Loch a' Starr

Lake, Pool, Pond, Freshwater Marsh in Ross-shire

Scotland

Loch a' Starr

Loch Faoghail am Tuim Looking south towards the hills of West Lewis. The little house highlighted by a ray of sunshine is a boathouse, in the next square. The nearest hill on the left is Ciorabhal, and on the right is Geure Dubh Mhòr. On the distant skyline is Roineabhal.
Loch Faoghail am Tuim Credit: Anne Burgess

Loch a' Starr is a picturesque freshwater loch located in the county of Ross-shire, Scotland. Nestled amidst the breathtaking Scottish Highlands, the loch is situated in a remote and tranquil setting, offering visitors a serene and untouched natural environment to explore.

Covering an area of approximately 10 acres, Loch a' Starr is relatively small in size compared to other lochs in the region. It is surrounded by lush greenery and rolling hills, providing a stunning backdrop to the crystal-clear waters. The loch is fed by several small streams and springs, ensuring a constant flow of freshwater.

The diverse ecosystem of Loch a' Starr supports a variety of aquatic plants and wildlife. The tranquil waters are home to numerous species of fish, including brown trout and pike, making it a popular spot for anglers seeking a peaceful day of fishing. Birdwatchers will also find the loch to be a haven, with a multitude of waterfowl and migratory birds frequenting the area.

The surrounding area of Loch a' Starr offers several walking trails, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the beauty of the Scottish Highlands. The loch is also a great place for kayaking and canoeing, providing a unique perspective of the stunning landscape.

Overall, Loch a' Starr is a hidden gem in Ross-shire, offering visitors a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and reconnect with nature. With its tranquil waters, rich biodiversity, and stunning scenery, it is a must-visit destination for those seeking a peaceful and idyllic retreat in the heart of Scotland.

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Loch a' Starr Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 58.157787/-6.7948024 or Grid Reference NB1828. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Loch Faoghail am Tuim Looking south towards the hills of West Lewis. The little house highlighted by a ray of sunshine is a boathouse, in the next square. The nearest hill on the left is Ciorabhal, and on the right is Geure Dubh Mhòr. On the distant skyline is Roineabhal.
Loch Faoghail am Tuim
Looking south towards the hills of West Lewis. The little house highlighted by a ray of sunshine is a boathouse, in the next square. The nearest hill on the left is Ciorabhal, and on the right is Geure Dubh Mhòr. On the distant skyline is Roineabhal.
Up above the old road This is not country in which to venture without navigations skills. It's boggy, and many of the ups and downs are not pronounced enough to generate contours. We were able to park on the old road - visible on the 1:25000 OS map - and it was a slightly boggy walk up onto rock. One of little lochans in the square can be seen, as can a typical "knock" of Lewisian gneiss. The (somewhat dilapidated) fence to my west could not be seen from where I took the photo.
Up above the old road
This is not country in which to venture without navigations skills. It's boggy, and many of the ups and downs are not pronounced enough to generate contours. We were able to park on the old road - visible on the 1:25000 OS map - and it was a slightly boggy walk up onto rock. One of little lochans in the square can be seen, as can a typical "knock" of Lewisian gneiss. The (somewhat dilapidated) fence to my west could not be seen from where I took the photo.
Cycling the B8059 The hills of Harris on the skyline
Cycling the B8059
The hills of Harris on the skyline
B8059 and the lochs leading in to the Lewis-Harris borderlands This string of linked lochs have 'Faoghail' in their names; this is the Gaelic word for ford.
B8059 and the lochs leading in to the Lewis-Harris borderlands
This string of linked lochs have 'Faoghail' in their names; this is the Gaelic word for ford.
Loch Speireag Viewed from the B8059 road. The hills of North Harris in view.
Loch Speireag
Viewed from the B8059 road. The hills of North Harris in view.
Loch Sgàire Viewed from the B8059 road from Great Bernera.
Loch Sgàire
Viewed from the B8059 road from Great Bernera.
Rock slab, Cnoc na Clais, Isle of Lewis The OS Name Book of 1848-1852 describes Cnoc na Clais as, "a small, round, rocky, heathy hill" and says that its name means Furrows Hill.
Rock slab, Cnoc na Clais, Isle of Lewis
The OS Name Book of 1848-1852 describes Cnoc na Clais as, "a small, round, rocky, heathy hill" and says that its name means Furrows Hill.
Jetty and fishing bothy, Loch Faoghail an Tuim, Isle of Lewis Loch Faoghail an Tuim is part of the Grimersta salmon system (<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.grimersta.com/guide.htm" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.grimersta.com/guide.htm">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> ).
Jetty and fishing bothy, Loch Faoghail an Tuim, Isle of Lewis
Loch Faoghail an Tuim is part of the Grimersta salmon system (LinkExternal link ).
Conostom The summit of Teathabhal (256m) looking northward.
Conostom
The summit of Teathabhal (256m) looking northward.
View southwards from above Loch Sgaire The main road south of Garynahine crosses Loch Sgaire on a causeway.  The line of the road can be seen by the telegraph wires.  Loch Sgaire is one extremity of the complex of interlocking lochs that feed into Loch Langavat.  This view is taken from the side road to Great Bernera.
View southwards from above Loch Sgaire
The main road south of Garynahine crosses Loch Sgaire on a causeway. The line of the road can be seen by the telegraph wires. Loch Sgaire is one extremity of the complex of interlocking lochs that feed into Loch Langavat. This view is taken from the side road to Great Bernera.
Old and new roads. looking west along the B8011 in West Lewis with the new twin-track road on the left and the original single track road on the right.  At the moment the old road still has a reasonable tarred surface and is used by cyclists and walkers.
Old and new roads.
looking west along the B8011 in West Lewis with the new twin-track road on the left and the original single track road on the right. At the moment the old road still has a reasonable tarred surface and is used by cyclists and walkers.
Peat cutting, West Lewis. Peat cutting near the roadside - miles from any settlement.
Peat cutting, West Lewis.
Peat cutting near the roadside - miles from any settlement.
A very odd lochan. There's nothing particularly unusual about this tiny, unnamed lochan close to the B8011, but maybe the cartographer made a mistake? The map shows a black outline around the loch, indicating [usually] tidal water, but it would seem unusual for the tide to reach 75 metres above its normal level.
A very odd lochan.
There's nothing particularly unusual about this tiny, unnamed lochan close to the B8011, but maybe the cartographer made a mistake? The map shows a black outline around the loch, indicating [usually] tidal water, but it would seem unusual for the tide to reach 75 metres above its normal level.
Rocky cutting on the B8011 The reconstructed B8011 in West Lewis has been built through the landscape with cuttings and embankments, unlike the old road which was laid over the landscape. The new road encourages rapid progress, but drivers should beware of sheep and red deer.
Rocky cutting on the B8011
The reconstructed B8011 in West Lewis has been built through the landscape with cuttings and embankments, unlike the old road which was laid over the landscape. The new road encourages rapid progress, but drivers should beware of sheep and red deer.
Loch Speireig The loch has a very interesting small circular island that could well be a man-made, iron age, dun or crannog.
Loch Speireig
The loch has a very interesting small circular island that could well be a man-made, iron age, dun or crannog.
Reflections on Loch Sgaire A short causeway separates this loch from Loch Faoghail an Tuim.
Reflections on Loch Sgaire
A short causeway separates this loch from Loch Faoghail an Tuim.
Loch Sgaire Nice reflections on a calm and sunny day.
Loch Sgaire
Nice reflections on a calm and sunny day.
Druim Mor Long stretches of the B8011 have been realigned, as here. The old single-track road is off to the left of this photo. Older maps, showing the previous alignment, may confuse.
Druim Mor
Long stretches of the B8011 have been realigned, as here. The old single-track road is off to the left of this photo. Older maps, showing the previous alignment, may confuse.
Show me another place!

Loch a' Starr is located at Grid Ref: NB1828 (Lat: 58.157787, Lng: -6.7948024)

Unitary Authority: Na h-Eileanan an Iar

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///translate.workshop.weeds. Near Carloway, Na h-Eileanan Siar

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 58.157787,-6.7948024
Cleit Iain
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 58.159768/-6.7983339
Geàrraidh Druim a' Charran Bheag
Place: locality
Lat/Long: 58.1568021/-6.79329
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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