Loch Badanloch
Loch Badanloch is a freshwater loch in Sutherland, forming essentially one water with Loch Nan Clar upstream and Loch Rimsdale upstream of that. At the foot of the loch stands a hamlet named Bandanloch Lodge, while another hamlet, Gearnsary, is nearby to the north of the loch.
The loch is used as both a reservoir and as a salmon fishery.
Loch Badanloch is a mile and a half across and is directly adjacent to the Loch Nan Clar with Rhuba Mor island separating them. The River Helmsdale issues from the foot of the loch on its way toward the sea. (The first lochan on its course below Loch Badanloch is Loch Achnamoine.)
Landscape
A number of burns enter the loch, including @from Loch Nan Clar as well as the River Uidh a' chlarain, which brings in water from the nearby Loch na Gaineime. Many small streams flow into Loch Badanloch such as the Badanloch Burn, Allt na Meinne, Allt a' Mhuillin, Caochan Ruadh, Allt nam Meann and many others, some of which come from Loch Nan Clar.
Many named peaks disrupt the horizon, some of which qualify as mountains. On the coasts of the loch includes Cnoc Uidh a Chlarain and Bandanloch Hill in Badanloch Forest, the source of the Badanloch Burn. Meall an t-Socaich is the tallest peak nearby and the slightly taller Creag an t-Socaich sits by the banks of Loch na Gaineime. The nearest mountain is Creag an Alltan Fhearna and just south is the trio of Creag Liath, Creag an Lochain and the tallest one, Cnoc an Liath-bhaid Mhoir.
A railway line and the B871 road pass by, as well as a small collection of rural tracks round the south of the loch. Smaller paths link the main one to the banks of Lochan an Alltan Fhearna.
Tourism
This loch and the neighbouring Loch Rimsdale and Loch Nan Clar are tourist destinations. Loch Bandanloch has two nearby lodges, the Sheppard's Cottage and the Garvault.[1] Fishing and hiking compete with other lochs. Trout is the most common catch, while salmon can be found both there and in the River Helmsdale.[2][3] Many hiking trains are there.
Archaeology
Flint implements were found on a "neck of sand" in one area of the loch shore that was reclaimed by the water. It was located between the current shore and Rubha Mor, linking them.[4][5]
Locatiuon
- Location map: 58°16’40"N, 4°5’15"W
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Loch Badanloch) |
- Kinbrace railway station: Scotrail
References
- ↑ House, Garvault. "GET AWAY FROM IT ALL…." (in en-GB). https://garvaulthouse.uk/fishing.
- ↑ "Trout Fishing | Badanloch Estates". http://www.badanlochestates.co.uk/fishing-trout.
- ↑ "Fishing | Badanloch Estates". http://www.badanlochestates.co.uk/fishing.
- ↑ CANMORE (RCAHMS) record of Loch Badanloch
- ↑ Loch Badanloch Archaeology Notes: Canmore
- From Machair to Mountains: Archaeological Survey And Excavation in South Uist; ed. Mike Parker Pearson (Oxbow Books, 2012)