Loch Tummel

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Loch Tummel
The 'Queen's View'
Location	Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Coordinates	56°42′12″N, 4°05′55″WCoordinates: 56°42′12″N, 4°05′55″W
Basin countries	United Kingdom
Max. length	11 km
Max. width	< 1 km

Loch Tummel (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Teimhil) is a long, narrow loch, 7 kilometres north west of Pitlochry in Perth and Kinross, Scotland ^[1].

[edit] Geography

The loch is approximately 11 kilometres long from east to west, and is just under 1 kilometre wide. It became part of the Tummel Hydro-Electric Power Scheme when the Clunie Dam was constructed by Wimpey Construction at its eastern end in 1950, raising the water level by 4.5 metres. The loch is traversed by roads on both north and south banks, offering splendid views of the surrounding countryside. The best is probably the well-known 'Queen's View' from the north shore, which Queen Victoria made famous in 1866, offering a magnificent vista over the loch with Schiehallion in the background. It is also claimed that the view was originally named after Queen Isabel, wife of Robert the Bruce^[2].

Above the head of the loch, Tummel Bridge crossing the River Tummel actually has two bridges. The original bridge built by General Wade in 1730 has a modern replacement alongside carrying the traffic from Aberfeldy. Notable visitors who have stayed in this area include Mendelssohn and Swinburne. The northern side of the loch has many duns, forts and cairn circles. At the eastern end, high in Glen Fincastle to the north, sits Fincastle House, a 17th-century seat of a branch of the Stewarts, with links to the 1745 rebellion. At the head of the glen are the standing stones of Clachan Aoraidh in the Allean Forest.

[edit] Leisure use

The loch is popular with anglers who fish for trout.

Loch Tummel Sailing Club (LTSC) are based at Foss on the south west shore of the loch. From April and October the club organises dinghy racing (RS200/400,Europes, Toppers and Lasers among a diverse group). Day boats (FF15, Yomen) are also sailed .

The Loch is olso very popular with campers during the spring and summer.