Loch an Eilein

BW

Loch an Eilean (also hole at Eilein ) is a freshwater lake in the Scottish Highlands. He is known in numerous whiskey distilleries Speytal about 5 km south of Aviemore. Loch an Eilean has a slightly curved shape, is about 1.6 km long and up to 500 m wide.

Loch an Eilean is via a spur road that leads to a parking area at the northern tip of the lake, with the easily accessible by car from the B970 from. The aim of arrival ligand is usually but not hole at Eilean itself, but a look at the very picturesquely situated on an island in the lake ruins of Loch an Eilean Castles. The island on which the ruin stands, is now a nature reserve and not open to the public. On the island of rare nesting osprey, which can be observed in the lake when fishing from the shore.

Loch an Eilean Castle

Loch an Eilean Castle was probably built in the 14th century by Alexander Stewart, Wolf of Badenoch. In the following centuries, the owner of the castle changed several times. Owners were the families Mackintosh, Gordon and from 1567, finally, the Grants. In the 18th century the castle was abandoned, as it no longer met the military requirements. The castle was originally accessible via a causeway from the shore. This dam is now under water, as Loch an Eilean was dammed as part of the regulation of the waters in Scotland by a few meters. Accordingly, today many remains of walls standing directly on or in the water. This picturesque image of the ruin but does not match the realities of the former military installation.