Scotland’s only Lake.*

The Lake of Menteith.

We stopped for picnic lunch here.

Why Lake and not Loch? Lots of theories, I’ve read around this. Popular is that the Lake was previously named the ‘Loch of Inchmaholm’ but a Dutch cartographer misread the old Scots word ‘Laich' (of Monteith) as ‘lake' and it somehow became adopted as the ‘Lake of Monteith.’ But there are learned opinions from the University of Glasgow that show it as Loch or similar....on James Stobie’s map of the Counties of Perth and Clackmannan, (1783), it’s named ‘Loch of Menteith,’ while in a letter dated to 1817–19, Sir Walter Scott called it ‘Lough of Menteith.’ There’s more of this cited. It appears there’s been lots of discussion, but no definitive answer .....and also why is it “of”? None of the other lochs are “of”....Loch Lomond is not Loch “of” Lomond etc. Phew.

We drove through the windy steep Duke’s Pass, (so love my automatic car), where the autumn colours and views simply excelled. The drive alongside Loch Achray and Loch Venachar was peaceful and so bonny. Several of the Munro’s were standing proud, summits visible.

Scotland at it’s beautiful best today. Just don’t tell everyone.

* freshwater natural (not man made).