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
- Loch A'an
- Loch of Aboyne
- Loch Achaidh na h-Inich
- Loch Achall
- Loch Achanalt
- Loch Achilty
- Loch Achnacloich
- Loch Achnamoine
- Loch Achonachie
- Loch Achray
- Achridigill Loch
- Loch Achtriochtan
- Loch an Add
- Loch Affric
- Lochan na h-Achlaise
- Loch Ailsh
- Loch Ainme na Gaibhre
- Loch na h-Airde Bige
- Loch Airigh na Beinne, Assynt
- Loch Airigh na Beinne, Cape Wrath
- Loch Airigh an Eilein
- Loch Airigh Mhic Criadh
- Loch Airigh a' Phuill
- Loch na h-Airigh Sléibhe
- Loch Aisir Mòr
- Akermoor Loch
- Loch Akran
- Aldinna Loch
- Alemoor Loch
- Loch Allt na h-Airbe
- Loch Allt Eoin Thòmais
- Loch an Alltan Fheàrna
- Loch Alvie
- Loch nan Amhaichean
- Loch Anna
- Antermony Loch
- Approach Loch
- Loch Arail
- Loch Ard
- Loch Ard a' Phuill
- Loch Ardinning
- Loch Arichlinie
- Loch Arienas
- Loch Arkaig
- Loch Arklet
- Loch Arnicle
- Loch Arthur
- Loch Ascaig
- Asgog Loch
- Ashgrove Loch
- Loch Ashie
- Loch Aslaich
- Loch an Aslaird
- Loch Assynt
- Aucha Lochy
- Auchenreoch Loch
- Auchintaple Loch
- Loch Avich
- Loch Avon
- Loch Awe, Argyll and Bute
- Loch Awe
B
- Loch Bà
- Loch Bà
- Loch na Bà
- Loch Bad na h-Achlaise
- Loch Bad na h-Achlaise
- Loch Bad na h-Achlaise
- Loch Bad a' Bhàthaich
- Loch Bad a' Chreamh
- Loch Bad a' Chròtha
- Loch Bad a' Ghaill
- Loch Bad na Goibhre
- Loch Bad Leabhraidh
- Loch Bad na Muirichinn
- Loch Bad an t Sean-tighe
- Loch Bad an t-Seabhaig
- Loch Bad an Sgalaig
- Loch Bad an t-Sluic
- Loch Bad na h-Earba
- Loch Badaidh na Meana
- Loch Badanloch
- Loch Baile Mhic Chailein
- Loch na Bairness
- Ballachuan Loch
- Balgavies Loch
- Ballochling Loch
- Banton Loch
- Bardowie Loch
- Barean Loch
- Barfad Loch
- Bargatton Loch
- Barhapple Loch
- Barlockhart Loch
- Loch Barnluasgan
- Barnshean Loch,
- Barr Loch
- Barscobe Loch
- Bayfield Loch
- Loch Bealach a' Bhuirich
- Loch Bealach Cùlaidh
- Loch Bealach Ghearran
- Loch Bealach a' Mhadaidh
- Loch Bealach na Sgeulachd
- Loch Beanie
- Loch Beannach
- Loch Beannach
- Loch Beannach
- Loch Beannach, Assynt
- Lochan Beannach Beag
- Lochan Beannach Mór
- Loch Beannacharan
- Loch Beannacharain or Loch Beannachan, situated close to Inverchoran
- Lochan na Bearta
- Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin
- Loch Beinn Dearg
- Loch na Beinne Baine
- Loch na Beinne Mòire
- Loch na Beinne Reidhe
- Loch Beinn Deirg
- Loch na Beiste
- Loch Belivat
- Belston Loch
- Loch Ben Harrald
- Loch Benachally
- Bengairn Loch
- Bennan Loch
- Loch Beoraid
- Bertha Loch
- Loch Bhac
- Loch Bhad Ghaineamhaich
- Loch a' Bhadaidh Daraich
- Loch a' Bhaid Ghainmheich
- Loch a' Bhaid-luachraich
- Loch a Bhàillidh
- Loch a' Bhainne
- Loch a' Bhàna
- Loch a' Bhealaich
- Loch a' Bhealaich
- Loch a' Bhealaich
- Loch a' Bhealaich Bheithe
- Loch a' Bhealaich Leamhain
- Loch a' Bhith
- Loch a' Bhraighe
- Loch a' Bhraoin
- Loch Bhraomisaig
- Loch a' Bhrisidh
- Loch Bhrodainn
- Lochan na Bi
- Birnie Loch
- Bishop Loch
- Bishop's Loch
- Black Loch West Lothian
- Black Loch
- Black Loch
- Black Loch
- Black Loch, New Cumnock
- Black Loch, Dumfries and Galloway
- Black Loch
- Black Loch, Perth and Kinross
- Black Loch, North Ayrshire
- Black Lochs
- Blackmill Loch
- Loch Blair
- Loch of Blairs
- Blarloch Mór
- Loch nam Bò Uidhre
- Loch of Boath
- Bogton Loch
- Loch nam Bonnach
- Loch Boor
- Loch Borralan
- Loch Borralie
- Loch Bowie
- Loch nam Brac
- Loch Brack
- Loch Bradan
- Braeroddach Loch
- Loch Bràigh an Achaidh
- Loch Bràigh Bhruthaich
- Loch Bràigh Horrisdale
- Loch Brandy
- Loch nam Brathain
- Loch Breac
- Loch nam Breac
- Loch nam Breac Buidge
- Loch nam Breac Buidhe
- Loch nam Breac Dearga
- Lochan Breaclaich
- Loch Brecbowie
- Loch Broom
- Loch Brora
- Brother Loch
- Loch Bruicheach
- Loch nam Buainichean
- Bruntwood Loch East Ayrshire
- Loch Buidhe
- Loch Buidhe
- Loch Buidhe
- Loch Buidhe
- Loch Buidhe
- Loch Buidhe
- Loch Buidhe Beag
- Loch Buidhe Mór
- Loch Builg
- Loch Buine Móire
- Loch Bunachton
- Loch of Bushta
- Loch of Butterstone
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