List of lochs of Scotland


This list of lochs in Scotland includes the majority of bodies of standing freshwater named as lochs but only a small selection of the generally smaller, and very numerous, lochans. This list does not currently include the reservoirs of Scotland except where these are modifications of pre-existing lochs and retain the name "loch" or "lochan".
It has been estimated that there are at least 31,460 freshwater lochs in Scotland, and more than 7,500 in the Western Isles alone. Whilst lochs are widespread throughout the country, they are most numerous within the Scottish Highlands and in particular in the former counties of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross and Cromarty. The majority of the larger lochs are linear in form; their distribution through the West Highlands reflects their origin in the glacial overdeepening of the straths and glens they now occupy.
Loch is a Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or fjord that has been borrowed by Scots and Scottish English to apply to such bodies of water, especially those in Scotland. Whilst "loch" or "lochan" is by far the most widespread name for bodies of standing water in Scotland, a number of other terms exist. The Lake of Menteith is the only natural body of freshwater called a "lake" in Scotland, and there are one or two other man-made "lakes", the Lake of the Hirsel being an example. Numerous lochs are called "water", particularly in the Northern Isles, e.g. Roer Water in Shetland and Heldale Water in Orkney. These are not to be confused with similarly named rivers, particularly in the south of Scotland, e.g. Yarrow Water and Blackadder Water.

Largest and deepest lochs

This table includes the twelve largest lochs by volume, area and length as listed by Murray and Pullar. The volume of water in Loch Ness is nearly double that in all the lakes of England and Wales combined. Murray and Pullar also note that the mean depth of Loch Ness is 57.4% of the maximum depth – higher than in any other large deep loch, with Loch Avich coming closest at 52.4%.
Lochs Maree, Shiel and Ness are recorded as being the narrowest of the large lochs in relation to their length.
LochVolume
Area
Length
Max. depth
Mean depth
Loch Ness7.455639230132
Loch Lomond2.6713619037
Loch Morar2.32718.8310
Loch Tay1.626.423150
Loch Awe1.239419432
Loch Maree1.0928.62011438
Loch Ericht1.0818.623156
Loch Lochy1.07161616270
Loch Rannoch0.971915.713451
Loch Shiel0.7919.52812840
Loch Katrine0.7712.412.9151
Loch Arkaig0.751619.3109
Loch Shin0.3522.527.849

Neither the Loch of Stenness nor the Loch of Harray on Mainland Orkney are large enough to appear in the above table but at higher stages of the tide they are connected to one another and to the marine waters of Hoy Sound. The former is the largest brackish lagoon in the UK and the latter, whilst predominantly freshwater, does have a transition zone in the vicinity of the Bridge of Brodgar where the two are connected. The two lochs together cover an area of 19.3 km² but have a volume of only 0.047 km³ as they are so shallow. Loch of Stenness has a maximum depth of. Although flow between the two lochs and the sea can be observed, the water levels only change slightly with the movements of the tide.

Mainland

In reaching an alphabetically arranged list, the words "loch" and "lochan" have been ignored as have articles and prepositions in both Gaelic and English. Those that have been converted to reservoirs for water supply or in association with hydroelectric projects and whose levels have been artificially raised by the construction of dams or barrages are annotated as reservoir.

A

No entries

Y

No entries

Lochs on islands

There are a very large number of lochs on the islands of Scotland, with the greatest density occurring in the Outer Hebrides. North and South Uist and Lewis in particular have landscapes with a high percentage of freshwater and a maze and complexity of loch shapes. Harris has fewer large bodies of water but innumerable small lochans.

Larger

Those listed in this section are confined to the larger or otherwise notable lochs.
Loch Orasaigh in Lewis is only about in extent but the island of Rainish Eilean Mòr is probably the largest island in Scotland relative to the size of the body of water it sits in, as it takes up about 20% of the loch's surface area.
The meanings of the names are generally derived from Gaelic, Old Norse or Scots.
LochMeaning of nameIslandOS Grid ref.Area Depth Notes
Loch a' PhuillGaelic: Loch of the bog or poolTireeLocated in the south west near Balephuil.
Loch AscogNorse: Loch of ash bayBute44.7Located south of Rothesay.
Loch BàMull44
Loch BarabhatGreat Bernera
Loch BìSouth Uist<10South Uist's largest loch is in the north of the island and at long it all but cuts the island in two.
Loch of BoardhouseMainland Orkney5In Birsay parish
Loch CarabhatGrimsay
Loch CarabhatNorth Uist15122.5North Uist's third largest loch
Loch of CliffUnst1046.5 long and the most northerly loch in Britain.
Loch CoruiskGaelic: Loch of the corrie of waterSkye38.4Located in the heart of the Black Cuillin mountains on Skye.
Loch DruidibeagSouth UistPart of the Loch Druidibeg National Nature Reserve on the west coast of South Uist.
Loch FadGaelic: Long lochBute7111.5Stocked with Brown and Rainbow Trout the loch is an SSSI.
Loch FadaColonsayColonsay's largest loch
Loch Fada GobhaLewis14This loch, which lies between Lochs Treabhal and Langavat, is long.
Loch FinlagganLoch of the white hollowIslayEilean Mor was an administration centre of the Lordship of the Isles during the 13th—15th centuries. The English name is derived from Gaelic, but the Gaelic name itself is Port an Eilein and means "island port".
Loch FrisaMull43062.5Mull's largest loch
Loch of GirlstaMainland Shetland20
Loch GormBlue lochIslayContains Loch Gorm Castle, once a stronghold of Clan Macdonald.
Loch of HarrayNorse: Loch of the moundMainland Orkney9714Closely linked to the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage site.
Heldale WaterHoyOne of the largest bodies of freshwater in Orkney not on the Mainland
Loch LangavatGaelic/Norse: Long lakeLewis906.530This loch lies at above sea level, is over long and is at the head of the Grimersta system.
Loch LangavatGaelic/Norse: Long lakeHarris
Loch LeathanGaelic: Broad LochSkyeThis loch to the east of Portree, which includes Loch Fada, is about long.
Loch MealtSkyeLocated south of Ellishadder, on the eastern side of the Trotternish peninsula
Loch MòrGaelic: Big lochBorerayA shallow loch that make up about an eighth of the area of the island
Muckle WaterScots: Big lakeRousayOne of the largest bodies of freshwater in Orkney not on the Mainland
Loch nan CinneachanGaelic: Loch of the "" or "gentiles".CollContains the crannog Dùn Anlaimh
Loch OlabhatBenbeculaOne of Benbecula's larger lochs, it contains numerous islands.
Loch OrasaighGaelic: Tidal island loch?LewisContains Rainish Eilean Mòr.
Loch Righ MòrGaelic: Great loch of the kingJura
Loch SgadabhaghNorse: Possibly Loch of tax bayNorth Uist45315According to Murray and Pullar "there is probably no other loch in Britain which approaches Loch Scadavay in irregularity and complexity of outline."
Loch an SgoltaireColonsay
Loch of SpiggieShetland8612.5Part of an RSPB Nature reserve, the surface is only just over a metre above sea level.
Loch of StennessNorse: Loch of the headland of the stoneMainland Orkney6475The largest brackish lagoon in the UK, the Stones of Stenness are on the south east shore.
Loch of St TredwellLoch of St TredwellPapa Westray<10Named after St Triduana, the loch's waters were traditionally believed to be medicinal.
Loch SuaineabhalLoch of Sweyn's FellLewis66.7This glaciated loch basin has a mean depth of and is the most voluminous on Lewis. The loch may be the deepest on any offshore island in the British Isles.
Loch of SwannayOrkney2445Located in the north west of Mainland Orkney there are numerous stony shoals in the loch.
Loch of TankernessNorse: Possibly Loch of Tannskári's point.Mainland Orkney602North east of Kirkwall, the loch's mean depth is only.
Loch TannaArranArran's largest loch is 321 metres above sea level.
Loch of TingwallNorse: Loch of the field of the parliamentMainland Shetland4312West of Lerwick
Loch TrealabhalLewis15710.5Another shallow Hebridean loch with a complex shape.
Loch of WatleeNorse:Unst

Smaller

Less substantial lochs include the following.

Historic lochs