Loch Benachally

Loch Benachally is a large shallow freshwater reservoir that is located close to the Forest of Clunie in Perth and Kinross, Scotland.[1] [2]

Loch Benachally
The summit of Spurn Hill looking south by south-east to Loch Benachally in the distance.
Loch Benachally
Location in Perth and Kinross
LocationNO071502
Coordinates56.635°N 3.516°W / 56.635; -3.516
Typefreshwater reservoir
Primary outflowsBenachally Burn
Max. length1.641 km (1.020 mi)[1]
Max. width0.74 km (0.46 mi)[1]
Surface area173 ha (430 acres)[2]
Average depth24.93 ft (7.60 m)[1]
Max. depth63.97 ft (19.50 m)[1]
Water volume179,777,998 cu ft (5,090,746.0 m3)[1]
Shore length14 km (2.5 mi) [2]
Surface elevation308 m (1,010 ft)[2]
Max. temperature57.2 °F (14.0 °C)
Min. temperature48.8 °F (9.3 °C)
Islands0
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The reservoir is operated by Scottish Water.[3]

Iron Age villages

Directly south-east of the reservoir are the remains of an Iron Age hut circle settlement and field system, centred on NO08354982, that can clearly be seen from an aerial view.[4] The settlement consisted of a line of 6 hut circles connected by a common baulk, with a isolated hut about 37 metres (121 ft) to the east.[4] The huts range from 13 metres (43 ft) down to 8.3 metres (27 ft) between wall centres. Some huts have stone enclosures.[4] The field system of the Iron Age settlement has been visibly preserved down the ages and is marked with the remains of lynchets, walls and heaps of cleared stone.[4] As the huts are in a straight line, they resemble a street. The conspicuousness of the "street" is enhanced by a wall which runs parallel to the row of houses, 15 metres (49 ft) to the south.[4]

To the east-north-east of the Loch Benachally directly from the dam at the very south of the loch, is another Iron Age hut circle settlement and field system.[4] Here as well, the field system is easily recognisable.[4] The hut circle settlement follows a north-west to south-east orientation and is a larger settlement with 12 hut circles.[4] The huts measure from 11.3 metres (37 ft) down to 3.7 metres (12 ft) between wall centres.[4] There are two fields—a large field to the north and west of the hut circle group, and a small field to the south.[4]

References

  1. John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Tay Basin Volume II – Loch Benachally Reservoir. National Library of Scotland. p. 121. Retrieved 14 June 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. "Benachally". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  3. "Benachally, Loch". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  4. "Loch Benachally". Canmore. National Record of the Historic Environment. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
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