Loch of Hundland

Summary

The Loch of Hundland is a shallow freshwater loch in the parish of Birsay in the north west of the mainland of Orkney, Scotland. The loch lies between the larger lochs of Swannay and Boardhouse and acts as the main water catchment for Loch of Boardhouse. It has a great variety of aquatic plants including species that are unusual locally and nationally, and many types of birds including waders, gulls, larks and ducks that nest or use the loch.[3] It is also popular for trout fishing.[4]

Loch of Hundland
Hundland loch
Loch of Hundland
Loch of Hundland looking south west over pasture towards the loch. The water in the distance is the Loch of Boardhouse.
Loch of Hundland is located in Orkney Islands
Loch of Hundland
Loch of Hundland
Coordinates59°6′58″N 3°14′3″W / 59.11611°N 3.23417°W / 59.11611; -3.23417[1]
TypeFreshwater loch
Primary outflowsBurn of Kirbuster [2]
Basin countriesScotland
Max. length1.3 mi (2.1 km)[2]
Max. width0.5 mi (0.80 km)[2]
Surface area100.8 ha (0.389 sq mi)[1]
Average depth4 ft (1.2 m)[2]
Max. depth7 ft (2.1 m)[2]
Water volume51,000,000 cu ft (1,400,000 m3)[2]
Surface elevation25 m (82 ft)[1]
Islands6 islets[1]

The loch was surveyed[2] in 1906 by James Murray and later charted[5] as part of the Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909. [6]

Climate data for Orkney: Loch of Hundland, 28m asl, 1981–2010
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 6.4
(43.5)
6.4
(43.5)
7.6
(45.7)
9.9
(49.8)
12.5
(54.5)
14.3
(57.7)
16.5
(61.7)
16.2
(61.2)
14.1
(57.4)
11.4
(52.5)
8.6
(47.5)
6.9
(44.4)
10.9
(51.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.4
(34.5)
1.0
(33.8)
2.0
(35.6)
3.4
(38.1)
5.5
(41.9)
7.7
(45.9)
10.1
(50.2)
9.8
(49.6)
8.3
(46.9)
6.1
(43.0)
3.4
(38.1)
1.8
(35.2)
5.1
(41.2)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 118.5
(4.67)
90.5
(3.56)
92.8
(3.65)
59.0
(2.32)
43.4
(1.71)
49.5
(1.95)
56.3
(2.22)
64.6
(2.54)
100.2
(3.94)
124.4
(4.90)
119.0
(4.69)
106.1
(4.18)
1,024.2
(40.32)
Average rainy days 21.4 16.9 19.5 13.1 10.2 11.3 10.9 12.0 14.5 19.1 21.5 21.2 191.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 25.9 62.1 95.4 150.4 205.6 154.1 135.7 136.4 99.2 73.6 37.0 22.3 1,197.7
Source: metoffice.gov.uk[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Loch of Hundland, Orkney". British Lakes. 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909, Lochs of Orkney". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Natural Heritage, Annex 1: Local Nature Conservation Sites" (PDF). Orkney Island Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  4. ^ "The Lochs of Orkney". Orkney Trout Fishing. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  5. ^ "View: Lochs of Boardhouse, Hundland and Swannay - Bathymetrical Survey, 1897-1909". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  6. ^ Murray, John; Pullar, Laurence (1910). Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland during the years 1897 to 1909: report on scientific results. Edinburgh: National Library of Scotland.
  7. ^ "Climate Normals 1981–2010". Met Office. Retrieved 23 February 2021.