Loch Muick

Loch Muick

Lock Muick from the eastern shore, looking west
Location Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Coordinates 56°55′59″N 3°10′13″W / 56.93306°N 3.17028°W / 56.93306; -3.17028Coordinates: 56°55′59″N 3°10′13″W / 56.93306°N 3.17028°W / 56.93306; -3.17028[1]
Type freshwater loch
Primary inflows Allt an Dubh loch[2]
Primary outflows River Muick
Basin countries Scotland
Max. length 2.25 mi (3.62 km)[2]
Max. width 0.33 mi (0.53 km)[2]
Surface area 218.5 ha (540 acres)[1]
Average depth 116 ft (35 m)[2]
Max. depth 256 ft (78 m)[2]
Water volume 2,771,000,000 cu ft (78,500,000 m3)
Shore length1 8.5 km (5.3 mi)[1]
Surface elevation 398 m (1,306 ft)[1]
Islands 0[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Loch Muick (/ˈmɪk/;[3]Gaelic: Allt an Dearg) is an upland, freshwater loch lying approximately 5 mi (8.0 km) south of Braemar, Scotland at the head of Glen Muick and within the boundary of the Balmoral estate. It trends in a southwest and northeast direction and is approximately 2.25 mi (3.62 km) in length. It is surrounded on both sides by steep hills. The loch is fed by many small streams, the largest being Allt an dubh Loch in the west which flows down from Dubh Loch. The outflow is the source of the River Muick.[2][4] The name of loch, glen and river is pronounced "Mick".[3]

Survey

The loch was surveyed[2] on 8 July 1905 by T.N. Johnston and L.W. Collet and later charted [5] as part of the Sir John Murray's Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909.

Flora and fauna

A wide variety of bird and animal life can be found in and around the loch including red squirrel, red deer, oyster catchers, salmon and trout.[6] Many old birch trees can be found around the edge of the loch, they are the remnants of a birch forest that once covered the area.

Glas-allt Shiel

Glas-allt Shiel, the hunting lodge originally built for Queen Victoria and completed in 1868,[7] lies at the western end of the north shore of the loch. The queen had previously used the lodge further north in the glen at Allt-na-giubhsaich but after the death of Prince Albert could no longer bear staying there, with its associations. The cottage at Glas-allt Shiel was extended and became her new retreat.[8][7] It is also known as the Widow's House or the Widow's Hut.[9][10]

Recreation

The loch is popular with walkers as it is picturesque, has a fairly flat path around its perimeter and is accessible by road. The bothy behind Glas-allt Shiel is now maintained by Dundee University Rucksack Club. [11] [12]

Fishing on the loch is restricted and not available to the public. The Ballater Angling Association has permission from the Balmoral Estate to fish and it maintains a boathouse and slip at the north end of the loch.[6]

Glas Allt Shiel
Allt Darrarie, flowing down to the River Muick just below Loch Muick, by the carpark at the start of the walk around the loch

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lock Muick". British lakes. British Lakes. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909, Lochs of the Dee (Aberdeen) Basin". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Moray - Pronunciation". Rootsweb at ancestry.com. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Muick, Loch". Gazetteer of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "Loch Muick (Vol. 5, Plate 53) - Bathymetrical Survey, 1897-1909 - National Library of Scotland". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Loch Muick". Ballater Angling Association. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  7. 1 2 Good Stuff (2010-03-12). "Loch Muick, Glas Allt Shiel With Cottage And Boat Slip - - - Scotland". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  8. ↑ "Balmoral: A Highland paradise". Country Life. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  9. ↑ "Where Victoria went in secret It is 100 years since Queen Victoria died, but her presence on Royal Deeside is as strong as ever, Graeme Smith discovers (From Herald Scotland)". Heraldscotland.com. 2001-01-22. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  10. ↑ "Caleb's List: Climbing the Scottish Mountains Visible from Arthur's Seat - Kellan MacInnes - Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
  11. ↑ "Loch Muick Circuit". Walk Highlands. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "Club bothy". Dundee University Rucksack Club. Retrieved 2 January 2015.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, February 29, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.