Muckle Water
Muckle Water is a long, narrow fresh water loch on Ward Hill on Rousay, one of the islands of Orkney. It is the biggest loch on the island and is popular for fishing.
The loch can be reached by a track from the roadside. The Suso Burn on the north-eastern shore drains the loch into the Sound of Rousay.
A rare hybrid pondweed (Potamogeton sp.) is found in the loch[1] as a result of its unique nutrient levels.
The loch was surveyed as part of The Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909.[2]
The Nuggle
In Orkney folklore it is said that Muckle Water is haunted by a Nuggle,[3] a magical creature usually in the form of horse similar to the Celtic kelpie. The Nuggle waits at the loch side until someone climbs on its back then it plunges into the water drowning its rider. It was said that only Finmen could ride the Nuggle.[4]
References
- ↑ Scottish Natural Heritage (2006). "Commissioned Report No. 180: National Vegetation Classification survey of Rousay Site of Special Scientific Interest". http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/commissioned_reports/f05la01.pdf.
- ↑ Murray, John; Pullar, Laurence (1910). Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland during the years 1897 to 1909: report on scientific results. Edinburgh. http://maps.nls.uk/bathymetric/text.cfm?seq=1. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
- ↑ "Fishing and watersports". http://www.discoverrousay.co.uk/fishingandwatersports.shtml.
- ↑ "The Nuggle - the Orcadian water horse". http://www.orkneyjar.com/folklore/nokk.htm.