Dubh Loch
Dubh Loch
Location	Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Coordinates	56°55′46″N 3°15′12″W / 56.92944°N 3.25333°W / 56.92944; -3.25333
Type	freshwater loch
Primary outflows	Allt an Dubh-loch
Basin countries	Scotland
Surface area	19.9 ha (49 acres)[1]
Shore length1	2.3 km (1.4 mi)[1]
Surface elevation	637 m (2,090 ft)[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Dubh Loch is a small upland loch situated within the Balmoral Estate, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is at an altitude of 637 metres (2,090 ft), with a perimeter of 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi).^[1] Its outflow, Allt an Dubh-loch, empties into Loch Muick approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the southeast near the royal lodge Glas-allt-Shiel.^[2] To the southeast of the loch is the Munro Broad Cairn. To the northwest the ground slopes steeply up to Càrn a' Coire Boidheach and Lochnagar.^[3] To the west is Cairn Bannoch and over a high col to the southwest lies Loch Callater.^[4]

Creag an Dubh Loch

Creag an Dubh Loch

A granite wall, Creag an Dubh Loch, rises steeply above the loch on the southeast shading the loch from the sun – hence the name "dark lake". Creag an Dubh Loch is about 1.5 kilometres (0.9 mi) long and generally about 200 metres (660 ft) high – at its highest it is 270 metres (890 ft) making it the highest continuous rock face in the Cairngorms.^[3]

The loch was a favourite spot for Queen Victoria to visit from her retreat at Glas-allt-Shiel. Once her son Alfred swam out into the loch to capture and kill a wounded stag in the water.^[3]

References