Canoe Loch Maree – join us for a canoe on this iconic loch!

Loch Maree is a loch in Wester Ross and at 20 km (12 miles) long, it is the fourth largest freshwater loch in Scotland. Its surface area is 28.6 km² (11.0 sq mi). The loch contains five large wooded islands and over 60 smaller ones, many of which have their own lakelets. Isle Maree has the remains of a chapel, graveyard, holy well, and holy tree on it, believed to be the 8th century hermitage of Saint Máel Ruba (d. 722), who founded the monastery of Applecross in 672.

The waters of the loch were also thought to have curative effects, with being submerged in the water thought to be a cure for lunacy. All of the loch’s islands are conservation areas.

Due to its remote location there is little industry and tourism surrounding the loch. Early on, it became a popular spot for trout fishing after Queen Victoria visited the Loch Maree Hotel in 1877, which led to the naming of Victoria Falls.

The loch is of international importance for its special wildlife and biodiversity. Until recently, thousands of adult sea trout (seagoing brown trout Salmo trutta) and salmon (Salmo salar) returned to the loch from the sea every summer.

Sea trout and salmon are an important part of the ecosystem here, providing food for black-throated divers and otters for which the loch is a designated Special Area of Conservation and Special Protected Area under the EU Habitats Directive.

The loch also has two separate populations of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) about which little is known. One form of charr, with a big eye which feeds on the bottom in deep water matures at less than 15 cm. The other form grows to over 32 cm and can sometimes be seen in shoals ruffling the surface when the loch is calm.

Loch Maree is mentioned in the Runrig song “The Summer Walkers” from the album “The Stamping Ground”

And it’s up by the Shin

And up by the ‘Naver

And the long winding shores Of Loch Maree

By Ben Hope and Ben Loyal

Stack and by Arkle

The road reaches far

Now the summer is here

Book online now to paddle Loch Maree!