The Loch Katrine

This post is about a short trip to Loch Katrine back in February 2020, very calm and beautiful place.

You can also stay for the night here, they have small wood glamping cabin right in front of the lake, or camping with a tent, its an amazing place to spend a weekend see @ https://www.lochkatrine.com/accommodation/

A litle bit around the history, the source of this info and text is : https://www.lochkatrine.com/about/history/

About the Loch and The Trossachs

The Trossachs, Gaelic for “bristly territory were formed during the last ice age. The ice has had a major impact on the landscape of Scotland and many of the typical features of a glaciated landscape can be seen around the loch. Strath Gartney where Loch Katrine is situated is a typical U- shaped valley eroded by glaciers. Resulting in a body of water that is very deep, 154m with narrow beaches and steep sides. The glacier that dug out loch Katrine was very think in some parts, covering the hills around the loch, especially on the south side of, where it merged with ice from the forth valley towards Loch Lomond.

When the ice retreated the loch was formed leaving something like what we can see today with lines of rubbles called moraines along the south shore – those at Glasahoile are most noticeable – keep an eye out for these if you are going on the boats. Also left behind were the rocky peaks of Ben A’an and Ben Venue, scarred by the rocks scoured across them by the ice; as well as the characteristic Trossachs mounds and crags between the hills. Many streams run into the loch from the surrounding hills provide a constant supply of pure clean water for the reservoir built in the 19th century.

Loch Katrine is home to many wild life species, there is every likely hood that you will see Barnacle and GreyLag Geese, Cormorants, Buzzards, Wagtails, Robins and many other birds as well as wild Goats, and the elusive red and roe Deer.

There is an abundance of fish in the loch with principle species being brown trout and pike. There are also some Arctic Char in the loch, leftovers from the last ice age, they like a cold deep water habitat.

The catchment area around the loch is now a National Nature Reserve (NNR) called The Great Trossachs Forest National Nature Reserve which is equal in size to Glasgow, The Great Trossachs Forest NNR is one of the most significant woodland regeneration projects to take place in the UK for a generation. The partners have a shared vision for the area –“Imagine a spectacular landscape, stretching from loch shore, through pasture and wooded glens to open moorland, with high peaks in the far distance. At the woodland edge, black grouse display on a Spring dawn. Cattle graze among the trees and butterflies frequent the plentiful wildflowers. An eagle soars high above the mountains.”

If you can, spend some time around the loch to enjoy it’s secluded ruggedness and wild feel. Take a walk on one of the many new paths or a quiet sail on the Sir Walter Scott.

I leave some links with more info if you whant to have a look :

lochkatrine.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Katrine

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/loch-katrine-p662921

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochlomond/loch-katrine.shtml

Loch Katrine Video :