Loch of Skaill explained

Loch of Skaill
Other Name:Skaill loch
Pushpin Map:Scotland Orkney
Coords:59.0432°N -3.3232°W[1]
Outflow:small burn on north west shore
Basin Countries:Scotland
Length:1miles
Width:0.5miles
Area:60.9ha
Depth:2feet
Max-Depth:4feet
Volume:14000000ft3
Elevation:7m (23feet)

The Loch of Skaill is a small somewhat triangular, freshwater loch in the parish of Sandwick, Orkney on Mainland Orkney, Scotland. It lies 0.5miles south east of the Bay of Skaill close to Skaill House and the World Heritage neolithic site Skara Brae.[2]

The loch is popular for trout fishing and is reserved for use by members of The Orkney Trout Fishing Association only.[3] The average size of the trout caught in the loch is 2lb.

The loch was surveyed in 1906 by James Murray[4] and later charted[5] as part of The Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897–1909.[6] A small burn at the north western shore drains the loch in to the Bay of Skaill and was noted in the Survey that it was used as a mill stream.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Loch of Skaill. . British Lakes. 2013-10-05.
  2. Web site: World Heritage List - Heart of Neolithic Orkney. . World Heritage Convention, UNESCO. 2013-08-04.
  3. Web site: Lochs of Orkney. The Orkney Trout Fishing Association. Orkney Trout Fishing Association. 2013-10-05.
  4. Web site: Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909, Lochs of Orkney. . National Library of Scotland. 2013-10-05.
  5. Web site: Muckle & Peerie Waters; Loch of Skaill; Hoglinns Water (Vol. 6, Plate 94) - Bathymetrical Survey, 1897-1909 - National Library of Scotland . maps.nls.uk . 2013-10-05.
  6. Book: Murray. John. John Murray (oceanographer). Pullar. Laurence. Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland during the years 1897 to 1909: report on scientific results. 2013-10-05. 1910 . Edinburgh .