Loch Tollaidh

Coordinates: 57°44′40.3″N 5°37′44.1″W / 57.744528°N 5.628917°W / 57.744528; -5.628917
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Loch Tollaidh
Loch Tollaidh from the A832 road
Loch Tollaidh is located in Ross and Cromarty
Loch Tollaidh
Loch Tollaidh
LocationScottish Highlands
Coordinates57°44′40.3″N 5°37′44.1″W / 57.744528°N 5.628917°W / 57.744528; -5.628917
Primary outflowsTollie Burn
Basin countriesScotland, United Kingdom
Max. length1.42 km (0.88 mi)
Max. width803 m (2,635 ft)
Surface elevation120 m (390 ft)
Islands4

Loch Tollaidh is a freshwater loch in Wester Ross, Scotland, roughly 2.3km southwest of the village of Poolewe. It sits beside the A832 road in a large expanse of moorland.

The loch's name derives from the Scottish Gaelic toll, meaning "hole" or "hollow" i.e. "Loch of the Hollow".[1]

Loch Tollaidh sits on a bedrock of Lewisian gneiss, and has several excellent bouldering crags on its southern shore.[2][3]

Several small islands sit within the loch, the largest of which is believed to have been a crannog. Several texts from the early 20th century describe a later stone "castle" occupying the site, in the hands of Clans MacBeth and then MacLeod before its abandonment in 1480. Underwater remains show evidence of stone causeways.[4]

A commercial fish farm now operates within the loch.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ midasiak (2019-11-07). "The Gaelic origins of place names in Britain". OS GetOutside. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  2. ^ "Loch Tollaidh Crags". www.ukclimbing.com. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  3. ^ gofurther. "Loch Tollaidh Crags | Go Further Scotland". Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  4. ^ "MHG7729 - Crannog, Loch Tollaidh - Highland Historic Environment Record". her.highland.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  5. ^ "Loch Tollie from The Gazetteer for Scotland". www.scottish-places.info. Retrieved 2024-05-22.