Lake of Monteith ~ Ice Skating & Curling 2010

Lake of Monteith 9th January 2010...................

The Lake of Menteith (Scottish Gaelic "Loch Innis MoCholmaig"), is a loch in Scotland, located on the Flanders Moss, the flood plain of the upper reaches of the rivers Forth and Teith, upstream of Stirling. Until the early 1800s, 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.

The 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 (18 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 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 lochs. This unusual name is believed to be a corruption of the Lowland Scots Laich o Menteith, where "laich" simply means "low place".

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Scotland
• Lake
• of
• Monteith
• curling

[mosmilestones]

Great video. It really captures the atmosphere. We were there on the Sunday and the sun shone. Fantastic day.

[alanw8951]

excellent stuff...I am offshore working now, but was out skating last week, love it. Slainte.

[smilekatysmile]

very nice video.

[o0FuMeZ0o]

wow i might be going there next week :) lovely hotel lovely

[Paperball]

Ah - but in this modern age of communication the authorities can either have an official Grand Match - or an unofficial flashmob curling event. Certainly, curlers won't wait for the RCCC next time. So what would they prefer?

[sierraforeva]

The ice was well over the 7cm limit but the police said they were not prepared for the number of people that would descend on the Loch. So basically they will never be prepared because that was unusual weather and thus there will never be another Grand match. Bloody Health and safety!!!

[ROBI3097]

i was their and slipped nd broke my wirist

[Paperball]

and the reason there wasn't a Grand Match was........?

[soulsupremeful]

Fab video :)

[bealach]

I was there! Didn`t see you!

Good video.