Loch Leitir Easaidh is a small shallow irregular shaped freshwater lochan that flows directly into the northwestern end of Loch Assynt in Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland.[2][1] The loch is located in an area along with neighbouring Coigach, as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area,[3] one of 40 such areas in Scotland.[4]

Loch Leitir Easaidh
Loch Leitir Easaidh at dusk
Loch Leitir Easaidh is located in Sutherland
Loch Leitir Easaidh
Loch Leitir Easaidh
LocationNC16802657
Coordinates58°11′23″N 5°07′05″W / 58.18980026°N 5.11801710°W / 58.18980026; -5.11801710
Typefreshwater loch
Primary inflowsunnamed burns flow from Loch na h-Innse Fraoich in the southeast and Loch Bad a' Chigean from the northeast.
Primary outflowsunnamed burn flows from Loch Leitir Easaidh at the eastern end into Loch Assynt
Max. length0.804672 km (0.500000 mi)[1]
Max. width0.643738 km (0.400000 mi)[1]
Surface area19 ha (47 acres)[2]
Average depth20.00 ft (6.10 m)[1]
Max. depth69.88 ft (21.30 m)[1]
Water volume423,213,862 cu ft (11,984,082.0 m3)[1]
Shore length13 km (1.9 mi) [2]
Surface elevation67 m (220 ft)[2]
Max. temperature53.5 °F (11.9 °C)
Min. temperature42.0 °F (5.6 °C)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Geography

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Loch Leitir Easaidh sits of the eastern end of a low-lying plateau, that is heavily populated with a number of other lochs to the east, that drain into Loch Inver basin. At the northern end of the plateau is a trending fault that travels in a northwest–southeast direction, traveling through Loch Assynt, Loch Leitir Easaidh along Gleannan Salach, through Loch na Loinne to Loch Poll and the coast.[5]

To the north and northeast sit the three peaks of the Quinag,(Scottish Gaelic: A’ Chuineag) that sit in a Y-shaped crest. The three Corbett summits are Quinag - Sail Gorm at 776m, Quinag - Sail Gharbh at 808m and Quinag - Spidean Coinich at 764 m.[6]

Walking and fishing

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The loch is popular with both fly-fisherman and walkers and has an all-access, all-abilities walk that has been developed by the Culag Community Woodland Trust.[7][8] Two toilet blocks are provided at the loch.

The predominant species of fish found in the region were recently catalogued during a survey in November 2019.[9] The predominant species of fish are trout and Salvelinus (char).

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar (1910). Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909 Lochs of the Tay Basin Volume II - Loch Leitir Easaidh. National Library of Scotland: National Challenger Officer. p. 151. Retrieved 13 April 2021.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c d "Loch Leitir Easaidh". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  4. ^ "National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  5. ^ Savindra Singh; Ram Chandra Tiwari (1989). Geomorphology and Environment. Allahabad Geographical Society, Department of Geography, University of Allahabad. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  6. ^ Kirstie Shirra (21 March 2011). Scotland's Best Small Mountains: 40 of the best small mountains in Scotland under 3000ft. Cicerone Press Limited. pp. 30–31. ISBN 978-1-84965-345-9. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Walk: Privy to a stunning sunset at Leitir Easaidh". Scotland Off the Beaten Track. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Leitir Easaidh All-Abilities path, Little Assynt". Walk Highlands. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  9. ^ Marshall, Shona (November 2019). "Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape Partnership (CALLP) Scheme P03 Freshwater Lochan Survey: An inventory of the fish populations of 20 of the Coigach & Assynt lochs" (PDF). Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape. West Sutherland Fisheries Trust. Retrieved 16 April 2021.