Loch an Tuirc is a large irregular shaped, shallow loch, located about two miles north-by-north-east of Lochinver in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Highland, Scotland.[1][2] It is one of three lochs in Scotland with the same name. Loch an Tuirc is located in an area known as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area,[3] one of 40 such areas in Scotland.[4]

Loch an Tuirc
Loch an Tuir with Loch an Tuirc lying beyond it.
Loch an Tuirc is located in Sutherland
Loch an Tuirc
Loch an Tuirc
Location in Sutherland
LocationNC11112588
Coordinates58°10′53″N 5°12′44″W / 58.1813°N 5.2123°W / 58.1813; -5.2123
Typefreshwater loch
Primary outflowsAllt Loch an Tuirc
Max. length1.287 km (0.800 mi)[1]
Max. width0.32 km (0.20 mi)[1]
Surface area19 ha (47 acres)[2]
Average depth10.4 ft (3.2 m)[1]
Max. depth39 ft (12 m)[1]
Water volume21,433,001 cu ft (606,915.0 m3)[1]
Shore length14 km (2.5 mi) [2]
Surface elevation54 m (177 ft)[2]
Max. temperature53 °F (12 °C)
Min. temperature50 °F (10 °C)
Islands2 main islands and many rocky islets
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Geography

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Loch an Tuirc is an area of outstanding natural beauty in area of wilderness landscape of moorland, bogs, and lochs and lochans. To the west is the small Loch Beannach, to the east is Loch Cròcach. The small loch of Loch an Tuir sits to the north. About five miles to the west is the Loch Assynt.

Water flows from Loch Cròcach into Loch an Tuirc and is drained out via Allt Loch an Tuirc into Manse Loch in the southwest.[5]

Fishing

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Loch an Tuirc and Manse Loch are excellent for fly fishing.[6] Grouse, Claret, Woodcock, Hare-lug and silver butcher are the best fly for the loch.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Tay Basin Volume II – Loch an Tuirc. National Library of Scotland. p. 157. Retrieved 15 November 2021.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c d "Loch an Tuirc". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  4. ^ "National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  5. ^ Gittings, Bruce; Munro, David. "Loch an Tuirc". The Gazetteer for Scotland. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  6. ^ a b Sandison, Bruce (1997). Trout & Salmon Rivers and Lochs of Scotland. Ludlow: Stackpole Books. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-873674-31-4.
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