Loch Mhic' Ille Riabhaich

Loch Mhic' Ille Riabhaich
Loch Mhic' Ille Riabhaich from Carn Bad na h-Achlaise With a glimpse of Fionn Loch in the distance and its surrounding heights.
Loch Mhic' Ille Riabhaich Location in Wester Ross
Location	NG90568440
Coordinates	57°48′01″N5°31′33″W / 57.8004°N 5.5259°W / 57.8004; -5.5259
Type	freshwater loch
Basin  countries	Scotland
Max. length	0.74 km (0.46 mi) [1]
Max. width	0.56 km (0.35 mi) [1]
Surface area	14 ha (35 acres) [2]
Average depth	10 ft (3.0 m) [1]
Max. depth	17.7 ft (5.4 m) [1]
Water volume	27,670,524.6 cu ft (783,542.00 m3) [1]
Shore length1	3 km (1.9 mi) [2]
Surface elevation	157 m (515 ft) [2]
Max. temperature	57.0 °F (13.9 °C) [1]
Islands	2
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Loch Mhic' Ille Riabhaich (also known as Loch Mhic 'ille Rhiabhaich) (Loch of the Son of the Brindled Lad) is a small irregular shaped shallow freshwater loch that lies south-east of Loch a' Bhaid-luachraich and is located directly south of Aultbea in Wester Ross. ^{[2] [1]}

Features

Loch Mhic' Ille Riabhaic has two small islands. The north-east island is a former Crannog that was built between 550 BC to 560 AD during the Iron Age. ^[3] The renowned warrior Mac Gille Riabhaich would take refuge there in times of war. ^[4] Close to the north end of the loch is a small cave known as Uamh Mhic 'ille Rhiabhaich (Cave of Mac Gille Riabhaich). ^[5]

Geography

Loch Mhic' Ille Riabhaich is surrounded by low peatland covered plain that is filled with small round hillocks and lochans and lochs. Loch Mhic' Ille Riabhaich drains into Loch a' Bhaid-luachraich along the Uidh Mhic 'Ille Riabhaich stream that in turn drains into Loch Ewe. Directly north is Loch Fada, directly south-east is Fionn Loch. To the south is Loch Kernsary. To the west is Loch a' Bhaid-luachraich.

Gallery

• 
  Loch Mhic'ille Riabhaich. Looking South-East across the loch. This one drains into Loch a' Bhaid-luachraich.
• 
  Small islet on Loch Mhic'ille Riabhaich One of the islands on the loch is supposed to be a crannog. Supposedly a refuge of Mac Gille Riabaich a notorious freebooter and renowned warrior.

References

1. John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Ewe Basin Volume II – Loch Mhic' Ille Riabhaich. p. 229. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
2. "Loch Mhicille Riabhaich". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Retrieved 29 March 2025.
3. "MHG7768 - Crannog, Loch Mhic'Ille Riabhaich". Highland Historic Environment Record. The Highland Council. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
4. Dixon, John Henry (1886). Gairloch in North-west Ross-shire Its Records, Traditions, Inhabitants, and Natural History, with a Guide to Gairloch and Loch Maree. Edinburgh: Cooperative Printing Company. p. 27. ISBN   9780598936837.
5. "Mhic 'ille Rhiabhaich (Uamh)". Scottish Cave and Mine Database. Grampian Speleological Group. Archived from the original on 29 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.