Loch Sionascaig

Loch Sionascaig is a large irregular shaped, freshwater loch in the remote Coigach area of northern Wester Ross.^[1][2] It is located 5.5 miles southeast of the village of Lochinver and is situated within the Inverpolly Forest.^[3]

Loch Sionascaig
On the nose of Sron Gharbh overlooking Loch Sionasgaig and Stac Pollaidh
Loch Sionascaig Location in Wester Ross
Location	NC11491394
Coordinates	58.0733°N 5.1957°W / 58.0733; -5.1957
Type	freshwater loch
Primary outflows	Unnamed
Max. length	4.8 km (3.0 mi)[1]
Max. width	1.6 km (0.99 mi)[1]
Surface area	558 ha (1,380 acres)[2]
Average depth	60.3 ft (18.4 m)[1]
Max. depth	215.8 ft (65.8 m)[1]
Water volume	3,626,243,856.8 cu ft (102,683,791.00 m3)[1]
Shore length1	37 km (23 mi) [2]
Surface elevation	76 m (249 ft)[2]
Max. temperature	54.2 °F (12.3 °C)
Min. temperature	49.6 °F (9.8 °C)
Islands	12 main islands and many smaller islands
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Geography

Loch Sionascaig^{[lower-alpha 1]} is an area of outstanding natural beauty, that lies at the centre of the Inverpolly National Nature Reserve.^[4] It is surrounded by many other lochs with the large forested areas of Inverpolly Forest and Loch Lurgainn to the south. Also directly south is Loch an Doire Dhuibh which is connected by a narrow channel to Loch Sionascaig. To the southeast is the imposing peak of Cùl Beag and Drumrunie Forest. To the east is the large Loch Veyatie, to the northeast is the mountain of Cùl Mòr and Canisp behind it. To the north west is Loch Ùidh Tarraigean and Loch na Dàil that Loch Sionasgaig drains through, reaching the River Polly that drains into Polly Bay.^[5] To the west are the large lochs of Loch Bad A' Ghaill and Loch Osgaig.

Loch Sionascaig has numerous islands that are wooded. Eilean Mòr is the biggest and has a small hill that rises to 116m^[6] giving excellent views of the surrounding loch.

Fishing

Loch Sionascaig is a renowned fishing loch with trout of around 6oz in size caught in the shallows up to more than 16lbs in the deeps.^[4]

A view from the ridge of Stac Pollaidh looking north, showing Loch Sionascaig in the centre, Suilven beyond the Loch and, on the right, Cùl Mòr. Loch an Doire Dhuibh is to the extreme right.

Academic study

Loch Sionascaig is one of the most intensively academically studied lateglacial and Holocene sites in Scotland.^[7] Types of analysis that have been undertaken at the site include pollen analysis, diatom analysis, sediment geochemistry, peat stratigraphy and radiocarbon dating.^[7]

Notes

1. In the Bathymetrical Survey, the loch that is referenced as Loch Skinaskink

References

1. John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Polly Basin Volume II – Loch Skinaskink. p. 169. Retrieved 23 July 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. "Loch Sionascaig". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Retrieved 23 July 2022.
3. Gittings, Bruce; Munro, David. "Loch Sionascaig". The Gazetteer for Scotland. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
4. Sandison, Bruce (1997). Trout & Salmon Rivers and Lochs of Scotland. Stackpole Books. p. 178. ISBN 978-1-873674-31-4.
5. Gittings, Bruce; Munro, David. "River Polly". The Gazetteer for Scotland. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
6. Gittings, Bruce; Munro, David. "Eilean Mòr". School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
7. Gordon, J. E.; Sutherland, D. G. (6 December 2012). Quaternary of Scotland. Dordrecht: Springer Science & Business Media. p. 140. ISBN 978-94-011-1500-1.