Loch Muick

Loch Muick
Allt an Dearg[1]
Lock Muick from the eastern shore, looking west
Location	Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Coordinates	56°55′59″N 3°10′13″W / 56.93306°N 3.17028°W / 56.93306; -3.17028Coordinates: 56°55′59″N 3°10′13″W / 56.93306°N 3.17028°W / 56.93306; -3.17028[1]
Type	freshwater loch
Primary inflows	Allt an Dubh loch[2]
Primary outflows	River Muick
Basin countries	Scotland
Max. length	2.25 mi (3.62 km)[2]
Max. width	0.33 mi (0.53 km)[2]
Surface area	218.5 ha (540 acres)[1]
Average depth	116 ft (35 m)[2]
Max. depth	256 ft (78 m)[2]
Water volume	2,771,000,000 cu ft (78,500,000 m3)
Shore length1	8.5 km (5.3 mi)[1]
Surface elevation	398 m (1,306 ft)[1]
Islands	0[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Loch Muick (/ˈmɪk/;^[3]Gaelic: Allt an Dearg) is an upland, freshwater loch lying approximately 5 mi (8.0 km) south of Braemar, Scotland at the head of Glen Muick and within the boundary of the Balmoral estate. It trends in a southwest and northeast direction and is approximately 2.25 mi (3.62 km) in length. It is surrounded on both sides by steep hills. The loch is fed by many small streams, the largest being Allt an dubh Loch in the west which flows down from Dubh Loch. The outflow is the source of the River Muick.^[2][4]The name of loch, glen and river is pronounced "Mick".^[3]

Survey

The loch was surveyed^[2] on 8 July 1905 by T.N. Johnston and L.W. Collet and later charted ^[5] as part of the Sir John Murray's Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909.

Flora and fauna

A wide variety of bird and animal life can be found in and around the loch including red squirrel, red deer, oyster catchers, salmon and trout. ^[6] Many old beech trees can be found around the edge of the loch, they are the remnants of a beech forest that once covered the area.

Recreation

The loch is popular with walkers as it is picturesque, has a fairly flat path around its perimeter and is accessible by road. The bothy, Glas-allt Shiel, that was originally built for Queen Victoria in 1862 is now maintained by Dundee University Rucksack Club. ^{[7] [8]}

Fishing on the loch is restricted and not available to the public. The Ballater Angling Association has permission from the Balmoral Estate to fish and it maintains a boathouse and slip at the north end of the loch.^[6]

Glas Allt Shiel

Allt Darrarie, flowing down to the River Muick just below Loch Muick, by the carpark at the start of the walk around the loch

References