List of lochs of Scotland


This list of lochs in Scotland includes the majority of bodies of standing freshwater named as lochs but only a small selection of the generally smaller, and very numerous, lochans. This list does not currently include the reservoirs of Scotland except where these are modifications of pre-existing lochs and retain the name "loch" or "lochan".
It has been estimated that there are at least 31,460 freshwater lochs in Scotland, and more than 7,500 in the Western Isles alone. Whilst lochs are widespread throughout the country, they are most numerous within the Scottish Highlands and in particular in the former counties of Caithness, Sutherland and Ross and Cromarty. The majority of the larger lochs are linear in form; their distribution through the West Highlands reflects their origin in the glacial overdeepening of the straths and glens they now occupy.
Loch is a Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or fjord that has been borrowed by Scots and Scottish English to apply to such bodies of water, especially those in Scotland. Whilst "loch" or "lochan" is by far the most widespread name for bodies of standing water in Scotland, a number of other terms exist. The Lake of Menteith is the only natural body of freshwater called a "lake" in Scotland, and there are one or two other man-made "lakes", the Lake of the Hirsel being an example. Numerous lochs are called "water", particularly in the Northern Isles, e.g. Roer Water in Shetland and Heldale Water in Orkney. These are not to be confused with similarly named rivers, particularly in the south of Scotland, e.g. Yarrow Water and Blackadder Water.

Largest and deepest lochs

This table includes the twelve largest lochs by volume, area and length as listed by Murray and Pullar. The volume of water in Loch Ness is nearly double that in all the lakes of England and Wales combined. Murray and Pullar also note that the mean depth of Loch Ness is 57.4% of the maximum depth – higher than in any other large deep loch, with Loch Avich coming closest at 52.4%.
Lochs Maree, Shiel and Ness are recorded as being the narrowest of the large lochs in relation to their length.
Neither the Loch of Stenness nor the Loch of Harray on Mainland Orkney is large enough to appear in the above table but at higher stages of the tide they are connected to one another and to the marine waters of Hoy Sound. The former is the largest brackish lagoon in the UK and the latter, whilst predominantly freshwater, does have a transition zone in the vicinity of the Bridge of Brodgar where the two are connected. The two lochs together cover an area of but have a volume of only as they are so shallow; Loch of Stenness has a maximum depth of. Although flow between the two lochs and the sea can be observed, the water levels only change slightly with the movements of the tide.

Mainland

In reaching an alphabetically arranged list, the words "loch" and "lochan" have been ignored, as have articles and prepositions in both Gaelic and English. Those that have been converted to reservoirs for water supply or in association with hydroelectric projects and whose levels have been artificially raised by the construction of dams or barrages are annotated as reservoir.

A

B

C

  • Loch na Caillich
  • Loch Caise
  • Loch Caladail
  • Loch Calavie
  • Caldarvan Loch
  • Loch Calder
  • Loch Call an Uidhean
  • Loch Callater
  • Cally Loch
  • Loch Caluim
  • Cam Loch
  • Cam Loch
  • Loch na Caoide
  • Caol Loch
  • Caol-loch
  • Caol-loch
  • Caol-loch Mór
  • Loch Caoldair
  • Loch na Caorach
  • Loch nan Caorach
  • Carbeth Loch
  • Carcluie Loch
  • Carlingwark Loch
  • Carlochy
  • Loch Carn nam Badan
  • Loch Càrn nan Conbhairean
  • Loch na Carraigeach
  • Loch Carrie
  • Carse Loch
  • Carsfad Loch
  • Cash Loch
  • Castle Loch
  • Castle Loch
  • Castle Semple Loch
  • Cauldshiels Loch
  • Loch Ceo Glais
  • Loch Ceòpach
  • Lochan a' Chairn
  • Loch a' Chairn Mór
  • Loch a' Chaol-thuil
  • Loch Chaorainn
  • Loch a' Chaorainn
  • Loch a' Chaorainn
  • Loch a' Chapuill
  • Loch a' Cherigal
  • Loch Chiarain
  • Loch a' Chlachain
  • Loch a’ Chlaidheimh
  • Loch a' Chnuic
  • Loch a’ Chràthaich
  • Loch a' Choire
  • Loch a' Choire
  • Loch a' Choire
  • Loch a' Choire
  • Loch a' Choire Bhuidhe
  • Loch a' Choire Leith
  • Loch a' Choire Mhóir
  • Loch a' Choire Mhóir
  • Loch a' Choire Riabhaich
  • Loch Choire
  • Loch Chon
  • Loch a Chrion-doire
  • Loch a' Chroisg
  • Loch a' Chroisg
  • Loch a' Chuilinn
  • Loch Chuinneag
  • Loch Ciaran
  • Loch nan Clach
  • Loch nan Clach
  • Loch Clachaig
  • Loch nan Clachan Geala
  • Loch Clair
  • Loch Clàir
  • Loch na Claise Càrnaich
  • Loch na Claise Móire
  • Loch nan Clàr
  • Loch of the Clans
  • Clàr Loch Cnoc Thormaid
  • Clàr Loch Mór
  • Clar Lochan
  • Clatteringshaws Loch
  • Clearburn Loch
  • Loch na Cleise Feàrna
  • Loch na Cloiche
  • Clonyard Loch
  • Loch Cluanie
  • Loch of Clunie
  • Loch Cnoc na Mòinteach
  • Cochno Loch
  • Loch Coille-Bharr
  • Coire Loch
  • Loch Coire nan Arr
  • Loch Coire Attadale
  • Loch Coire an Lochain
  • Loch Coire Làir
  • Loch Coire nam Mang
  • Loch Coire nam Feuran
  • Loch Choire Mhic Fhearchair
  • Loch Coire na Saidhe Duibhe
  • Loch Coire an Ruadh-staic
  • Loch Coire Shùbh
  • Coldingham Loch
  • Loch Con
  • Loch Connell
  • Coodham Lake
  • Corby Loch
  • Cornish Loch
  • Cotehill Loch
  • Loch Coulin
  • Loch Coulside
  • Loch Coultrie
  • Loch of the Cowlatt
  • Loch Cracail Beag
  • Loch Cracail Mór
  • Loch Craggie
  • Loch Craggie
  • Loch Craggie
  • Craigallian Loch
  • Craigdow Loch
  • Loch na Craige
  • Loch of Craiglush
  • Loch Crannach
  • Craufurdland Loch
  • Creagmhor Loch
  • Loch na Creige
  • Loch na Creige Duibhe
  • Loch na Creige Duibhe
  • Creoch Loch
  • Loch na Creige Cràinde
  • Loch Cròcach
  • Loch Cròcach
  • Loch Cròcach
  • Loch Cròcach
  • Loch Croispol
  • Crom Loch
  • Loch Croot
  • The Cross Lochs
  • Loch Cruinn
  • Loch Crunachdan
  • Loch Cruoshie
  • Loch Cuaich
  • Loch nan Cuaran
  • Loch Cùl Fraioch
  • Loch Cùl a Mhill
  • Loch Culag
  • Cults Loch
  • Loch na Curra
  • Loch na Curra

D

E

F

G

  • Loch na Gabhalach Nodha
  • Loch nan Gabhar
  • Loch nan Gad
  • Gaddon Loch
  • Loch nan Gad
  • Gadloch
  • Loch Gaineamhach
  • Loch Gaineamhach
  • Loch Gaineamhach
  • Loch Gaineamhach
  • Loch Gaineamhach Beag
  • Loch Gaineamhaich
  • Loch Gaineanhach
  • Loch Gaineimh
  • Loch Gaineimh
  • Loch na Gaineimh
  • Loch na Gainimh
  • Loch na Gainimh
  • Loch na Gainimh
  • Loch na Gainmhich
  • Loch na Gainmhich
  • Gair Loch
  • Loch nan Gall
  • Loch Gamhna
  • Loch a' Garbh-bhaid Mór
  • Garbh Loch
  • Garbh Loch Mór
  • Garbh Loch na h-Uidhe Doimhne
  • Loch Garbhaig
  • Loch Garbhaig
  • Gare Loch
  • Loch Garry
  • Loch Garry
  • Loch Garten
  • Loch Garve
  • Loch Gate
  • An Gead Loch
  • Loch Gelly
  • Loch a' Gharbh-doire
  • Loch a' Gharbhrain
  • Loch a' Gheodha Ruaidh
  • Loch a' Ghille
  • Loch a' Ghille Ghobaich
  • Loch Ghiubhsachain
  • Loch Ghiuragarstidh
  • Loch a' Ghleannain Shalaich
  • Loch a' Ghlinnein
  • Loch a' Ghobha-Dhuibh
  • Loch a' Ghobhainn
  • Loch a' Ghorm-choire
  • Loch a' Ghriama
  • Loch Ghuilbinn
  • Loch nan Gillean
  • Loch na Glaic
  • Loch Glascarnoch
  • Loch Glashan
  • An Glas-loch
  • Glas-loch Mór
  • Loch Glass
  • Loch Glassie
  • Gleann Loch
  • Loch Gleannan a' Choit
  • Loch Gleannan a' Mhadaidh
  • Glenbuck Loch
  • Glentoo Loch
  • Loch Glow
  • Loch a' Ghobhainn
  • Loch a'Ghobhair
  • Loch Goosey
  • Loch Goosie
  • Loch Gorm
  • Gorm Loch
  • Gorm Loch
  • An Gorm-loch
  • Gorm-loch Beag
  • Gorm-loch Mór
  • Gorm Loch Mór
  • Gorm Loch Mór
  • Gorm Loch Mór
  • Loch Gowan
  • Loch Grannoch
  • Loch Grùdaidh
  • Loch Gynack

H

I

  • Loch an Iasaich
  • Loch an Iasgair
  • Loch Ille Mhòr
  • Loch Inchard
  • Loch Innis na Bà Buidhe
  • Loch Innis Thorcaill
  • Loch Insh
  • Loch Inshore
  • Loch Iol-ghaoith
  • Loch Iubhair

J

  • Jordieland Loch

K

L

M

N

O

P

  • Pitlyal Loch
  • Loch nam Paitean
  • Palm Loch
  • Loch of Park
  • Loch Patrick
  • Loch Pattack
  • Loch Phadruig
  • Loch a' Phearsainn
  • Loch a' Phreasan Chailltean
  • Loch a' Phuill Bhuidhe
  • Loch Pityoulish
  • Plaid Loch near Drongan, East Ayrshire
  • Loch Poll
  • Loch Poll Daidh
  • Pond of Drummond
  • Portmore Loch
  • Possil Loch
  • Loch Poulary
  • Loch Preas nan Aighean
  • Loch Preas nan Sgiathanach
  • Loch Prille

Q

R

S

T

U

  • Loch na h-Uamhaidh Beag
  • Loch na h-Uamhaidh Móire
  • Loch na h-Uamhaig
  • Loch nan Uan
  • Loch Uanagan
  • Loch Uidh Tarraigean
  • Loch na h-Uidhe
  • Loch Uisge
  • Loch Ulagadale
  • Loch Ulbhach Coire
  • Loch an Ulbhaidh
  • Loch Ullachie
  • Loch Unapool
  • Loch Urigill
  • Loch Urr
  • Loch Ussie

V

W

X

''No entries''

Y

Z

''No entries''

Lochs on islands

There are a very large number of lochs on the islands of Scotland, with the greatest density occurring in the Outer Hebrides. North and South Uist and Lewis in particular have landscapes with a high percentage of freshwater and a maze and complexity of loch shapes. Harris has fewer large bodies of water but innumerable small lochans.

Larger

Those listed in this section are confined to the larger or otherwise notable lochs.
Loch Orasaigh in Lewis is only about in extent but the island of Rainish Eilean Mòr is probably the largest island in Scotland relative to the size of the body of water it sits in, as it takes up about 20% of the loch's surface area.
The meanings of the names are generally derived from Gaelic, Old Norse or Scots.
LochMeaning of nameIslandOS Grid ref.Area Area Depth Depth Notes
Loch a' PhuillGaelic: Loch of the bog or poolTireeLocated in the south west near Balephuil.
Loch AscogNorse: Loch of ash bayButeLocated south of Rothesay.-
Loch BàMull--
Loch BarabhatGreat Bernera
Loch BìSouth UistSouth Uist's largest loch is in the north of the island and at long it all but cuts the island in two.-
Loch of BoardhouseMainland OrkneyIn Birsay parish--
Loch CarabhatGrimsay
Loch CarabhatNorth UistNorth Uist's third largest loch--
Loch of CliffUnst long and the most northerly loch in Britain.--
Loch CoruiskGaelic: Loch of the corrie of waterSkyeLocated in the heart of the Black Cuillin mountains on Skye.-
Loch DruidibeagSouth UistPart of the Loch Druidibeg National Nature Reserve on the west coast of South Uist.-
Loch FadGaelic: Long lochButeStocked with Brown and Rainbow Trout the loch is an SSSI.--
Loch FadaColonsayColonsay's largest loch
Loch Fada GobhaLewisThis loch, which lies between Lochs Treabhal and Langavat, is long.--
Loch FinlagganLoch of the white hollowIslayEilean Mor was an administration centre of the Lordship of the Isles during the 13th—15th centuries. The English name is derived from Gaelic, but the Gaelic name itself is Port an Eilein and means "island port".
Loch FrisaMullMull's largest loch--
Loch of GirlstaMainland Shetland-
Loch GormBlue lochIslayContains Loch Gorm Castle, once a stronghold of Clan Macdonald.
Loch of HarrayNorse: Loch of the moundMainland OrkneyClosely linked to the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage site.--
Heldale WaterHoyOne of the largest bodies of freshwater in Orkney not on the Mainland
Loch LangavatGaelic/Norse: Long lakeLewisThis loch lies at above sea level, is over long and is at the head of the Grimersta system.--
Loch LangavatGaelic/Norse: Long lakeHarris
Loch LeathanGaelic: Broad LochSkyeThis loch to the east of Portree, which includes Loch Fada, is about long.
Loch MealtSkyeLocated south of Ellishadder, on the eastern side of the Trotternish peninsula
Loch MòrGaelic: Big lochBorerayA shallow loch that make up about an eighth of the area of the island
Muckle WaterScots: Big lakeRousayOne of the largest bodies of freshwater in Orkney not on the Mainland
Loch nan CinneachanGaelic: Loch of the "" or "gentiles".CollContains the crannog Dùn Anlaimh
Loch OlabhatBenbeculaOne of Benbecula's larger lochs, it contains numerous islands.
Loch OrasaighGaelic: Tidal island loch?LewisContains Rainish Eilean Mòr.
Loch Righ MòrGaelic: Great loch of the kingJura
Loch SgadabhaghNorse: Possibly Loch of tax bayNorth UistAccording to Murray and Pullar "there is probably no other loch in Britain which approaches Loch Scadavay in irregularity and complexity of outline."--
Loch an SgoltaireColonsay
Loch of SpiggieShetlandPart of an RSPB Nature reserve, the surface is only just over a metre above sea level.--
Loch of StennessNorse: Loch of the headland of the stoneMainland OrkneyThe largest brackish lagoon in the UK, the Stones of Stenness are on the south east shore.--
Loch of St TredwellLoch of St TredwellPapa WestrayNamed after St Triduana, the loch's waters were traditionally believed to be medicinal.-
Loch SuaineabhalLoch of Sweyn's FellLewisThis glaciated loch basin has a mean depth of and is the most voluminous on Lewis. The loch may be the deepest on any offshore island in the British Isles.--
Loch of SwannayOrkneyLocated in the north west of Mainland Orkney there are numerous stony shoals in the loch.--
Loch of TankernessNorse: Possibly Loch of Tannskári's point.Mainland OrkneyNorth east of Kirkwall, the loch's mean depth is only.--
Loch TannaArranArran's largest loch is 321 metres above sea level.
Loch of TingwallNorse: Loch of the field of the parliamentMainland ShetlandWest of Lerwick--
Loch TrealabhalLewisAnother shallow Hebridean loch with a complex shape.--
Loch of WatleeNorse:Unst

Smaller

Less substantial lochs include the following.

Historic lochs