Loch Eriboll

Loch Eriboll
A wide sea loch surrounded by hills
Loch Eriboll is located in Scotland
Loch Eriboll
Loch Eriboll
LocationScotland
Coordinates58°30′18″N 4°40′12″W / 58.505°N 4.670°W / 58.505; -4.670
TypeSea loch
Basin countriesScotland
Loch Eriboll Lighthouse
Whiten Head Edit this at Wikidata
Loch Eriboll Lighthouse on the East side of Loch Eriboll.
Coordinates58°31′00″N 4°38′54″W / 58.516804°N 4.648422°W / 58.516804; -4.648422
Constructed1894 (first)
Constructionskeletal tower
Automated2003
Height5 metres (16 ft)
Shapesquare parallelepiped clad tower with white panels as daymark and light
Markingswhite tower
OperatorNorthern Lighthouse Board[1]
First lit2003 (current)
Focal height19 metres (62 ft)
Range13 nmi (24 km; 15 mi) (white), 10 nmi (19 km; 12 mi) (red) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicFl WR 10s.

Loch Eriboll (Scottish Gaelic: "Loch Euraboil") is a 16 km (9.9 mi) long sea loch on the north coast of Scotland, which has been used for centuries as a deep water anchorage as it is safe from the often stormy seas of Cape Wrath and the Pentland Firth.

Bronze Age remains can be found in the area, including a souterrain and a very well preserved wheelhouse on the hillside above the west shore. A small scale lime industry developed here in the 19th century and Ard Neakie, a promontory on the eastern shore of the loch, had four large lime kilns developed in around 1870.[2] Before the development of the coast road around the loch in 1890, the Heilam ferry ran from the quay at Portnancon on the west shore to Ard Neakie. Both Ard Neakie and Portnancon were fishing stations.[2][3]

Farmhouse at Loch Eriboll

Around the shores of the loch are the crofting townships of Eriboll, Laid, Heilam, Portnancon and Rispond.

Eilean Hoan is located at the northern, seaward end of the loch and there are various small islets in the vicinity including A' Ghoil-sgeir, An Cruachan, An Dubh-sgeir, Eilean Clùimhrig, and Pocan Smoo.[4] Today it is a largely unspoilt wilderness, in a region of high rainfall and with the lowest population density in the UK.

  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Scotland: Highlands". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b Ard Neackie, Limekilns, Quarry, Canmore. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  3. ^ Loch Eriboll, Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Get-a-Map". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 28 November 2009.