Loch a' Bhraoin

Loch a' Bhraoin, Loch Broom (Scottish Gaelic: Loch of showers or drizziling rain),[3] is a freshwater loch, located in Wester Ross, in Ross-shire, on the west coast of Scotland.[4]

Loch a' Bhraoin
A high level loch near a deep fjord head glen. The loch now provides the water for a scheme in the Cuileag Gorge. There were originally plans to enlarge the loch with a dam, but as this is one of the few surviving large high lochs with a natural shoreline, a smaller scale project was agreed. Slioch is in the background.
Loch a' Bhraoin
LocationScotland
Coordinates57.719929°N 5.132437°W / 57.719929; -5.132437
Typefreshwater loch
River sourcesAbhainn Cuileig, that is a major tributary of the River Broom.[1]
Basin countriesUnited Kingdom
Surface area168 ha (420 acres)[2]
Average depth37 ft (11 m)
Max. depth73 ft (22 m)
Shore length110 km (6.2 mi)
Surface elevation247 m (810 ft)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Settlements

Due to the remoteness of the loch, there are very few settlements in the area. The main A832 road that is part of the Wester Ross Coastal Trail, leaves the main A835 road, at the Falls of Measach and passes the eastern end of the loch.

Walking

Loch a' Bhraoin is an considered an excellent location for walkers.[5] There are essentially four routes into the mountains surroundig the Loch a' Bhraoin. The main route is from the A832 road, taking the path east to west along Destitution Road to Loch a’ Bhraoin from the East. Also travelling from Poolewe past the Fionn Loch in the NW, which is the longest route. Travelling from Incheril over the Heights of Kinlochewe and the Kinlochewe Forest in the SW, and from Corrie Hallie that directly north of the loch.

Geography
The Boat House on Loch a' Bhraoin

Loch a' Bhraoin lies about 7 miles to the south of the head of Loch Broom, and is surrounded by high hills.[4] At the west end of the loch, about 2 miles from the end of the loch is the plateau of a' Chailleach that rises to 998.52metres above sea level. The loch is orientated on a northeast to southwest direction and is over 4 km in length. The maximum breath of the loch is nearly 800metres wide.[4]

On a north by northeast direction from a' Chailleach, the mountains have been folded extensively. Two corries overlook Loch a' Bhraoin to the north. The first of these is formed by the mountain Toman Còinnich at 935 metres, forms the corrie that contains Loch Toll an Lochain, where the direction of the corrie faces the northern end of the loch, similar to a giants seat. Further east again, is Sgurr Breac, which forms the peak of the second fold, which creates the corrie, that is intersected by a long shallow valley that descends from 600metres down to the north-east end of the loch.[4]

On the northern end of the loch, there is several small hills, that make a shallow cliff that follows the curve of the loch. Overlooking the southwest end of the loch, is Creag Rainich at 807 metres and Meall Dubh at 748metres comprising two hills. Further up the loch, both Bristeadh á Mhill Dhubh at 556 metres and Meall an t-Sìthe at 601 metres make up the main peaks of the show curve that that follows the curve of the loch.

  • Looking west over Loch a' Bhraoin.
  • Heading north east along the shore of this loch.
  • Loch a' Bhraoin With Slioch poking out behind Beinn Bheag in the distance.
  • With the Fisherfield hills in the distance.
  • Looking up the loch from near its outflow. The furthest mountain is Slioch, the one on the right overtopping the nearer shoulder is the Fisherfield Munro Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair
  • Groban, reflected in Loch a' Bhraoin
  • Ruin and Boathouse on Loch a' Bhraoin. This is the second time I have been here when the loch was flat calm.
  • Groban and Beinn Bheag, reflected in Loch a' Bhraoin from the boathouse near the road.
  • The east end of Loch a' Bhraoin. Taken from the path which follows the Allt Breabaig. Meall an t-Sithe is the good looking hill in the distance. For a similar view but taken 6 months later in Autumn
  • One of the many fords across the small burns feeding the N side of Loch a'Braoin, on the track to Lochivraon. The most distant peak in view, with some snow, is Slioch.

References
  1. Bruce Sandison (20 June 2013). Rivers and Lochs of Scotland 2013/2014 Edition: The Angler's Complete Guide. Black & White Publishing. p. 491. ISBN 978-1-84502-712-4. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  2. "Loch a' Bhraoin". British Lakes. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  3. James Alexander Robertson (1869). The Gaelic Topography of Scotland, and what it Proves: Explained, with Much Historical, Antiquarian and Descriptive Information. W.P. Nimmo. p. 442. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  4. Murray, John; Pullar, Laurence. "Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909". National Library of Scotland. Royal Geographical Society, surveyed 1902. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  5. Howie, Robin (28 October 2012). "Walk of the week: Loch a'Bhraoin". The Scotsman. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
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