Loch Venachar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loch Venachar |
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Early morning view
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 Loch Venachar
Location in Stirling
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| Location | Callander, Stirlingshire, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 56°13′15″N 4°18′08″W / 56.22076°N 4.30226°W |
| Type | freshwater loch |
| Primary inflows | Black Water |
| Primary outflows | Eas Gobhain |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Max. length | 6 km (3.7 mi) |
| Max. depth | 33 m (108 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 82 m (269 ft) |
Loch Venachar is a beautiful freshwater loch (which is the Scottish word for lake) located in the Stirling area of Scotland. In Scottish Gaelic, its name is Loch Bheannchair.
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Exploring Loch Venachar
Loch Venachar is found between the towns of Callander and Brig o' Turk. It sits about 82 meters (269 feet) above sea level. The loch is about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long. At its deepest point, it goes down about 33 meters (108 feet).
Water Flow and the Dam
Water flows into Loch Venachar from Loch Achray through a stream called the Black Water. At the eastern end of Loch Venachar, another stream, the Eas Gobhain, flows out. This stream then joins with the Garbh Uisge (also known as the River Leny) near Callander. Together, they form the River Teith.
A small dam was built on the loch in the 1800s by John F. Bateman. This dam helps control the water level of Loch Venachar. It is now considered a Listed building, which means it's an important historical structure.
Portnellan Island
In the middle of Loch Venachar, there is an island called Portnellan Island. This island is actually an ancient Iron Age crannog. A crannog is a type of artificial island that people built long ago, often for defense. Portnellan Island has been marked as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, meaning it's a very important historical site.
The South Shore
The southern side of Loch Venachar is covered by thick woodland. You can find many forest tracks here. Some of these paths lead over the hills towards the Lake of Menteith. Others go west along the loch, leading to Loch Achray and the wider Trossachs area.
A historic house called Invertrossachs House is also located on the south shore. Queen Victoria visited this house in 1869.
Fun Activities at Loch Venachar
Loch Venachar is a great place for outdoor activities.
Sailing and Cycling
The Venachar sailing club is located on the loch. You can reach it from the private road called Invertrossachs. This club holds regular sailing races from March to October.
If you enjoy cycling, you'll find parts of the National Cycle Network along the south shore.
Fishing and Wildlife
Loch Venachar is a popular spot for fishing. The loch has many different types of fish. In 2016, a program was started to add more brown trout to the loch. You can also find pike, salmon, sea trout, and perch here. If you want to fish, you can get a permit and fish from the shore or from a boat.
Ben Ledi
To the north of Loch Venachar, you can see Ben Ledi. This mountain is 879 meters (2,884 feet) tall. It is classified as a Corbett, which is a type of mountain in Scotland that is between 762 and 914 meters (2,500 and 3,000 feet) high. Many people enjoy hiking up Ben Ledi for amazing views of the area.
