Loch Katrine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Loch Katrine | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | Stirling, Scotland |
| Coordinates | |
| Lake type | freshwater loch, reservoir |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Max. length | 13 km |
| Max. width | 1 km |
Loch Katrine (Scottish Gaelic Loch Ceiterein pronounced [lˠ̪ɔx kʲeʰd̊ʲəɾʲɛɲ]) is a freshwater loch in the district of Stirling, Scotland. It is roughly 13 kilometres long by 1 kilometre wide and runs the length of Strath Gartney (Gaelic: Srath Ghartain). It is a popular destination for tourists and day visitors from Glasgow and other nearby towns.
Contents |
[edit] Settlements
The main access points for Loch Katrine are either via Trossachs Pier at the loch's eastern end or Stronachlachar (Gaelic Sròn a' Chlachair "the headland of the stonemason") towards the western end of the loch. Trossachs Pier essentially consists of a parking space, pier, gift shop and restaurant (the Anchor's Rest) which are open from the first to the last sailing of the cruise boats.
On the northern shore are the Brenchoile hunting lodge and the farms Letter (Gaelic: Leitir), Edra (Gaelic: Eatarra "between them"), Strone (Gaelic: An t-Sròn "the nose"), Coilachra, Portnellan (Gaelic: Port an Eilein "port of the island") and Glengyle (Gaelic: Gleann Goill "glen of a lowlander"), on the southern are The Dhu (Gaelic: An Dubh "the black") at the western end of the loch, Stronachlachar, the Royal Cottage, Culligart and Glasahoile (Gaelic: Glas-choille "greywood").
The roads and paths do not circle the loch completely, as the southern road stops at Glasahoile.
[edit] Islands
There are several small islands in Loch Katrine such as Ellen's Isle (Gaelic: An t-Eilean Molach "the shingly isle"), the Black Isle and Factor's Island (Gaelic: Eilean a' Bhàillidh).
[edit] History
Loch Katrine is owned by Scottish Water and is the primary water reservoir for much of the city of Glasgow and its surrounding areas. It is supplied to Milngavie water treatment works via a 26 mile long aqueduct, and can deliver up to 50,000,000 gallons a day. Construction was started in 1855 and the works was opened by Queen Victoria in 1859. The aqueduct project was built under the guidance of James Watt and Thomas Telford, an example of their engineering prowess that can still be seen working today.
Oil-fired vessels are not permitted to sail its waters due to the danger of pollution to the drinking water of Glasgow. Instead a wood-burning, steam-powered boat named the SS Sir Walter Scott, currently being refurbished to enable it to run on biofuel, offers local tourist transport between Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar during summer. Robert Roy MacGregor was born at the head of the loch.
[edit] Other information
Fly and boat fishing for trout is permitted on the loch from spring to autumn.
The lake of Sir Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake is Loch Katrine.
Loch Katrine is also the name of a lake in North Canterbury, New Zealand.
[edit] References
Newton, M. Bho Chluaidh gu Calasraid Acair 1999 ISBN 0-86152 265 6 2008 Loch Katrine tourist brochure produced by the Scottish Tourist Board
 This Stirling location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
