Loch of Skene explained

Loch of Skene
Other Name:Loch Skene
Pushpin Map:Scotland Aberdeenshire
Coords:57.1575°N -2.3569°W[1]
Inflow:Corskie Burn[2]
Outflow:Leuchar Burn[3]
Basin Countries:Scotland
Length:1miles[4]
Width:0.66miles
Area:144.4ha
Depth:6feet
Max-Depth:6feet
Volume:60000000ft3
Shore:4.4km (02.7miles)
Elevation:85m (279feet)
Islands:3

Loch of Skene is a large lowland, freshwater loch in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It lies approximately 1miles to the west of the village of Kirkton of Skene and 9miles west of Aberdeen.[5]

The loch is partially man-made, being dammed at its outflow on the southern shore to form a reservoir. Before 1905, water from the loch was used in the making of tweed and to turn the mill wheel at the Garlogie Mills. When the mills closed in 1905 the water was used to generate electricity.[3] [6] The loch is about 6 foot deep at its deepest.

Flora and fauna

The loch is designated as a Special Protection Area, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Ramsar site for wildlife conservation purposes.[7] [8]

The loch supports concentrations of wildfowl in autumn and winter in particular greylag geese, goldeneye ducks and pink-footed geese. Common gulls are also found on the loch. Reedbed and a birch and willow carr fringe the loch perimeter.

Pike are found in the loch and a permit is required for fishing.[6]

Recreation

The Aberdeen and Stonehaven Yacht Club is based at the loch. [9]

Survey

The loch was surveyed[4] on 17 July 1905 by T.N. Johnston and L.W. Collett and later charted [10] as part of the Sir John Murray's Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Loch of Skene. . British lakes . British Lakes. 2 January 2015.
  2. Web site: Dee catchment, NE Scotland. REFRESH. 3 January 2015.
  3. Web site: Garlogie Mill, Garlogie Dam. Canmore. 3 January 2015.
  4. Web site: Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909, Lochs of the Dee (Aberdeen) Basin. . 2 January 2015.
  5. Web site: Skene, Loch of. Gazetteer for Scotland. 3 January 2015.
  6. Web site: Domesday Reloaded. BBC. 1986 . 3 January 2015.
  7. Web site: Special Protection Area designation. JNCC. 2007-05-05. 5 February 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070205073420/http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1911-theme=default. dead.
  8. Web site: Citation - Loch of Skene Site of Special Scientific Interest. Registrars of Scotland. 2007-05-05.
  9. Web site: ASYC Location . 2007-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929224957/http://www.asyc.org.uk/LOCATION/location.htm . 29 September 2007 . dead .
  10. Web site: Loch of Skene; Loch Callater; Loch of Aboyne (Vol. 5, Plate 52) - Bathymetrical Survey, 1897-1909 - National Library of Scotland. National Library of Scotland. 3 January 2015.