Loch Carron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loch Carron MPA |
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Jul2004.jpg)
Looking across Loch Carron to the Applecross peninsula.
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 Loch Carron MPA
Location in Ross and Cromarty
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| Location | Ross and Cromarty, Scotland |
| Area | 2,284.47 ha (8.8204 sq mi) |
| Designation | Scottish Government |
| Established | 2019 |
| Operator | Marine Scotland |
Loch Carron (in Scottish Gaelic: "Loch Carrann") is a long, narrow arm of the sea, also known as a sea loch. It is located on the west coast of Ross and Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands. This loch separates the Lochalsh peninsula from the Applecross peninsula. It also separates it from the Stromeferry headland, which is east of Loch Kishorn. The River Carron flows into the North Atlantic Ocean at this point.
The water in the narrow parts of Loch Carron can flow quite fast. Tidal currents can reach about 3 knots (which is like 5.5 kilometres per hour). Even though the current is strong, you might not see much disturbance on the surface. In the narrowest parts, the water is less than 20 metres deep. However, in the wider areas on either side, the depth can go down to more than 100 metres.
Beneath the cliffs near Strome Castle lives a huge group of tiny sea creatures called flame shells. This area has over 250 million flame shells. This makes it the largest flame shell bed in the entire world! Because of how special this place is, Loch Carron was made a Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (NCMPA) in 2017. This protection became permanent in 2018. The new protected area covers about 23 square kilometres and officially started on May 19, 2019. Inside this protected area, certain types of fishing gear that could harm the seabed are not allowed. However, fishing with a rod and line and using creels (traps for shellfish) are still permitted.
Visiting Loch Carron
Tourism is a very important business in the Scottish Highlands. It brings many visitors to areas like Wester Ross and especially to Lochcarron. This helps the local economy and provides jobs for people who live there. People enjoy visiting Lochcarron because it is a traditional seaside location.
The Kyle of Lochalsh Line is a railway line that runs along the south side of Loch Carron. There are several railway stations along this line. These include Attadale, Stromeferry, Duncraig, and Plockton.
