Lindores Loch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lindores Loch
Lindores Loch Location in Fife
Location	North Fife, Central Scotland
Coordinates	56°20′N 3°11′W / 56.333°N 3.183°W / 56.333; -3.183
Type	freshwater loch, ribbon lake
Primary inflows	Priest's Burn
Primary outflows	Lindores Burn
Catchment area	510 ha (1,300 acres)
Basin countries	Scotland
Max. length	1.3 km (0.81 mi)
Max. width	500 m (1,600 ft)
Surface area	40.5 ha (100 acres)
Average depth	1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Max. depth	3 m (9.8 ft)
Residence time	1.9 years
Surface elevation	64 m (210 ft)
Islands	0
Sections/sub-basins	curling pond, main basin
Settlements	Lindores

Lindores Loch is a beautiful freshwater loch (which is a Scottish word for a lake). You can find it in North Fife, Scotland. This loch has been a popular spot for fishing for many years because it has lots of fish!

On the north side of the loch, there's a special area for curling. This is a sport played on ice, and local clubs like the Abdie Curling Club use it. Scientists think Lindores Loch was formed a long, long time ago. It was created by rocks and dirt left behind by glaciers when the last ice age ended. Over time, things like roads and a railway have changed how the loch's water level and shoreline look.

Exploring Lindores Loch's Nature

Lindores Loch is a very important place for nature. It's protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a special area because of its unique plants and animals.

Wetlands and Water Plants

The loch is known for its amazing wetlands and open water areas. You can find many different types of pondweeds here. These are plants that grow in the water. There are also large areas of reed bed, which are tall grasses that grow in wet places. The loch also has wet woodland, which are forests that grow in very damp soil.

Rare Animals at the Loch

Lindores Loch is home to some special birds. It's also a habitat for two types of water beetles that are quite rare. Protecting this area helps these unique creatures survive.

Where is Lindores Loch?

This lovely loch is tucked away in the Ochil Hills. It sits between Woodmill Hill to the west and Dunboghill to the east. Kinnaird Hill is to the north.

Size and Depth

The water stretches out from the village of Lindores towards the south. It's about 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) long. Lindores Loch is not very deep. Its deepest point is only about 3 meters (10 feet).

A Look Back at Lindores Loch's Past

The area around Lindores Loch has a rich history. You can find old ruins and signs of past activities near its shores.

Historic Buildings and Estates

Close to the north side of the loch are the ruins of the old Abdie Parish Church. To the east, you can see the remains of Inchrye House. This was a grand Victorian Gothic house, and the loch used to be part of its estate. A railway line, which runs between Perth and Ladybank, is located along the west side of the loch.

Mills and Water Power

For many centuries, the loch was a vital source of water. It powered many mills in the Lindores valley. From the Middle Ages until the 20th century, as many as 13 different types of mills operated here. These mills used the loch's water to grind grain or do other work. There's also a rare curling house from the mid-1860s still standing. The Abdie Curling Club once used it to store their curling stones and other equipment.

Lindores Loch in Culture

The beauty of Lindores Loch and its surroundings has been mentioned in famous writings and travel guides.

In Literature

The area near Lindores Loch is even mentioned in a play by the famous Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott. His play, Macduff's Cross, describes the stunning views:

You do gaze—

Strangers are wont to do so—on the prospect.

Yon is the Tay, rolled down from Highland hills,

That rests his waves, after so rude a race,

In the fair plains of Gowrie.

—Further westward,

Proud Stirling rises.

—Yonder to the east

Dundee, the gift of God, and fair Montrose,

And still more northward, lie the ancient towers

Of Edzell.

What People Say About the Loch

Many travel guides and books have written about how beautiful the loch and its area are. One description calls it "a beautiful sheet of water, nearly a mile in length." It also notes that it's "frequented by wild ducks, and abounds with perch and pike." Another writer said that "in this small spot nature has crowded together all that can delight the eye, and elevate the imagination." These descriptions show how much people appreciate the natural beauty of Lindores Loch.