Loch Badanloch is a

loch ''Loch'' ( ) is a word meaning "lake" or "inlet, sea inlet" in Scottish Gaelic, Scottish and Irish Gaelic, subsequently borrowed into English. In Irish contexts, it often appears in the anglicized form "lough". A small loch is sometimes calle ...

Sutherland Sutherland () is a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Scotland. The name dates from the Scandinavian Scotland, Viking era when t ...

in the

Highland Council Area Highland (, ; ) is a council areas of Scotland, council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom. It was the 7th most populous council area in Scotland at the United Kingdo ...

of northern Scotland. The settlement on the lake is Bandanloch Lodge. The hamlet of Gearnsary is nearby. The loch is used as both a reservoir and as a

Highland Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally, ''upland'' refers to a range of hills, typically from up to , while ''highland'' is usually reserved for range ...

salmon fishery.

Geography

The loch is across and is directly adjacent to the Loch Nan Clar with Rhuba Mor island separating them. The Settlement of Bandanloch Lodge is located on the loch. The Garvault is a small lodging located north of the loch. The

River Helmsdale The River Helmsdale (sometimes known as the River Ullie) () is one of the major east-flowing rivers of Sutherland in the Highlands of Scotland. It flows broadly southeastwards from Loch Badanloch down the Strath of Kildonan (otherwise known as ...

flows through the Loch Achnamoine to the

North Sea The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. A sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Se ...

. Flowing in are currents from Loch Nan Clar as well as the River Uidh a' chlarain, which brings in water from the nearby Loch na Gaineime. Many small streams flow into Loch Badanloch such as the Badanloch burn, Allt na Meinne, Allt a' Mhuillin, Caochan Ruadh, Allt nam Meann and many others, some of which come from Loch Nan Clar. Many named peaks disrupt the horizon, some of which qualify as mountains. On the coasts of the loch includes Cnoc Uidh a Chlarain and Bandanloch Hill in Badanloch Forest, the source of the Badanloch Burn. Meall an t-Socaich is the tallest peak nearby and the slightly taller Creag an t-Socaich sits by the banks of Loch na Gaineime. The nearest mountain is Creag an Alltan Fhearna and just south is the trio of Creag Liath, Creag an Lochain and the tallest one, Cnoc an Liath-bhaid Mhoir.

Transport

Rail line B871 as well as a small collection of rural tracks run through the south of the Loch. One runs to Loch Choire through Gearnsary. Smaller paths link the main one to the banks of Lochan an Alltan Fhearna The other runs further south to Loch na Gaineime. The closest rail access is Kinbrace railway station.

Tourism

This loch and the neighboring Loch Rimsdale and Loch Nan Clar are tourist destinations. Loch Bandanloch has two nearby lodges, the Sheppard's Cottage and the Garvault. Fishing and hiking compete with other lochs. Trout is the most common catch, while salmon can be found both there and in the

. Many hiking trains are there.

Badanloch lodge

Bandanloch lodge is a settlement with permanent residents. Sheppard's Cottage lodging is there.

Archaeology

Flint implements were found on a "neck of sand" in one area of the loch shore that was reclaimed by the water. It was located between the current shore and Rubha Mor, linking them.

References

External links

Kinbrace railway station, RAILSCOT
{{DEFAULTSORT:Badanloch, Loch Badanloch Freshwater lochs of Scotland