Castle Loch

Castle Loch is a shallow eutrophic loch covering an area of around 100 hectares in the town of Lochmaben in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It lies to the west of Mochrum Loch[1] and has 2 islets. The ruined Lochmaben Castle lies at the southern end of the loch.

Castle Loch
Castle Loch
Location	Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Coordinates	54.8495°N 4.67030°W
Type	freshwater loch
Primary inflows	several small burns
Primary outflows	Castle Loch burn
Basin countries	Scotland
Max. length	1.25 mi (2.01 km)[1]
Max. width	0.5 mi (0.80 km)[1]
Surface area	92.5 ha (229 acres)[2]
Average depth	6.5 ft (2.0 m)[1]
Max. depth	11 ft (3.4 m)[1]
Water volume	65,000,000 cu ft (1,800,000 m^3)[1]
Shore length^1	6.4 km (4.0 mi)[2]
Surface elevation	85 m (279 ft)[2]
Islands	2 islets[2]
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Castle Loch, Lochmaben
Designated	15 March 1996
Reference no.	796[3]
^1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Survey

The loch was surveyed[1] in 1903 by James Murray and later charted [4] as part of Sir John Murray's Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909.

Wildlife and conservation

Castle Loch is an important over-wintering location for the pink-footed goose and the goosander. It has been recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,[3] and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.[5]

References

1. "Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909, Lochs of the Cree Basin". National Library of Scotland. National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
2. "Castle loch". British lakes. British Lakes. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
3. "Castle Loch, Lochmaben". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
4. "Lochs Castle & Mochrum (Vol. 5, Plate 41) - Bathymetrical Survey, 1897-1909 - National Library of Scotland". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
5. "Castle Loch, Lochmaben Ramsar". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 29 January 2019.