Loch Torridon

Loch Torridon from the south, in the background Beinn Alligin (center) and Liathach (Right)

Loch Torridon ( Scottish Gaelic Loch Thoirbheartan ) is a sea loch in the highlands on Scotland's West Coast. It is divided by two isthmuses into three parts, in the mouth area up to five kilometers wide Outer Loch Torridon, Loch Shieldaig and then finally landward Upper Loch Torridon. The bay opens into the estuary The Minch, which lies between the Outer Hebrides and the Scottish mainland.

Geography

To the south, the total is approximately 22 km long Loch Torridon from the Applecross peninsula is limited. In the north of Upper Loch Torridon and Loch Shieldaig from the rising to around 1000 meters Torridon Hills with the mountain massifs of Beinn Alligin and Liathach be surmounted. To the west the flatter Shieldaig Forest joins. At the mouth of the Minch Loch Torridon is between the headlands Rubha na Fearna in the south and Red Point in the north good 5 kilometers wide. About nine kilometers from the mouth to outer Loch Torridon narrowed to just over 700 meters, then upgrade in Loch Shieldaig back to just above 2 km. The subsequent, only about 300 meters wide strait Rubha na h- Airde Ghlaise passes in about 1.5 kilometers wide Upper Loch Torridon.

Loch Torridon has a few small islands, including Shieldaig Iceland on the south shore, about the middle of the 19th century with dense forest pines ( Scots Pine ) is overgrown and belongs since 1970 to the National Trust for Scotland. The most important tributary is the River Torridon which flows into the Upper Loch Torridon at the eastern end. Other tributaries are the running in a valley between Beinn Alligin and Abhainn Coire Mhic Liathach Nobaill, the west of Lower Diabaig opening out Craig River and between Torridon and Shieldaig which opens on the south bank, springing out of the hole Damh River Balgy.

At the eastern end of Loch Torridon the eponymous village is located north of the River Torridon. A narrow single track road on the north shore, the small settlements Inveralligin, Alligin Shuas and Upper and Lower Diabaig be reached. On the south shore along the A896 coming from Kinlochewe about Torridon Shieldaig runs up. In Shieldaig a road branches off to the Applecross peninsula, a few farms and cottages are located on the in the further course along the south shore.

Fishing

Fishing in Loch Torridon has a long tradition. Already in 1786 was founded with the Torridon Fishery Company a first company, but from the witness only a few ruins on the Aird peninsula on the south bank Mhoir between Torridon and Shieldaig. Focus at that time was the herring fishing.

Today Loch Torridon is the site of several salmon farms. The fishing in the hole since the 1960s focuses on the fishing of lobster ( scampi ), besides also lobster, shrimp and shellfish are caught. About 20 boats are located in the lakeside towns, after tourism, fishing is the main industry. Fishing in Loch Torridon was among the first who received the seal of approval of the Marine Stewardship Council for sustainable fishing. However, it was revoked due to overfishing in January 2011.