Loch Awe

Loch Awe, Scotland’s longest fresh water Loch. As well a creating amazing views to and from St Conan’s, there is a lot to see and do on Loch Awe.

Loch Awe Geography

Only 36m above sea level the waters of Loch awe used to flow to the south, but now flows to the west. The loch is 25 miles (41km) long and the longest fresh water loch in Scotland. The route driving around Loch Awe is over 60 miles and for many miles the road is single track and quite undulating.

The level of Loch Awe is affected by the Rivers Orchy and Lochy which drain a large area of West Scotland all the way to Rannoch Moor and flows into the North east end of Loch Awe. The outflow is through the Pass of Brander into the River Awe. There is a barrage that diverts water to the Inverawe hydro scheme generating up to 30.5 Mw of electricity.

North East end of the Loch, with Kilchurn Castle

Loch Awe is home to Cruachan Hydro scheme. This amazing plant pumps the water from Loch Awe several hundred metres up to a small Loch below Ben Cruachan where it is stored and can allowed to flow back to Loch Awe to generate power when needed. A visitor centre allows access to the giant cavern that houses the generators. Loch Awe is so big the level of Loch Awe only changes by 25mm (one inch) when filling or empty the high level reservoir.

Loch Awe History

The South End of Loch Awe lies only 7 miles from Dun Add Fort, the historic fort where kings of the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dal Riata were crowned. This area has been inhabited since the Iron age.

Loch Awe has 4 castles, Kilchurn castle, Innes Chonnel, Fraoch Eileen and Fincharn Castle. Innes Chonnel and Froach Eileen are on islands. Innes Chonnel was the original seat of Clan Campbell until the 15th Century, whose slogan “Cruachan!” refers to the mountain Ben Cruachan that dominates the north end of Loch Awe.

The Pass of Brander at the West end of Loch Awe was the site of a battle in 1308 (or 1309) which was fought and won by Robert the Bruce during the Scottish wars of independence. The Bruce Chapel in St Conan’s Kirk, commemorates this.

There used to be a ferry connecting the middle of Loch Awe from Portsonachan to Taycreggan which is only 500 metres wide. Often cattle would swim the crossing when being taken to market.

Highland Coo taking a dip

The arrival of the station in 1880 at the north end of Loch Awe led to steam ships beginning to ply the loch, delivering supplies and allowing people to people to build grand mansions. Although no steamships serve Loch Awe a miniature steamer can sometimes be seen!

Below is an image of Loch Awe station around 1880. Notice the lift (no longer present) that was used to raise the luggage up to the Loch Awe Hotel.

Loch Awe station with the 10:49 leaving for Oban around the 1880’s

Loch Awe Fishing and Boating

The largest trout caught in Loch Awe is a 31 lb 12 oz (14.4 kg) wild brown trout caught by Brian Rutland in 2002. This is also the current British record for a rod-caught wild brown trout. 

Known for its wild brown trout, Loch Awe is considered a great place for both beginners and experienced anglers. The British record has been broken four times at Ardbrecknish House on the loch. 

In addition to trout, Loch Awe is also home to pike, perch, eels, and roach. The River Orchy, which runs into Loch Awe, is a picturesque salmon river

If you want to take a boat out to fish, then check out Loch Awe Adventures.

More information about fishing including permits on Loch Awe are available at http://lochawe.net/.

Loch Awe is now part of the 3 lochs kayaking challenge and welcomes thousand of people each year prepared to canoe or kayak the 24 mile length of the loch, either in one tough day or over 2 or even 3 days.

Loch Awe Wildlife

Some of the more common sights around or on Loch Awe are: Ospreys, Deer, Pine Marten, red Squirrel and even Golden Eagles in the mountains above the loch.

Pine Marten

Loch Awe Walks

The amazing walk highlands site has many Walks around the Loch Awe area and is highly recommended. To the north of the loch are four munro’s (mountains over 914metres/3000 feet high). To the south the hills are more low lying but include access to lovely walks in Glen Nant and Loch Avich.

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