In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Lochy like this:
Lochy, a lake and a river of SW Inverness-shire. Lying 93 feet above sea-level, Loch Lochy is the southwesternmost of the chain of fresh-water lakes in the Great Glen, and forms part of the navigation of the Caledonian Canal. It extends 95/8 miles south-westward, and varies in width between 1 and 9¾ furlongs. ...
It receives the Archaig on its north-western side, and the stream from Glengloy on its south-eastern; has steep shores and lofty continuous mountain screens, mostly of bare appearance, and here and there torn with gullies; commands, to the SW, a magnificent vista, closed by Ben Nevis; near its banks has Glenfintaig House, Glenfintaig Lodge, and Achnacarry House; and adjoins, at its head, the scene of a sanguinary battle, fought in 1544 between the Frasers under the fifth Lord Lovat and the Macdonalds of Clanranald. On 12 Sept. 1873 the Queen, who was staying at Inverlochy, sailed half way up Loch Lochy on the small screw steamer of Cameron of Lochiel, and by him was shown the scenes of Prince Charlie's wanderings-an excursion described on pp. 252-256 of More Leaves from the Journal of a life in the Highlands (1884). The river Lochy, issuing from the foot of the lake, winds 93/8 miles south-south-westward along the mutual border of Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig parishes-for the last 57/8 miles dividing Inverness-shire from Argyllshire-till, near Fort William, it falls into the head of salt-water Loch Linnhe. It goes first for 3¼ furlongs in an artificial channel, cut for it at the formation of the Caledonian Canal, and then for 5 furlongs in the channel of its former tributary, the Spean, and it rushes with such force and rapidity into Loch Eil as to preserve, for a considerable distance, distinctness of current and freshness of water. One of its greatest spates, that of 22 June 1880, swept away 350 sheep at Inverlochy. It is one of the best salmon streams in Scotland, and contains also plenty of sea and river trout.—Ord. Sur., shs. 63, 62, 1873-75.
Lochy through time
Lochy is now part of Highland district. Click here for graphs and data of how Highland has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Lochy itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Lochy, in Highland and Inverness Shire | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/26922
Date accessed: 19th April 2024
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