Location Grampian, Scotland Surface area 12.2 ha (30 acres) Max. depth 11 ft (3.4 m) Area 12 ha Shore length 2.2 km | Basin countries Scotland Average depth 6 ft (1.8 m) Surface elevation 136 m Mean depth 1.8 m Number of islands 0 | |
 | ||
Type artificial formed freshwater loch Similar Aboyne Castle, Loch of Skene, Loch Kinord, Dunalastair Water, Loch Tarsan | ||
Loch of Aboyne is a shallow, artificial formed, freshwater loch in Grampian, Scotland. It lies 1.25 miles (2.01 km) northeast of Aboyne and 26 miles (42 km) west southwest of Aberdeen. An earthen dam was constructed around 1834 to retain the loch. It also served as a reservoir for a nearby mill.
Contents
Map of Loch of Aboyne, Aboyne, UK
SurveyEdit
The loch was surveyed on 13 July 1905 by T.N. Johnston and L.W. Collett and later charted as part of the Sir John Murray's Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909.
Flora and faunaEdit
The loch was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1984 owing to its aquatic flora and fauna and rich reedbed and fen vegetation. It has one of the finest submerged floras in the area with 8 species of pondweeds. There is a high diversity of leeches and pond snails and modest numbers of passage and wintering wildfowl including wigeon, goosander and whooper swans. It provides a valuable habitat for waterfowl and other birds, with Osprey regularly seen plucking fish from the water. It is also an important site for butterflies.
Leisure and recreationEdit
Aberdeen Waterski and Wakeboard Club uses the loch for its activities and the Club was also responsible for repairing the dam in the late 1980s. In winter, when ice forms on the loch, it is used for curling. Fishing is available by permit and the existing stock of perch, pike and eels was supplemented in 2002 and 2003 with common roach, bream, ide and carp. On the north shore of the loch is the Aboyne Golf Club and course. The Aboyne Loch Caravan Park lies on a peninsula which extends into the loch, and The Lodge on the Loch health spa is located on the north shore.