Lochrutton Loch is a large, lowland freshwater loch that lies to the west of Dumfries, Scotland. The loch trends from north to south and is 0.75 mi (1.21 km) long and 0.5 mi (0.80 km) at its widest point. It has an average depth of 13 ft (4.0 m) and is 58 ft (18 m) at its deepest. The loch was surveyed[2] on 1 May 1905 by James Murray and L. W. Collett[4] as part of Sir John Murray's Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909.

Lochrutton loch
Lochrutton Loch
Lochrutton loch is located in Dumfries and Galloway
Lochrutton loch
Lochrutton loch
LocationDumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Coordinates55°02′20″N 3°43′33″W / 55.039000°N 3.725700°W / 55.039000; -3.725700[1]
Typefreshwater loch
Basin countriesScotland
Max. length0.75 mi (1.21 km)[2]
Max. width0.5 mi (0.80 km)[2]
Surface area51.4 ha (127 acres)[1]
Average depth13 ft (4.0 m)[2]
Max. depth58 ft (18 m)[2]
Water volume78,000,000 cu ft (2,200,000 m3)[2]
Shore length13.7 km (2.3 mi)[1]
Surface elevation91 m (299 ft)[1]
Islands2[3]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

In the centre of the loch are the remains of a crannog known as Dutton's cairn. It was excavated between 1901 and 1902 and found to have a circular cairn of earth, with a diameter of approximately 80 ft (24 m). The crannog is thought to date from the Early Iron Age and was occupied until the Middle Ages. Finds from the excavation included a jet cross dating from the 13th century.[5]

One of the areas adjacent to the loch is historically attested to have been known as 'Foot Ball Knowes' (knowe being the Scots for 'hillock'), possibly the only 'football' place name in Scotland, as early as 1815.[6][7]

The loch is populated with bream, perch, pike and roach. No permit is required to fish on the loch.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Lochrutton loch". British lakes. British Lakes. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909, Lochs of the Nith Basin". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Historic maps 1919-1947". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Lochs Howie and Skae; Lochrutton Loch; Lochaber Loch; Loch Kindar; Loch Fleet (Vol. 5, Plate 46)". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Lochrutton Loch". Canmore. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  6. ^ Lochrutton Estate Map, 1815 National Library of Scotland
  7. ^ Dumfries and Galloway Placenames
  8. ^ "Lochrutton". Welcome to Scotland. Retrieved 2 July 2016.