Loch of Aboyne

Loch of Aboyne is a shallow, artificial formed, freshwater loch in Grampian, Scotland. It lies 1 ¹⁄₄ miles (2 km) northeast of Aboyne and 26 miles (42 km) west-southwest of Aberdeen. An earthen dam was constructed around 1834 to retain the loch. It also served as a reservoir for a nearby mill.[3]

Loch of Aboyne
Aboyne loch
Loch of Aboyne
Location	Grampian, Scotland
Coordinates	57.0874°N 2.767°W
Type	artificial formed freshwater loch
Basin countries	Scotland
Surface area	12.2 ha (30 acres)[1]
Average depth	1.8 m (6 ft)[2]
Max. depth	3.4 m (11 ft)[2]
Water volume	280,000 m^3 (10,000,000 cu ft)[2]
Shore length^1	2.2 km (1.4 mi)[1]
Surface elevation	136 m (446 ft)[1]
Islands	0[1]
^1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Survey

The loch was surveyed[2] on 13 July 1905 by T.N. Johnston and L.W. Collett and later charted [4] as part of the Sir John Murray's Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909.

Flora and fauna

The loch was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1984 owing to its aquatic flora and fauna and rich reedbed and fen vegetation. It has one of the finest submerged floras in the area with 8 species of pondweeds. There is a high diversity of leeches and pond snails and modest numbers of passage and wintering wildfowl including wigeon, goosander and whooper swans.[5] It provides a valuable habitat for waterfowl and other birds, with Osprey regularly seen plucking fish from the water. It is also an important site for butterflies.[3]

Leisure and recreation

Aberdeen Waterski and Wakeboard Club uses the loch for its activities[6] and the club was also responsible for repairing the dam in the late 1980s. In winter, when ice forms on the loch, it is used for curling.[3] A bonspiel was held here in 1891 and the Aboyne Curling Club had its own private railway station named Aboyne Curling Pond railway station, the remains of which can still be seen.

Fishing is available by permit and the existing stock of perch, pike and eels was supplemented in 2002 and 2003 with common roach, bream, ide and carp.[7] On the north shore of the loch is the Aboyne Golf Club and course.[8] The Aboyne Loch Caravan Park lies on a peninsula which extends into the loch, and The Lodge on the Loch health spa is located on the north shore.

References

1. "Loch of Aboyne". British lakes. British Lakes. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
2. "Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909, Lochs of the Dee (Aberdeen) Basin". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
3. "Overview of Aboyne, Loch of". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
4. "Loch of Skene; Loch Callater; Loch of Aboyne (Vol. 5, Plate 52) - Bathymetrical Survey, 1897-1909 - National Library of Scotland". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
5. "Loch of Aboyne - Citation document". Registers of Scotland. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
6. "Aberdeen Waterski and Wakeboard Club". Aberdeen Waterski and Wakeboard Club. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
7. "Aboyne Loch". Fisharound. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
8. "Aboyne Golf Club". Aboyne Golf Club. Retrieved 2 January 2015.

See also

• List of reservoirs and dams in the United Kingdom