Lakes and Lochs

Viewed from the Loch Affric Circuit Walk on northern side of the loch. Glen Affric (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Afraig) is a glen south-west of the village of Cannich in the Highland region of Scotland, some 15 miles (24 km) to the west of Loch Ness. The River Affric runs along its length, passing through Loch Affric and Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin (Loch Benevean). Loch Affric lies at an elevation of 235 m (771 ft) ASL, is 5 km (3.1 mi) long with a maximum depth of 67 m (221 ft). The area is a Caledonian Forest Reserve, a National Scenic Area and a National Nature Reserve. Often described as the most beautiful glen in Scotland, it contains one of the largest ancient Caledonian pinewoods in Scotland as well as lochs, moorland and mountains.

Viewed from the Loch Affric Circuit Walk on northern side of the loch. Glen Affric (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Afraig) is a glen south-west of the village of Cannich in the Highland region of Scotland, some 15 miles (24 km) to the west of Loch Ness. The River Affric runs along its length, passing through Loch Affric and Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin (Loch Benevean). Loch Affric lies at an elevation of 235 m (771 ft) ASL, is 5 km (3.1 mi) long with a maximum depth of 67 m (221 ft). The area is a Caledonian Forest Reserve, a National Scenic Area and a National Nature Reserve. Often described as the most beautiful glen in Scotland, it contains one of the largest ancient Caledonian pinewoods in Scotland as well as lochs, moorland and mountains.

Loch Loyne is a loch in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland, it lies between Glen Garry and Glen Cluanie. The A87 road runs beside the eastern side of the loch. The first proper road across the Loyne was begun in 1821 by the engineer Thomas Telford as part of the later stage of military road building. The road connected Tomdoun and Inchlaggan near the River Garry with the road and inn at Loch Cluanie to the north. The road ran across the Loyne over a stone arch bridge. Much of the original road survives either side of the loch, although the bridge across the river along with a segment of the road was flooded with the building of the dam. Occasionally the bridge has been visible when water levels are low in the loch. The remains of the original Telford 'Road to the Isles' Prior to the 1950s, the loch was originally much smaller being fed only by the naturally occurring River Loyne. However, as part of a wider Hydroelectric scheme, a dam was constructed in 1956 and completed in 1957 that increased the water level and flooded the original road built by Thomas Telford. A newer road, the current A87 was built higher up. The loch is visible to traffic on the road above. Water proceeds north from the dam via a tunnel into Loch Cluanie.

Loch Bracadale (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Bhràcadail) is a sea loch on the west coast of Skye in Scotland. Loch Bracadale and its associated inner lochs - Harport, Vatten, Caroy, Bharcasaig, na Faolinn and Loch Beag - form one of the largest areas of semi-enclosed inshore waters around the Skye coast. The shallow waters are exploited for fish and mussel farms as well as scallop diving. The loch contains Harlosh Island, Tarner Island (centre of picture), Wiay and the tidal island of Oronsay off Ullinish point.

Honnister Pass and Fleetwith Pike over Buttermere Buttermere is a lake in the English Lake District in North West England. The adjacent village of Buttermere takes its name from the lake. The lake is 1.25 miles (2,010 m) by .25 miles (400 m) wide, and is 75 feet (23 m) deep.[1] It has an elevation above sea level of 329 feet (100 m). A place of considerable scenic value, it is situated towards the head of the valley of the River Cocker and is surrounded by fells, notably the High Stile range to the south west, Robinson to the north east, Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks to the south east and Grasmoor to the north west. There are two possible origins for the name "Buttermere": One, that Buttermere means "the lake by the dairy pastures" (from the Old English "butere mere"). Whaley suggests this as the correct interpretation: " 'butter lake, the lake with good pasture-land', from OE 'butere' 'butter', conveying the fertile nature of the flat alluvial land at both ends of the lake, plus 'mere' 'lake',..." Two, that it is the corrupt form of a personal name. Robert Ferguson asserts in his 1866 work, "The Northmen in Cumberland and Westmoreland" that Buttermere derives from the Old Norse personal name "Buthar", as in "Buthar's mere" (lake). This accords with local tradition, which says that the valley of Buttermere was part of the holdings of an 11th-century Norse chieftain called "Buthar" (sometimes spelt "Boethar"). Fleetwith Pike reaches a height of 648 metres (2,126 feet). The fell is a well-known feature of the area as it casts an imposing presence over Buttermere and the Honister Pass on the B5289 road between Borrowdale and Buttermere. Honister Pass (below) reaches an altitude of 356 metres (1167 feet) The B5289 road runs through the pass, with gradients of up to 25%, linking Seatoller, in the valley of Borrowdale, to Gatesgarth at the southern end of Buttermere.

Wasdale is a valley and civil parish in the western part of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. The River Irt flows through the valley to its estuary at Ravenglass. A large part of the main valley floor is occupied by Wastwater, the deepest lake in England (258 feet, 78 mtr). The pictue shows part of the Wasdale Screes, an area of unstable, loose boulders on the east bank of Wast Water, underneath Illgill Head and Whin Rigg.

Derwentwater (or Derwent Water) is one of the principal bodies of water in the Lake District National Park in north west England. It lies wholly within the Borough of Allerdale, in the county of Cumbria. The lake occupies part of Borrowdale and lies immediately south of the town of Keswick. It is both fed and drained by the River Derwent. It measures approximately is 4.8 km long by 1.6 km wide and is some 22 m deep. There are several islands within the lake, one of which is inhabited.

Ennnerdale Water, Lake District, Cumbria, England Thank you all so much for your visits, kind comments and good wishes, they are very much appreciated. Doug

Kinloch Hourn is a small settlement at the end of Loch Hourn, in the West Highlands of Scotland. The name comes from the Gaelic, Ceann Loch Shubhairne, for "the head of Loch Hourn". Kinloch Hourn is at the end of 35 km (22 miles) of single-track road, which runs west from a junction with the A87 beside Loch Garry. From Kinloch Hourn, a path continues along the south side of the loch to Barrisdale. This stunning walk follows the old footpath along the southern shores of Loch Hourn from the head of the loch to Barrisdale Bay. Loch Hourn is perhaps the most beautiful of Scotland's west coast sea lochs and the walk is simply stunning throughout.

Wast Water or Wastwater is a lake located in Wasdale, a valley in the western part of the Lake District National Park, England. The lake is almost 3 miles (4.8 km) long and more than one-third mile (540 m) wide. It is a glacial lake, formed in a glacially 'over-deepened' valley. It is the deepest lake in England at 258 feet (79 m). The surface of the lake is about 200 feet above sea level, while its bottom is over 50 feet below sea level.

Plus 2 x PiPs The view from the southeast towards the Red Cuillin mountains including Glamaig with its two summits; Sgurr Mhairi (775m) on the left and An Coiliech (389m) on the right. Taken from the shore of Caolas Scalpay with the island of Scalpay on the right.

Loch Cluanie (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Cluanaidh) is a loch in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland at the south-east end of Glen Shiel. It is a reservoir, contained behind the Cluanie Dam, constructed by Mitchell Construction and completed in 1957 as part of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's Glenmoriston project to generate hydroelectricity. Water feeds the dam from the west via two flows, from a tunnel from the dammed Loch Loyne (below) and via the River Moriston. (Photo taken by the A87 road on the way to the Isle of Skye. It was a short stop, as can be seen the rain was not too far away!) Loch Lyone

Perhaps better enlarged Wasdale Head is a scattered agricultural hamlet in the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. Wasdale Head claims to be home of the highest mountain (Scafell Pike), deepest lake (Wastwater), smallest church in England. it is located at the head of the valley of Wasdale, and is surrounded by some of England's highest mountains: Scafell Pike, Sca Fell, Great Gable, Kirk Fell and Pillar.

Perhaps better enlarged Loch Etive (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Eite) is a 30 km sea loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It reaches the sea at Connel, 5 km north of Oban. It measures 31.6 km (19 3⁄4 miles) long and from 1.2 km ( 3⁄4 mile) to 1.6 km (1 mi) wide. Its depth varies greatly, up to a maximum of 150 m (490 ft). The River Etive drains into Loch Etive from its source near Kingshouse on Glencoe, Rannoch Moor. A small, single track road runs alongside the river for its 18km course to the loch – this road is widely regarded as one of the most picturesque roads in all of Scotland. The loch water is coloured by the presence of peat in the water of the River Etive, which enters the loch at this point, mixing with the seawater. From 1847 a steamer service from Oban carried passengers to the now derelict pier (just visible at centre of picture) at the north end of the loch, linking to a carriage service that took tourists up Glen Etive to see Glen Coe. A later structure, located near the original jetty, can be used for the transportation of timber by sea in the form of logs harvested from the forestry on the hills in Glen Etive. The name Etive is believed to mean "little ugly one" from the Gaelic goddess associated with the loch. It heads east for half its length alongside the main road and rail link to Oban, before heading northeast into mountainous terrain seen here. The narrow mouth of the loch results in its most unusual feature, the Falls of Lora. Part of the north bank has been designated a Special Area of Conservation in particular due to old sessile oak woods. Surprisingly, a small colony of around 20 common seals is resident in Loch Etive.

Perhaps better enlarged

Bassenthwaite Lake is one of the largest water bodies in the English Lake District. It is long and narrow, approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) long and 3⁄4-mile (1.2 km) wide, but is also extremely shallow, with a maximum depth of about 70 ft (21 m). It is the only body of water in the Lake District to use the word "lake" in its name, all the others being "waters" (for example, Derwentwater), "meres" (for example, Windermere) or "tarns" (for example, Dock Tarn). It is fed by, and drains into, the River Derwent. The lake lies at the foot of Skiddaw, near the town of Keswick. The view is to the northwest with the Solway Firth and Scotland on the horizon. Perhaps better enlarged