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Loch Benachally

Coordinates: 56°38′06″N 3°30′58″W / 56.635°N 3.516°W / 56.635; -3.516
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Loch Benachally
The summit of Spurn Hill looking south by south-east to Loch Benachally in the distance.
Loch Benachally is located in Perth and Kinross
Loch Benachally
Loch Benachally
Location in Perth and Kinross
LocationNO071502
Coordinates56°38′06″N 3°30′58″W / 56.635°N 3.516°W / 56.635; -3.516
Typefreshwater reservoir
Primary outflowsBenachally Burn
Max. length1.641 km (1.020 mi)[1]
Max. width0.74 km (0.46 mi)[1]
Surface area173 ha (430 acres)[2]
Average depth24.93 ft (7.60 m)[1]
Max. depth63.97 ft (19.50 m)[1]
Water volume179,777,998 cu ft (5,090,746.0 m3)[1]
Shore length14 km (2.5 mi) [2]
Surface elevation308 m (1,010 ft)[2]
Max. temperature57.2 °F (14.0 °C)
Min. temperature48.8 °F (9.3 °C)
Islands0
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Loch Benachally is a large shallow freshwater reservoir that is located close to the Forest of Clunie in Perth and Kinross, Scotland.[1][2]

The reservoir is operated by Scottish Water.[3]

Iron Age villages

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Directly south-east of the reservoir are the remains of an Iron Age hut circle settlement and field system, centred on NO08354982, that can clearly be seen from an aerial view.[4] The settlement consisted of a line of 6 hut circles connected by a common baulk, with an isolated hut about 37 metres (121 ft) to the east.[4] The huts range from 13 metres (43 ft) down to 8.3 metres (27 ft) between wall centres. Some huts have stone enclosures.[4] The field system of the Iron Age settlement has been visibly preserved down the ages and is marked with the remains of lynchets, walls and heaps of cleared stone.[4] As the huts are in a straight line, they resemble a street. The conspicuousness of the "street" is enhanced by a wall which runs parallel to the row of houses, 15 metres (49 ft) to the south.[4]

To the east-north-east of the Loch Benachally directly from the dam at the very south of the loch, is another Iron Age hut circle settlement and field system.[4] Here as well, the field system is easily recognisable.[4] The hut circle settlement follows a north-west to south-east orientation and is a larger settlement with 12 hut circles.[4] The huts measure from 11.3 metres (37 ft) down to 3.7 metres (12 ft) between wall centres.[4] There are two fields—a large field to the north and west of the hut circle group, and a small field to the south.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Tay Basin Volume II – Loch Benachally Reservoir. National Library of Scotland. p. 121. Retrieved 14 June 2020.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c d "Benachally". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Benachally, Loch". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Loch Benachally". Canmore. National Record of the Historic Environment. Retrieved 20 June 2020.