Loch Shiel, Highland
Loch Shiel is a freshwater loch located 12 miles west of Fort William in Lochaber. At 17.5 miles in length it is the 4th longest loch in Scotland. It acts as the boundary between Moidart to the west, Sunart to the south and Ardgour to the east. Loch Shiel was formed at the end of the last Ice Age when glacial deposits blocked what was formerly a sea loch.
At the northern end of Loch Shiel lies Glenfinnan, where the Glenfinnan Monument stands, while at its south west end lies Acharacle where the River Shiel flows northwards to Shielfoot before draining in to the sea in Loch Moidart near Castle Tioram.
The surrounding landscape changes considerably along the length of Loch Shiel, being deep and enclosed by mountains in the north east and shallow surrounded by bog and rough pasture in the south west. Patches of woodland along its shore comprise ancient Caledonian forest of birch, pine and oak trees.
The view of the loch looking south from the Glenfinnan Monument, showing wooded hillsides with bare summits rising steeply from a fjord-like loch, has become one of the most famous images of the Scottish Highlands. Several major films have used the loch for location shooting.
Loch Shiel is a Special Protection Area (SPA) due to its importance for breeding Black-throated Divers and the area surrounding the loch is also designated as an SPA due to the presence of breeding Golden Eagles. Other bird species living around the loch include White-tailed Eagles, Red-throated Divers, Peregrines, Ospreys and Hen Harriers.
There are areas of remnant ancient Caledonian forest on the islands of the loch such as Eilean Camas and Eilean Ghleann Fhoinainn, as well as at Meall na h-Airigh at the northern end of the loch. There are also areas of oak and alder woodlands (Celtic rain forest) on the shoreline of the loch which have been designated a Special Area of Conservation by Scottish Natural Heritage.
Claish Moss, to the south of Loch Shiel, is one of the best examples of a raised bog in the UK. The bog has developed over the past 8000 years, with pollen grains preserved by the peat forming a record of the bog’s plant life since the bog first began to form. The bog is designated as a Special Area of Conservation.
The loch gives its name to Loch Shiel National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland which are designated so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure their protection via the planning system by the restriction of certain forms of development. The Loch Shiel National Scenic Area covers 13,045 hectares and it extends to the summits of the hills on either side of the loch as well as the hills surrounding Glen Hurich and the monument at Glenfinnan.
Prior to the construction of the A861 road, Loch Shiel served as a main transport route in the area linking the communities at the south end of the loch to the West Highland railway line at Glenfinnan. The regular service carrying mail and passengers was operated by David MacBrayne shipping company between 1953 and 1967 but it ceased with the construction of the new road between Lochailort and Kinlochmoidart.
The West Highland railway line and the A830 road both pass the north end of Loch Shiel at Glenfinnan whilst the A861 road also runs close to the lochside for about 2.5 miles at the south end near Acharacle. There are no public roads that run the full length of Loch Shiel although a forestry track runs along the south side between Polloch and Glenfinnan. Cruises on the loch are available from Glenfinnan, Acharacle and Polloch.
Date: 2nd October 2019
Location: view from loch cruise from Glenfinnan to Acharacle
At the northern end of Loch Shiel lies Glenfinnan, where the Glenfinnan Monument stands, while at its south west end lies Acharacle where the River Shiel flows northwards to Shielfoot before draining in to the sea in Loch Moidart near Castle Tioram.
The surrounding landscape changes considerably along the length of Loch Shiel, being deep and enclosed by mountains in the north east and shallow surrounded by bog and rough pasture in the south west. Patches of woodland along its shore comprise ancient Caledonian forest of birch, pine and oak trees.
The view of the loch looking south from the Glenfinnan Monument, showing wooded hillsides with bare summits rising steeply from a fjord-like loch, has become one of the most famous images of the Scottish Highlands. Several major films have used the loch for location shooting.
Loch Shiel is a Special Protection Area (SPA) due to its importance for breeding Black-throated Divers and the area surrounding the loch is also designated as an SPA due to the presence of breeding Golden Eagles. Other bird species living around the loch include White-tailed Eagles, Red-throated Divers, Peregrines, Ospreys and Hen Harriers.
There are areas of remnant ancient Caledonian forest on the islands of the loch such as Eilean Camas and Eilean Ghleann Fhoinainn, as well as at Meall na h-Airigh at the northern end of the loch. There are also areas of oak and alder woodlands (Celtic rain forest) on the shoreline of the loch which have been designated a Special Area of Conservation by Scottish Natural Heritage.
Claish Moss, to the south of Loch Shiel, is one of the best examples of a raised bog in the UK. The bog has developed over the past 8000 years, with pollen grains preserved by the peat forming a record of the bog’s plant life since the bog first began to form. The bog is designated as a Special Area of Conservation.
The loch gives its name to Loch Shiel National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland which are designated so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure their protection via the planning system by the restriction of certain forms of development. The Loch Shiel National Scenic Area covers 13,045 hectares and it extends to the summits of the hills on either side of the loch as well as the hills surrounding Glen Hurich and the monument at Glenfinnan.
Prior to the construction of the A861 road, Loch Shiel served as a main transport route in the area linking the communities at the south end of the loch to the West Highland railway line at Glenfinnan. The regular service carrying mail and passengers was operated by David MacBrayne shipping company between 1953 and 1967 but it ceased with the construction of the new road between Lochailort and Kinlochmoidart.
The West Highland railway line and the A830 road both pass the north end of Loch Shiel at Glenfinnan whilst the A861 road also runs close to the lochside for about 2.5 miles at the south end near Acharacle. There are no public roads that run the full length of Loch Shiel although a forestry track runs along the south side between Polloch and Glenfinnan. Cruises on the loch are available from Glenfinnan, Acharacle and Polloch.
Date: 2nd October 2019
Location: view from loch cruise from Glenfinnan to Acharacle
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Also in: Lakes and lochs
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