Loch of Strathbeg

Infobox lake
lake_name = Loch Strathbeg
image_lake = Lochofstrathbeg2.jpg
caption_lake = Looking south-east across the loch
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Aberdeenshire, Scotland
coords = coord|57.619806|N|1.876943|W|region:GB_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type = loch
inflow =
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = United Kingdom
length =
width =
area =
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =
islands =
cities =
frozen =

The Loch of Strathbeg (also known as Loch Strathbeg; "historically "Strathbeg Water"; "Water of Strathbeg"; "Rattray Water" or "Water of Rattray") is a designated Special Protection Area for wildlife conservation purposes. It is located near to Rattray and Crimond in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The loch is maintained by the RSPB and around the loch there are three hides from which visitors may watch the birds and other wildlife. Access to the loch is through Crimond airfield where there is a car park at the edge of the reserve. There is also the 'Starnafin Centre' from which visitors may also watch the birds from and find out more information about which birds and animals are present locally.

The RSPB records over 260 species of bird, 280 species of insect and 26 species of mammal at the reserve.citeweb|url=http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/lochofstrathbeg/about.asp|title=About the Loch of Strathbeg|author=RSPB|accessdate=2007-07-06]

Formation

The loch is a very recent creation of geological times, forming naturally in a massive storm in 1720. The lagoon, where the loch is now, its small harbour "Starny Keppie" and the village of Rattray, were cut off from the sea and engulfed by shifting sands.citeweb|url=http://www.world66.com/europe/unitedkingdom/scotland/rattray_head|title=Rattray Head Travel Guide|publisher=World 66|accessdate=2007-07-06] citebook|title=The Bard O' Buchan Vol 1'|author=Stanley Bruce|date=2005|isbn=0-9547960-2-0|publisher=Bard Books]

A historical account says that the storm blocked "the outlet of the stream called the burn of Strathbeg into the sea" after which it flowed directly into the loch.

There is another stream, the "Burn o’ Rattra"citeweb|url=http://www.world66.com/europe/unitedkingdom/scotland/rattray_head|title=Rattray Head Travel Guide|publisher=World 66|accessdate=2007-07-06] citebook|title=The Bard O' Buchan Vol 1'|author=Stanley Bruce|date=2005|isbn=0-9547960-2-0|publisher=Bard Books] flowing into the loch. Ordnance Survey mapping of the Loch shows four streams ("burns" in Scots) and one exit point into the north sea.

1854 Study

In 1854 the loch was estimated at "550 Scotch acres"citebook|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=6RkvAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA712&dq=Crimond&as_brr=1#PPA218,M1| title=The New Statistical Account of Scotland|author=Society for the Benefit of the Sons and Daughters of the Clergy|date=1854|publisher=W. Blackwood and Sons] (2.9 km² ) of which "more than three-fourths" were to be found in the Parish of Crimond and to have an "average depth is about 3½ feet" (approx. 1.1 metres) "its greatest depth does not exceed 6½ feet" (approx. 2 metres). It must be noted that does not necessarily corolate with today, as the same source also notes that the nearby beach head was at the time saturated and "oozing water" indeed it says that the loch had dropped at least convert|4|ft|m since 1817, only 37 years earlier.

Maps

Historical maps of the area are available online that show the transition of Strathbeg Bay into Loch Strathbeg "(links are provided rather than the image for copyright reasons):"

References

External links

* [http://www.visitpeterhead.org.uk/ Official Tourism Web Site]
* [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1907 Special Protection Area designation]
* [http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/lochofstrathbeg/index.asp RSPB webpage on Loch Strathbeg]