Lofty lochs: understanding Scotland’s deepest lochs

So, what is the deepest loch in Scotland? Loch Morar in the Lochaber area of the Highlands takes the crown. Its deepest point reaches around 310 metres – deeper than most of the seabed off Scotland’s west coast! That’s the same height as The Shard building in London – the tallest building in the UK. 

Not only is Loch Morar the deepest in Scotland, it is also the third deepest loch in Europe. With plenty of safe entry points for wild swimming and watersports, many swimmers take advantage of the white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters of the nearby Silver Sands of Morar. 

Did you know? According to local legend, it is even home to a mysterious creature known as Morag, who is said to resemble the Loch Ness Monster.

Not only is Loch Ness perhaps Scotland's most famed loch, it is also Scotland's second-deepest loch and our largest loch by volume. At its deepest point, Loch Ness is around 230 metres – about the same height that the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, sits above water!  

If you fancy going wild swimming, we recommend Urquhart Castle on the west side of the loch. Visitors can enjoy a day dipping in the loch as the Scottish sun beats down through the castle ruins. Make sure to also check out The Loch Ness Centre – it’s not to be missed! 

Did you know? Loch Ness contains more freshwater than all the lakes in England and Wales combined!  

The third deepest loch in Scotland is another one of the country's best known – Loch Lomond. Located significantly further south than Loch Morar and Loch Ness, just 30 minutes from Stirling and Glasgow, it stretches about 190 metres at its deepest point. That’s the equivalent of stacking two of New York's Statue of Liberty monuments on top of each other!  

For those looking to venture into open water swimming in Scotland, Loch Lomond hosts an annual swimming event every September called Go Swim. It’s an excellent way to experience wild swimming, regardless of swimming level, safe in the knowledge that you're surrounded by experts.

Did you know? Interestingly, Loch Lomond is also the biggest loch in Great Britain by surface area, spanning a whopping 71 sq. km and 36 km long.

The Scottish loch with the easiest name to remember is Loch Lochy. It is the fourth deepest loch in Scotland and is located in the Lochaber region of the Highlands. At its deepest point, the loch reaches approximately 162 metres – that’s about the same as four Boeing 737-800 planes (at around 40m each) stacked from tail to nose!  

Nearby the lighthouse on Loch Lochy, there’s a lovely stone beach that makes for an excellent entry and exit point for wild swimming.

Did you know? Early Gaelic translations of the name ‘Loch Lochy’ roughly translate to mean ‘loch of the dark goddess’. 

Loch Ericht is the fifth largest loch in Scotland and sits on the border between Perth and Kinross and the Highlands. With a maximum depth of about 156 metres, Loch Ericht is roughly as deep as the Blackpool Tower is tall! Travelling visitors can easily access the loch from Dalwhinnie's railway station before picking a spot for swimming (or admiring) on one of the many little beaches that surround the loch. Why not head for a wee dram at Dalwhinnie Distillery after plunging in the cold waters of Ericht to warm up?  

Did you know? Compared to its length, the loch is relatively narrow, coming in at about 0.80 km wide at the widest point.

Loch Katrine is located in the heart of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and is Scotland’s sixth deepest loch. Reaching depths of about 150 metres, Loch Katrine is as deep as the iconic Spring Temple Buddha statue in China is tall.  

Swimming in the loch is permitted as long as staff at Loch Katrine are aware of it and swimmers stay away from the cruise routes. If you prefer to stay on dry land, hire a bike from Trossachs Pier at Katrine Wheelz.

Did you know? The loch has also been used as a filming location for the globally famous series, Outlander.

While Loch Tay is the seventh deepest loch in the country, it's the largest in Perthshire and, reaches depths of around 150m. At its deepest point, you could stack more than two of India's glorious Taj Mahal buildings on top of each other. For those looking for a bit of rejuvenation, the Taymouth Marina Spa has a slide from their onshore facilities directly into the loch's chilly waters. If that's not enough, Unique Adventure Tours Scotland offer private half-day or full day Stand-Up Paddleboarding sessions.    

Did you know? Ancient settlers once lived upon the loch, inhabiting artificially created islands that are known as crannogs. 

Loch Rannoch in Perthshire is our eighth deepest loch, with the deepest recorded point at around 130 metres. That's about the same in depth as the London Eye is in height.  

Much like Loch Tay, Loch Rannoch is also home to a Crannog (artificial island) that was used in the 18th century as a base for the outlawed members of the MacGregor Clan. The expansive sandy shores mean you could easily have miles of this watery world to yourself. However, for those who are less experienced in wild swimming, Loch Rannoch has plenty of watersports opportunities where an expert can show you the ropes. 

Did you know? Loch Rannoch is also an excellent place for wildlife spotting, with animals such as red squirrels, pine martins, otters, capercaillie, and red deer in abundance.

Scotland’s ninth deepest loch, Loch Shiel, comes in at about 120 metres in depth – or about the same height as the Glasgow Tower that towers over the city’s skyline. What’s a Scottish loch without a resident monster? Loch Shiel is said to be home to a mythical creature known as Seileag – an enormous eel that lived in the ocean but sometimes entered the lochs. 

Did you know? The loch has been used as a backdrop of the Hogwarts school in the Harry Potter films and for the scenes where the characters are at the ‘Black Lake’. For those looking to explore more of the Harry Potter filming locations, check out our film and book itinerary.

Loch Maree might just be our most beautiful loch. With a maximum recorded depth of 112 metres, Loch Maree is about the same in depth as two Leaning Towers of Pisa in Italy would be in height. 

Tollie Bay on the loch is a favoured spot for wild swimmers and watersports enthusiasts, but Loch Maree’s real water attraction lies in its scattered islands. The islands are some of the least disturbed places by humans in the UK, and support many extremely rare species of plants, insects, and birds.

Did you know? Loch Maree is another loch said to be the home of a monster, so wild swimmers should beware! Muc-sheilche (which loosely translates to 'turtle-pig') is said to live in the Loch Maree and the nearby lochs.

Last but by no means least, we have Loch Arkaig. Tucked away between Fort William and Inverness, it is Scotland's eleventh deepest loch, plunging to depths of roughly 91 metres and is as deep as the Forth Bridge is at its highest point above water.  

Arkaig is a hidden gem tucked away off the beaten track with many water wellness experiences for visitors to enjoy. Wild swimming explorers can dip into the loch or head to explore the waterfall at Cha-aig to enjoy the chilly waters of one of the waterfalls' pools.

Did you know? Rumour has it that Loch Arkaig is home to some hidden treasure. In 1745, seven caskets of gold came to Scotland from Spain to finance Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite uprising in Scotland. But by the time the gold arrived, the war was already over.