Lake of Menteith
Encyclopedia
The Lake of Menteith
(Scottish Gaelic "Loch Innis MoCholmaig"), is a loch
in Scotland
, located on the Carse of Stirling
, the flood plain of the upper reaches of the rivers Forth
and Teith
, upstream of Stirling
. Until the early 19th century, the more usual Scottish name of Loch of Menteith was used. The only settlement of any size on the Lake of Menteith is Port of Menteith
.
There are a number of small islands in the loch. On the largest, Inchmahome
, is Inchmahome Priory
, an ancient monastery
. The priory
served as refuge to Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1547. She was only four years old at the time and stayed for three weeks after the disastrous Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
in September of that year.
The Loch is not particularly deep and can freeze over completely in exceptionally cold winters. If the ice becomes thick enough — at least 7 inches (17.8 cm) — an outdoor curling
tournament called The Bonspiel
or the Grand Match
is held on the loch. The event can attract thousands of curlers despite its rarity. The last Grand Match was held in 1979. The planned 2010 Bonspiel was abandoned on health and safety grounds.
The Lake of Menteith is often thought of as the only body of water in Scotland
that is referred to as a lake
. Actually, there are others, including four small artificial bodies: Pressmennan Lake
, the Lake of the Hirsel
, Lake Louise (within the grounds of Skibo Castle
) and Cally Lake (near Gatehouse of Fleet
). There is also a sea bay near Kirkcudbright
known as Manxmans Lake. Nearly all other major bodies of water in Scotland are known as loch
s.
This unusual name is believed to be due to a corruption by 16th C. Dutch cartographers of the Lowland Scots
Laich o Menteith, where "laich" simply means "low place". However, according to another legend, the body of water was named "Lake" in response to the betrayal of Sir William Wallace by a 13th C. Scottish Baron
; Sir John Menteith of Ruskie
. The English word "Lake" being attached to the body of water owned by Sir John in order to indicate to all to which country he owed his true allegiance.
Menteith
Menteith or Monteith , a district of south Perthshire, Scotland, roughly comprises the territory between the Teith and the Forth. The region is named for the river Teith, but the exact sense is unclear, early forms including Meneted, Maneteth and Meneteth.First recorded as the Mormaerdom of...
(Scottish Gaelic "Loch Innis MoCholmaig"), is a loch
Loch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, located on the Carse of Stirling
Carse
In Scottish geography, a Carse is an area of low-lying, typically alluvial and fertile land occupying certain Scottish river valleys, such as that of the River Forth.-Carse of Forth :...
, the flood plain of the upper reaches of the rivers Forth
River Forth
The River Forth , long, is the major river draining the eastern part of the central belt of Scotland.The Forth rises in Loch Ard in the Trossachs, a mountainous area some west of Stirling...
and Teith
River Teith
The River Teith in Scotland flows from the north-west into the River Forth near Drip north-west of Stirling.- Etymology :The name comes from the Scottish Gaelic Uisge Theavich, which translates into English as the "pleasant river".- Course :...
, upstream of Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
. Until the early 19th century, the more usual Scottish name of Loch of Menteith was used. The only settlement of any size on the Lake of Menteith is Port of Menteith
Port of Menteith
Port of Menteith is a village and parish in the Stirling district of Scotland, the only significant settlement on the Lake of Menteith. It was established as a burgh of barony, then named simply Port, in 1457 by King James III of Scotland...
.
There are a number of small islands in the loch. On the largest, Inchmahome
Inchmahome
Inchmahome, an anglicisation of Innis Mo Cholmaig , is the largest of three islands in the Lake of Menteith, in Stirlingshire.- History :...
, is Inchmahome Priory
Inchmahome Priory
Inchmahome Priory is situated on Inchmahome , the largest of three islands in the centre of Lake of Menteith, close to Aberfoyle, Scotland....
, an ancient monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. The priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
served as refuge to Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1547. She was only four years old at the time and stayed for three weeks after the disastrous Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, on the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland on 10 September 1547, was part of the War of the Rough Wooing. It was the last pitched battle between Scottish and English armies, and is seen as the first modern battle in the British Isles...
in September of that year.
The Loch is not particularly deep and can freeze over completely in exceptionally cold winters. If the ice becomes thick enough — at least 7 inches (17.8 cm) — an outdoor curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
tournament called The Bonspiel
Bonspiel
A bonspiel is a curling tournament, traditionally held outdoors on a frozen freshwater loch. The word comes from the Scottish Gaelic and means league match . Though not mandatory, curling teams involved in bonspiels often wear theme costumes...
or the Grand Match
Grand Match
The Grand Match, also called The Bonspiel, is an outdoor curling tournament, or bonspiel, held most recently on the Lake of Menteith in Stirling, Scotland when the weather is cold enough. Traditionally it is a match between the north and south of Scotland....
is held on the loch. The event can attract thousands of curlers despite its rarity. The last Grand Match was held in 1979. The planned 2010 Bonspiel was abandoned on health and safety grounds.
The Lake of Menteith is often thought of as the only body of water in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
that is referred to as a lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
. Actually, there are others, including four small artificial bodies: Pressmennan Lake
Pressmennan Lake
Pressmennan Lake is a lake in East Lothian in Scotland.It is an artificial reservoir constructed in 1819. It lies in a gully in the Lammermuir Hills, above the village of Stenton in East Lothian...
, the Lake of the Hirsel
Lake of the Hirsel
The Lake of the Hirsel or Hirsel Lake is an artificial body of water near Coldstream in Berwickshire in Scotland. It is set in the grounds of The Hirsel, home of the Home family and of the late Sir Alec Douglas-Home.It covers around...
, Lake Louise (within the grounds of Skibo Castle
Skibo Castle
Skibo Castle is located to the west of Dornoch in the Highland county of Sutherland, Scotland overlooking the Dornoch Firth. Although the castle dates back to the 12th century, the present structure is largely of the 19th century, and early 20th century, when it was the home of industrialist...
) and Cally Lake (near Gatehouse of Fleet
Gatehouse of Fleet
Gatehouse of Fleet is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, which has existed since the mid-18th century, although the area has been inhabited since much earlier...
). There is also a sea bay near Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright, is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.The town lies south of Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie, in the part of Dumfries and Galloway known as the Stewartry, at the mouth of the River Dee, some six miles from the sea...
known as Manxmans Lake. Nearly all other major bodies of water in Scotland are known as loch
Loch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
s.
This unusual name is believed to be due to a corruption by 16th C. Dutch cartographers of the Lowland Scots
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
Laich o Menteith, where "laich" simply means "low place". However, according to another legend, the body of water was named "Lake" in response to the betrayal of Sir William Wallace by a 13th C. Scottish Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
; Sir John Menteith of Ruskie
Ruskie
Ruskie is a village in the Stirling council area, Scotland. Location: . Postal code: FK8. It is located 2.8 miles/4.5km from Thornhill.-External links:** in Google Maps...
. The English word "Lake" being attached to the body of water owned by Sir John in order to indicate to all to which country he owed his true allegiance.