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 | |
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Hundland loch | |
![]() Loch of Hundland looking south west over pasture towards the loch. The water in the distance is the Loch of Boardhouse. | |
Coordinates | 59°6′58″N 3°14′3″W[1] |
Type | Freshwater loch |
Primary outflows | Burn of Kirbuster [2] |
Basin countries | Scotland |
Max. length | 1.3 mi (2.1 km)[2] |
Max. width | 0.5 mi (0.80 km)[2] |
Surface area | 100.8 ha (0.389 sq mi)[1] |
Average depth | 4 ft (1.2 m)[2] |
Max. depth | 7 ft (2.1 m)[2] |
Water volume | 51,000,000 cu ft (1,400,000 m3)[2] |
Surface elevation | 25 m (82 ft)[1] |
Islands | 6 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 |
Average high °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) |
Average low °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] |