Lake of Menteith

The Lake of Menteith (Gaelic: Loch Innis Mo Cholmaig ) is a lake ( loch ) in Scotland, located in the Carse of Stirling, the flood plain of the upper reaches of the rivers Forth and Teith, located in front of Stirling. Until the early 19th century, the more common name of Scottish Loch of Menteith was used. The Blaeu Atlas of Scotland from 1654 he is referred to as a hole inche mahumo. The only settlement on the lake is Port of Menteith.

There are a large number of small islands in the hole. At the largest Inchmahome, is Inchmahome Priory, an ancient monastery. The priory was Mary Queen of Scots in 1547 as a refuge. She was at that time only four years old and remained after the ending of the Scots with a heavy defeat Battle of Pinkie Cleugh (10 September 1547) for three weeks there.

The lake can freeze over completely in exceptionally cold winters. If the ice is thick enough, finds an outdoor curling tournament called The Bonspiel or the Grand Match held on the lake. At the event take part thousands of curlers, although it takes place irregularly and infrequently. The last great game was played in 1979. The planned for 2010 Bonspiel was canceled for security reasons.

It is often claimed, the Lake of Menteith is denoted as the only lake in Scotland as a lake. In fact, there are others, including four small artificial lakes: Lake Pressmennan, the Lake of the Hirsel, Lake Louise ( on the grounds of Skibo Castle), Raith Lake in Kirkcaldy and Cally Lake (near Gatehouse of Fleet ). There is also a bay near Kirkcudbright, which is known as Manxmans Lake. Almost all other major standing water in Scotland are known as hole.