Updates:
Castle Loch’s 2nd Painting Competition is happening on Saturday, 1st July – registration is from 9.30am and judging from 3pm. See the Events page for further information about the rules.
Children’s Competition 2017: Castle Loch and Lockerbie Writers Children’s Short Story Competition – Running until midnight on Sunday, 27th August 2017. Calling all children aged 5 to 9 years and 10 to 13 years. In 500 words can you make up a story inspired by Lochmaben’s Castle Loch? Some ideas for things to write about… the life of a butterfly, the coming and going of birds, fairies in the woods, flowers in bloom, the castle ruins, kings & queens, after dark, a fisherman catching a big fish, what lives under the board walk… The only limit is your imagination. Further details and entrance form – Children’s writing competition info and entry form
Castle Loch video: The Scottish Land Fund were instrumental in enabling the community buyout of Castle Loch. At the tail end of 2016 they made a series of videos coverign some of the projects they have supported, including this one about Castle Loch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJA8gC1Y1DE
Castle Loch on ITV’s Border Life: Just in case you missed the ITV Border Life feature on Castle Loch, here is the link to watch online. Castle Loch is the first item and I think we all came across really well. Thanks to everyone for their help on the day of filming. http://www.itv.com/…/u…/2016-07-11/watch-border-life-online/
Paths update – posted 19 June 2017: The full 3 mile circuit of the loch path and boardwalk is fully open and not too bad underfoot for this point in winter. The volunteers have been patching the farm track over the last few weeks, making it a lot better. There are still a couple of muddy sections after rain passable with wellies/walking footwear, but harder going for buggies and mobility scooters – we plan to sort these out with the funding from the Tesco Bags of Help.
Volunteering activities: 1st Saturday and 3rd Thursday each month, also helpers during summer weekend afternoons to help staff the pop-up visitor centre at the loch side cottage.
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Winner of RSPB Nature of Scotland Community Initiative 2015
Winner of DG Life ‘People of the Year’ Award 2014
Welcome to Castle Loch, the largest and shallowest of the lochs in Lochmaben, Dumfries & Galloway. The site is one of the earliest Local Nature Reserves (LNR) and also a site of national and international importance for its birdlife with a whole list of designations, including Site of Scientific Interest, Ramsar Site and Special Protected Area. The loch is a fine location to visit at any time of the year, offering fine opportunities to see bird and wildlife, take walk, fish or take to the waters under sail. The site offers the chance to see breeding Willow Tit at their northern reaches, however it comes into its own during the winter season with the migration of Pink-footed Geese from Iceland and Greenland, along with Greylag Geese and Goosanders.
The ruins of Lochmaben Castle are found on promontory at the south end of the loch and offer an added attraction to experience first-hand the important historical connections of the area. The castle is a former stronghold of the Bruce family and is reckoned to be the best example of an Edwardian (Edward I, the Hammer of the Scots) Peel left in Scotland.
In 2013 the Castle Loch was put up for sale. The Castle Loch Advisory Committee provided the basis of a local Community Trust whose aim was to purchase the Castle Loch and its environs for the Community. The steering committee successfully raised the funds needed and Castle Loch Lochmaben Community Trust (CLLCT) took ownership of the site in January 2014.
Other recreational facilities located on the edge of the loch are the beautiful Victory Park, a bowling green and all weather tennis courts. There is an attractive path round most of the loch, which passes Lochmaben Castle and a Bird Hide, returning to the town on a quiet lane with fine views over the water and hills. Numerous fishing piers are found along the Lochmaben to Dalton road side of the loch, while a gently sloping path down to the lochside fishing pier, enabling wheelchair users to fish at the loch, is at the A709 car park. Annandale Sailing Club is a small friendly club and the loch can provide both sheltered waters for the nervous beginner or an interesting test for those who appreciate the subtleties of inland racing. Please note that the only motorised craft allowed on the loch are those of the Sailing Club rescue boats and Water Bailiff.
