Loch Ore
| Loch Ore | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Fife, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 56°08′45″N 3°20′52″W / 56.1458°N 3.3478°WCoordinates: 56°08′45″N 3°20′52″W / 56.1458°N 3.3478°W |
| Type | freshwater loch |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Surface area | 260 acres (110 ha) |
Loch Ore is a loch situated in Fife, Scotland. It forms the core of Lochore Meadows Country Park. It is used mainly for leisure purposes, especially yachting, although the uneven depth can make the likes of speed boating problematic.
The original loch was drained in the 1790s when the landowner, Captain Park, attempted to improve the estate and extend cultivation. The project was not a success and the land formerly occupied by the loch remained boggy and difficult to exploit commercially. The loch gradually returned in the mid 20th century, during the period when Lochore Meadows was a coal mine, and the mineral railway serving the pithead became an embankment surrounded by water. The return of the loch was due to subsidence caused by mining, and the 'new' loch occupies a different site to the original one. The loch is now stabilised but its depth still fluctuates. The islands in the loch are the remains of the former railway embankment.
The loch holds the annual Scottish Open Water Championships where the swimmers compete in a 5 km, 2 km and 4×1 km relay swim.