Loch Calder

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Loch Calder looking west

Loch Calder is a lowland freshwater loch in Caithness lying approximately five miles south-west of Thurso. The loch is large with an irregular shape and has perimeter of eight miles. It is approximately 2½ miles long, has an average depth of 21 ft and is 85 ft at its deepest. The loch was surveyed[1] on 6 October 1902 by John Parsons and T.R.H. Garrett and later charted[2] as part of Sir John Murray's Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909.

Around the loch are several archaeological remains. At the northern end of the loch is Tulach an t'Sionnaich, a well preserved chambered cairn, one of two cairns known as the Tullochs of Assery.[3] On the eastern shore, near Achavarn, lies the site of a broch, although much of the structure has been removed.[4] It is thought that there was an artificial island or crannog near the western shore dating from the 17th century. The island, known as Big Island, may have contained a dwelling which was said to be that of a robber.[5] A short distance to the west of the loch is Aultan Broubster a ruined stone circle. Several of the stones remain, five of which are upright with the largest being 4ft 3in high.[6]

The loch is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its Greenland white-fronted goose, Greylag goose and Whooper swans.[7]

The loch is popular for fishing and contains trout, Arctic char and ferox trout.[8]

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