditional crofting and fishing community of a couple of hundred houses located between mountain and shore on a peninsula looking over the Summer Isles and the sea. The main settlement is Achiltibuie. Like its northerly neighbour, Assynt in Sutherland, Coigach has mountains which rise sharply from quiet, lochan-studded moorland, and a highly indented rocky coast with many islands, bays and headlands. The highest summit is Ben Mor Coigach at 743 metres; the distinctive profile of Stac Pollaidh is the other main peak within Coigach. The scenic qualities of Coigach, along with neighbouring Assynt, have led to the area being designated as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conival</span>

Conival is a Scottish mountain situated in Assynt in the Sutherland area of the Highland Council Area, thirty kilometres north-northeast of Ullapool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meall a' Chrasgaidh</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Mor Coigach</span>

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Kirkaig</span>

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.

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

Loch Leitir Easaidh is a small shallow irregular shaped freshwater lochan that flows directly into the northwestern end of Loch Assynt in Assynt, Sutherland, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Awe, Inchnadamph</span> Freshwater loch

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Beannach, Assynt</span> Freshwater loch

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.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Cròcach, Lochinver</span> Loch 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch an Tuirc</span> Loch in Scotland

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fionn Loch (Suilven)</span> Freshwater loch

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch a' Mhadail</span> Freshwater loch in NC

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.

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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.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Bad a' Ghaill</span> Freshwater loch

Loch Bad a' Ghaill is a small remote and deep freshwater loch that is located 10 miles north of Ullapool and immediately north west of Loch Lurgainn. It is located in the Coigach peninsula in Lochbroom, Wester Ross. The scenic qualities of Coigach, along with neighbouring Assynt, have led to the area being designated as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland. The main settlement in the area, located directly to the north-west is Achiltibuie.

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

Loch Osgaig is a small remote and deep freshwater loch, orientated on north-west to south-east axis, that is located 1 miles south of Enard Bay and 2 mile northeast of Achiltibuie and immediately north west of Loch Bad a' Ghaill. It is located in the Coigach peninsula in Lochbroom, Wester Ross.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Polly Basin Volume II – Loch Lurgainn. p. 172. Retrieved 15 November 2022.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Loch Sionascaig". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 Andrews, Robert (2004). The Rough Guide to Britain. Rough Guides. p. 1240. ISBN   978-1-84353-301-6.
  4. Gittings, Bruce; Munro, David. "Lurgainn". The Gazetteer for Scotland. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  5. "Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. "National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Sandison, Bruce (1997). Trout & Salmon Rivers and Lochs of Scotland. Ludlow: Stackpole Books. p. 168. ISBN   978-1-873674-31-4.
  8. "Loch Lurgainn to Badrallach". Walkhighlands. Walkhighlands 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.