Water Safety Week: Just how deep are the lochs in Scotland

With the arrival of warmer weather and in advance of Water Safety Week, VisitScotland has visualised the enormous depths of Scotland's eleven deepest lochs by comparing them to iconic landmarks.

Article Source: VisitScotland
Last Updated: 7 June 2023 12:43

New illustrations released by VisitScotland have captured the true depths of Scotland's deepest lochs ahead of Water Safety Week (18th -25th June).

Recent reports estimate that wild swimming in the UK has increased by threefold since 2019, and searches for "wild swimming in Scotland" have soared by 242%* in just this past month alone.

With Scotland clearly on the minds of travellers looking to explore blue spaces this summer, VisitScotland hopes that the new illustrations will help swimmers and those participating in watersports, and activities such as paddleboarding, to understand the complexity and grandiosity of its beautiful Lochs.

While Scotland's lochs may seem calm on the surface, they are full of crevices, underwater currents, sharp drops (and even rumoured creatures). Therefore, it's crucial that those choosing to go into Scotland's lochs fully appreciate what goes on beneath the surface.

And, because 'seeing is believing', VisitScotland has decided to show exactly how deep Scotland's eleven deepest lochs plunge below the surface by comparing them to iconic landmarks and structures from across the globe.

See the first five deepest lochs in Scotland and their size comparisons below:

1. Loch Morar

Loch Morar in the Lochaber area of the Highlands takes the crown as the deepest loch in Scotland. At its deepest point, the loch reaches depths of around 1,020ft – deeper than most of the seabed off Scotland’s west coast!

Loch Morar is the third-deepest loch in Europe and, according to local legend, it is even home to a mysterious creature known as Morag, who is said to resemble Loch Ness’ Nessie.

That’s about the same depth as:
• The height of the UK’s tallest building: The Shard building in London (1,016ft).
• 69 Great White Sharks stacked from nose to tail.

2. Loch Ness

Not only is Loch Ness perhaps Scotland's most well-known loch, but it is also Scotland's second-deepest loch coming in at about 745ft at its deepest point.
Loch Ness is also Scotland’s biggest loch by volume and contains more freshwater than all the lakes in England and Wales combined.

That’s about the same depth as:
• The height of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, the towers of which sit at a height of 746ft above water!
• 65 Adult African Elephants (with an average size of 3.5m), stacked one on top of the other.

3. Loch Lomond

The third deepest loch in Scotland is Loch Lomond, which comes in at about 620ft at its deepest point.
Interestingly, Loch Lomond is also the biggest loch in the UK by surface area, spanning a whopping 71 sq km and 24 miles long.

That’s about the same depth as:
• More than two Statue of Liberty monuments stacked on top of each other (305ft each, including the pedestal statue it sits upon).
• Or, for a more everyday comparison, 190 average-sized washing machines stacked.

4. Loch Lochy

The fourth deepest Scottish loch is that with the easiest to remember (or most unoriginal) name: Loch Lochy in the Lochaber region of the Highlands.
At its deepest point, Loch Lochy reaches depths of approximately 531ft.

That’s about the same depth as:
• Four Boeing 737-800 planes (at around 130ft each) stacked from tail to nose!
• A tower made of approximately 16,875 standard LEGO bricks.

5. Loch Ericht

Loch Ericht is the fifth largest loch in Scotland and sits on the border between Perth and Kinross and the Highlands.
At its deepest point, Loch Ericht reaches depths of about 512ft.

That’s about the same depth as:
• The height of the Blackpool Tower, which is 519ft tall.
• 54,167 £1 coins stacked on top of each other.

To view the eleven deepest lochs and their size comparisons, please visit: www.visitscotland.com

Vicki Miller, VisitScotland Director of Marketing & Digital said: “Our research has shown the positive influence water can have on wellbeing and in recent years we’ve seen an increase in popularity of activities embracing this such as wild swimming and paddleboarding.

“Through this campaign we wanted to bring to life the majesty of these waters and show that while our lochs offer plenty of opportunities, there is a need to remain safe when enjoying them. Fortunately, our lochs are home to many fantastic businesses and operators who can help visitors experience the water safely and responsibly.”

James Sullivan, Chair of Water Safety Scotland comments: “Lofty Lochs is a thought-provoking campaign that visibly highlights the extreme depths of Scotland’s lochs.

“The breathtaking beauty of Scotland’s lochs makes them very alluring, but it is important that people are aware of the inherent dangers posed by their extremes in both depth and temperature.

“Individuals should make themselves aware of the risks and take the appropriate precautions to ensure these areas of great outstanding beauty can be enjoyed safely and responsibly.

“We encourage everyone to familiarise themselves with the water safety code and also more specific advice from WSS, which can be found on our website.”

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