Loch Trool

Loch Trool
Location	Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Coordinates	55°05′17″N 4°29′29″W / 55.08806°N 4.49139°W / 55.08806; -4.49139Coordinates: 55°05′17″N 4°29′29″W / 55.08806°N 4.49139°W / 55.08806; -4.49139
Type	freshwater loch
Primary inflows	Pulnabrick, Buchan, Gairland, Glenhead, Pulharrow Burns.
Primary outflows	Water of Trool
Basin countries	Scotland
Max. length	1.5 mi (2.4 km)[1]
Max. width	0.25 mi (0.40 km)[1]
Surface area	55.6 ha (137 acres)[2]
Average depth	7.5 ft (2.3 m)[1]
Max. depth	55 ft (17 m)[1]
Water volume	116,000,000 cu ft (3,300,000 m3)[1]
Shore length1	6.7 km (4.2 mi)[2]
Surface elevation	75 m (246 ft)[2]
Islands	1[2]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Loch Trool is a narrow, freshwater loch in Galloway, in the Southern Uplands in south-west Scotland. It lies in an elevated position in Glen Trool in the Galloway Forest Park and is approximately 8 mi (13 km) north of the town of Newton Stewart.^[1] The loch is the source of the Water of Trool which flows to the Water of Minnoch and the River Cree. The loch and its surroundings are considered an area of natural beauty and there is a scenic footpath around its perimeter.^[3]

In April 1307 Robert the Bruce fought and won the Battle of Glen Trool on the shores of the loch. On its north side stands Bruce's Stone which commemorates the victory.

Loch Trool is also reported to be the darkest place in the UK at night.

Survey

The loch was surveyed^[1] in 1903 by James Murray and later charted ^[4] as part of Sir John Murray's Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909.

References