THE FRESH-WATER LOCHS OP SCOTLAND. 
241 
LOCHS OF THE SHIEL BASIN. 
Only two lochs belonging to this basin were sounded, viz., Lochs Shiel 
and Dilate ; one or two other small lochs within the basin (the principal 
one being Lochan Dubh, at the head of Glen Hurich) were not sounded. 
Loch Shiel (see Plates LII. and LIII.). — Loch Shiel is one of the 
larger Scottish fresh- water lochs, having a total length of 17J miles. In 
this respect it is inferior only to Lochs Awe, Ness, and Lomond, which 
are 25J, 24J, and 22J miles in length respectively, and is closely followed 
by Loch Shin, which is 17|- miles in length. Its elevation above the sea 
is only 11^ feet, so that a slight subsidence of the strip of land through 
which the river Shiel flows would convert it into an arm of the sea. 
Seals occasionally make their way into this loch from the sea at the 
present time. The principal upper portion of the loch trends in a 
north-east and south-west direction, but about 6 miles above the outflow 
there is a bend in the outline of the loch, and the lower portion trends 
almost due west. The river Shiel follows a north-westerly course for 
about 2 miles before emptying itself into Loch Moidart. The scenery 
around the loch is very fine, becoming grand and wild towards the 
head. At the foot of the loch the surrounding ground is low, but on 
proceeding up the loch mountainous country borders the loch on both 
sides, culminating in heights exceeding 3000 feet at the head of Glen 
Finnan. To the south rises Ben Resipol (2774 feet), between Loch 
Shiel and Loch Sunart; to the east Sgor an Tarinachain (2474 feet), 
Meall Mor (2487 feet), Meall nan Creag Leac (2474 feet), Glas Garbh 
(2369 feet), Meall Doire na Mnatha (2094 feet) ; to the north Beinn 
nan Tom (2603 feet), Streap (2988 feet), Sgor Choileam (3164 feet), 
Sgor nan Coireachan (3133 feet), Fraoch-bheinn (2489 feet); to the 
west Beinn Odhar (2895 feet), Druim Fiaclach (2851 feet), a’ Chroit- 
bheinn (2178 feet), and Beinn Gaire (2179 feet). The principal feeders 
are the river Finnan, Amhainn Shlatach, and Gallop river, which enter 
the loch at its head, Glenaladale river entering about 6 miles down on 
the north-western shore, and the river Polloch (bearing the outflow 
from Loch Dilate) entering about 11 miles down on the south-eastern 
shore, where the bend in the trend of the loch occurs. There are 
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