Loch Ericht

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Loch Etricht from Beinn Bheòil

Loch Ericht is a freshwater loch of the Highlands, lying across the border between Perthshire and Inverness-shire. It is 1,152 feet above sea level and has a north-east to south-west orientation.

The name of the lake is from the Gaelic language, in which it is known as Loch Eireachd.

The village of Dalwhinnie sits at the north-east end of the loch. The loch stretches 14½ miles in length from here and has a surface area of approximately seven square miles.[1] Loch Ericht is the tenth largest freshwater loch in the Highlands and has a good reputation for its trout fishing.[2]

The loch is part of a hydro-electric scheme and is dammed at both ends. Water flows into the northern end via the Cuaich Aqueduct. The southern end is linked to a hydro-electric power station at Loch Rannoch by the four-mile long River Ericht. The northern dam protects the village of Dalwhinnie from flooding.

Mountains

Loch Ericht is surrounded by a number of Munros, including Ben Alder (3,766 feet) and Geal-Chàrn (3,714 feet). Traditional hunting areas border the loch. These are called forests; the chief of which is Ben Alder Forest.

References