Loch Coulin

Loch Coulin
River Coulin entering Loch Coulin with the mountain massif and Sgurr Dubh in the foreground
Loch Coulin
Location in Wester Ross
LocationNH01405535
Coordinates57°32′38″N 5°19′09″W / 57.543941°N 5.319084°W / 57.543941; -5.319084
Typefreshwater loch
Primary inflowsRiver Coulin
Basin countriesScotland
Max. length0.55 km (0.34 mi)[1]
Max. width0.9 km (0.56 mi)[1]
Surface area36 ha (89 acres)[2]
Average depth18.3 ft (5.6 m)[1]
Max. depth48.8 ft (14.9 m)[1]
Water volume70,361,436.38 cu ft (1,992,414.000 m3)[1]
Shore length14 km (2.5 mi) [2]
Surface elevation96 m (315 ft)[2]
Max. temperature57 °F (14 °C)
Min. temperature53 °F (12 °C) at 40 feet[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Loch Coulin is a small remote shallow low-altitude freshwater lochan, located within the Coulin Forest, some four miles to the south-west of Kinlochewe in Wester Ross.[1][2] It is fed by the river Coulin from the south and its outflow is into Loch Clair in the north-west. Loch Coulin is within Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.[3][4]

Geography

Loch Coulin is in small irregular shaped loch that opens to north-east facing channel that is some 200 metres wide, that progressively reduces in width, before finally becoming a small river before it meets Loch Clair. The River Coulin is the primary inflow to the loch at the south-east end of the loch along with Allt na Fèithe Buildhe. To the north-east is bounded to the north by a mountain massif in the Torridon area that contains the highest peak of Beinn Eighe, that is within Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.[5][6] To the west of the loch is Sugrr Dubh at 782 metres. To the south is a continuation of the mountainous Coulin Forest, with Meall an Leathaid Mhòir at an altitude of 512 metres. To the south is a continuation of the mountainous Coulin Forest, with Meall an Leathaid Mhòir at altitude 512 metres and a series of small hills forming a ridge in an east to west direction. To the east is a boggy flat plain.

Walking

Loch Coulin is the location of an almost level hiking route that follows the north coast of the Loch Clair, before making a circular walk around Loch Coulin and is about 9.64 km long.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Ewe Basin Volume II – Loch Coulin. p. 222. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c d "Loch Coulin". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  3. ^ Murphy, Alan (22 March 2013). Northwest Highlands of Scotland Footprint Focus Guide: Includes Inverness, Fort William, Glen Coe & Ullapool. Bath: Footprint Travel Guides. p. 103. ISBN 978-1-909268-24-1.
  4. ^ "The Story of Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve" (PDF). The Story of Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve. Kinlochewe: Scottish Natural Heritage (Now NatureScot). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ Murphy, Alan (22 March 2013). Northwest Highlands of Scotland Footprint Focus Guide: Includes Inverness, Fort William, Glen Coe & Ullapool. Bath: Footprint Travel Guides. p. 103. ISBN 978-1-909268-24-1.
  6. ^ "The Story of Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve" (PDF). The Story of Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve. Kinlochewe: Scottish Natural Heritage (Now NatureScot). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Hiking: Loch Clair and Loch Coulin". Open Street Maps Routes. OS Maps. Retrieved 28 April 2024.