Loch Arkaig

A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome and originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885.

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Archaig or Arkaig, a lake of Lochaber, Kilmallie parish, Inverness-shire, 10 miles N of Fort William, extends from W to E, and is 12 miles long, ¾ mile wide, and 140 feet above the level of the sea. The Pean and Dessarry, each about 6 miles long, after a united course of ¾ mile, flow into the head of the lake, which besides 100 smaller feeders receives on its southern side the Allt Camgharaidh and the Mallie, 5½ and 9 miles long respectively, and which at its foot sends off the Archaig river to Loch Lochy, 1¼ mile to the eastward. Mountains enclose the lake on every side-at its head, Monadh Gorm (1542 feet); to the N, Fraoch Bheinn (2808), Sgòr Mhurlagain (2885), Meall Bhlàir (2153), Sgòr Choinich (2450), Beinn Chraoibh (2014), and Glas Bheinn (2398); to the S, Culverin (3224), Mullach Coire (2373), Druim a' Ghiubhais (1846), Mullach na Briòbaig (1244), and Beinn Bhan (2613); and at its foot, Tor Ghallain (407). Only two islets break the long extent, Eilean a Ghiubhais midway near the southern shore, and another at the lower end, with a ruined chapel and the burying-place of the Cainerons of Lochiel, holders of the estate of Achnacarry. The shores are beautifully wooded here, but the grand forest of oaks and pines that formerly belted the entire lake is only recovering from the woodman's axe. The Knoidart road follows the northern bank, and thence goes on to Loch Lochy through the Mil-dubh (`dark mile'), a narrow, exquisitely wooded pass, associated with the wanderings of Prince Charles Edward in the August after Culloden; at Kinlocharkaig, near the upper end, is the shell of a fort erected to overawe the Clan Cameron. Herds of red deer are often to be seen, but salmon can rarely now ascend to the lake. Its trout run about three to the lb., and from 5 to 10 lbs. is an average day's catch. The fishing is open to the public, the season lasting from the end of April to September.—Ord. Sur., sh. 62,1875.

An accompanying 19th C. Ordnance Survey map is available, or use the map tab to the right of this page.

Note: This text has been made available using a process of scanning and optical character recognition. Despite manual checking, some typographical errors may remain. Please remember this description dates from the 1880s; names may have changed, administrative divisions will certainly be different and there are known to be occasional errors of fact in the original text, which we have not corrected because we wish to maintain its integrity. This information is provided subject to our standard disclaimer

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