Scotland's lonely lake

Scotland has plenty of lochs but just one lake. Written and photographed by John Hannavy

No one seems quite clear as to why Menteith is a lake rather than a loch. It has been suggested that it was given the title because it “looks English” – but the steep mountains which partly surround it make it unmistakably Scottish.

Another suggestion for the English name style is the abundance of ‘English' coarse fish (pike and perch) which are to be found in its quiet waters and which are rarely found elsewhere in Scotland.

Yet others offer the treacherous rumour that the English leanings of one of the Earls of Menteith in the past may have influenced the title, but there doesn't seem to be any historical basis for such calumny.

Historically, it was widely known as the Loch of Menteith at least until the early years of the 19th century.

The lake has three islands. Inchtalla was the home of the Earls of Menteith in the 13th century and, as it was reckoned to be a good idea to have a religious house on one's estates, Earl Walter offered Inchmahome – the adjacent island to Inchtalla – to the Augustinians as a site for a priory.

With a gift of lands – and the incomes from those lands – he ensured sufficient funds for the Augustinians to build and maintain their monastery.

The newly established Bishop of Dunblane – whose approval had been only grudgingly given for the establishment of the priory – added the incomes from a couple of local parishes to the new foundation.

There appear to be no precise records as to the size of the community of Canons at I...

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• By : John Hannavy
• In : Outdoor Scotland
• Issue : 25
• Page : 18
• Words : 1,027