LENY WATER 47 



LENY WATER 



The rise of the Leny Water, the most northerly of the three 

 lines of water-flow in the Forth district, is the Lochlarig Water 

 which flows into Loch Doine. This stream has its origin on the 

 eastern side of the high pass (about 1,800 feet), which separates 

 the Lochlarig glen from the mouth of Glen Falloch at the head 

 of Loch Lomond. Lochs Doine, Voil, and Lubnaig were, no 

 doubt, at one time a continuous sheet of water, and even at 

 the present day the separations which exist are slight, being 

 stretches of alluvium washed down by the hill streams, which 

 all enter the valley of the lochs at right angles. The burn in 

 the Monaclyle glen is chiefly responsible for the delta which 

 now separates Loch Doine from Loch Voil. Both lochs are 

 still of the same level, and similar depths are found on either 

 side of the mass of detritus which separates them. The height 

 above the sea is 414 feet, which is 50 feet above the level of 

 Loch Katrine, and the suggestion was made that Glasgow 

 Water Commissioners could add to their supply in Loch 

 Katrine by tapping Loch Voil and tunnelling to Loch Katrine. 

 Fortunately for the salmon fishing interests this proposal was 

 knocked on the head at Westminster. The two lochs drain 

 an area of 24,600 acres, or 38| square miles. Loch Voil is 3| 

 miles long and has a mean breadth of a quarter of a mile. The 

 average depth is about 40 feet, and the maximum depth 98 

 feet. The deep water is at the western end and the water 

 then gradually shallows in the Balquhidder direction. Loch 

 Doine is a simple basin, deepening centrally to 65 feet. 



Both lochs are set amongst magnificent mountains of varied 

 outline, and, lying as they do in an east and west direction, 

 offer views, especially at sunset, which cannot easily be excelled 

 in Scotland. This is the centre of the Rob Roy country ; his 

 house stood at the head of Loch Doine, and he was hunted 

 hard on the Braes of Balquhidder and on Loch Lomond side. 

 He lies buried in Balquhidder kirkyard. 



Salmon penetrate to both lochs, although they are not caught 

 in great numbers ; but they manage to reach these waters 

 fairly early in the season, so that the chance of catching the 

 fish that are present is greater than otherwise would be the case. 

 Fish which enter a loch late are never of any sporting value. 



