Loch of Skaill

The Loch of Skaill is a small somewhat triangular, freshwater loch in the parish of Sandwick, Orkney on Mainland Orkney, Scotland. It lies 0.5 mi (0.80 km) south east of the Bay of Skaill close to Skaill House and the World Heritage neolithic site Skara Brae.^[1]

The loch is popular for trout fishing and is reserved for use by members of The Orkney Trout Fishing Association only.^[2] The average size of the trout caught in the loch is 2 pounds (0.91 kg).

The loch was surveyed in 1906 by James Murray^[3] and later charted^[4] as part of The Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909.^[5] A small burn at the north western shore drains the loch in to the Bay of Skaill and was noted in the Survey that it was used as a mill stream.^[3]

Loch of Skaill
Skaill loch
Location	Mainland Orkney, Scotland
Coordinates	59°04′32″N 3°32′32″W / 59.07556°N 3.54222°W / 59.07556; -3.54222Coordinates: 59°04′32″N 3°32′32″W / 59.07556°N 3.54222°W / 59.07556; -3.54222[6]
Type	freshwater loch
Primary outflows	small burn on north west shore
Basin countries	Scotland
Max. length	1 mi (1.6 km)[3]
Max. width	0.5 mi (0.80 km)[3]
Surface area	60.9 ha (150 acres)[6]
Average depth	2 ft (0.61 m)[3]
Max. depth	4 ft (1.2 m)[3]
Water volume	14,000,000 cu ft (400,000 m3)[3]
Surface elevation	7 m (23 ft)[6]

References