Castle Semple Loch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castle Semple Loch |
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Watersports on Castle Semple Loch
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 Castle Semple Loch
Location in Renfrewshire
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| Location | Renfrewshire, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°47′N 4°36′W / 55.783°N 4.600°W |
| Primary inflows | River Calder |
| Primary outflows | Black Cart Water |
| Basin countries | Scotland |
| Max. length | 2.5 km (1.6 mi) |
| Max. width | 0.6 km (0.37 mi) |
| Settlements | Lochwinnoch |
Castle Semple Loch is a beautiful freshwater loch (which is the Scottish word for a lake) in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It's about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) long. This loch is located near the village of Lochwinnoch.
Once, the loch was part of a large private estate. Today, it's managed by Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. It's a popular spot for watersports. There's also a special bird sanctuary on the southern side of the loch. This sanctuary is run by the RSPB.
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History of Castle Semple Loch
Long ago, some writers thought that Castle Semple Loch and another nearby loch, Kilbirnie Loch, were actually one huge loch. They called this big loch 'Garnoth' or 'Garnott'. One writer, Hector Boece, even said it was "full of fish" in his 1527 book.
Over many years, people worked to drain parts of the land around the loch. This was done to create more farmland. These efforts started as early as 1691 by Lord Sempill. Later, in 1774, Colonel McDowal also worked on drainage.
These drainage projects changed the loch a lot. Silt from the River Calder also built up. By the late 1700s, what was once one large loch, called 'Loch Winnoch', had split into two separate lochs: Castle Semple Loch and Barr Loch.
In 1814, the Barr Loch area was drained for farming. However, after World War II, people stopped farming there.
Castle Semple Loch has been a venue for important sports events. It has hosted the Scottish Rowing Championships. It has also been home to the Home International Regatta, which is a big rowing competition.
A Big Curling Match
In 1850, a very important curling event took place near the loch. It was called the Grand Match or bonspiel. The owner of Castle Semple Loch didn't want the event on his loch. He said he couldn't spare any part of it.
However, his neighbor, McDowall of Garthland, offered his land. He flooded a meadow to create a safe place for the curling match. This event was a huge success! It happened on January 11, 1850, and attracted many people. The North team won the match for the first time.
Buildings Around the Loch
There are some interesting old buildings and ruins around Castle Semple Loch. They tell stories of the past.
The Peel Tower
On the southern shore of the loch, you can find the ruins of an old tower. It's called the Peel Tower. This tower dates back to the early Middle Ages. It's hard to reach unless you go by boat.
People probably used this tower as a strong fort. It helped protect them from bandits and other dangers. Only local people knew the safe paths through the marshy land to reach it.
Castle Semple Collegiate Church
On the northern side of the loch, there are ruins of a small church. This is the Collegiate Church. It was built in 1504 by John, Lord Sempill. It stands on the land where the original Castle Semple (from the 13th century) once was.
Today, Historic Environment Scotland looks after these church ruins. You can visit them by following a well-kept path.
The Temple
Near where the old Castle Semple house used to be, there's a unique octagonal building. It's known as The Temple. This structure was built in the 1700s on top of Kenmuir hill. It was likely used as a lookout point during hunting trips.
Old Walled Garden
The main Castle Semple house burned down in the early 1900s. But you can still see parts of its old grounds. On the northern shore, you'll find the walls of the old walled garden. Some of the surrounding estate wall and one of its gates are also still standing.
