4 
BATHYMETRICAL SURVEY OF 
LOCHS OF THE HELMSDALE BASIN. 
This large basin extends from the shores of the North Sea at Helmsdale 
to the flanks of Ceann Garbh and Cnoc nan Tri-Clach on the north, and of 
Creag na h-Iolaire and Ben Armine on the west, the total area being about 
220 square miles. The ten lochs within this basin that were sounded by 
the Lake Survey Staff, viz.. Lochs an Ruathair, Coire nam Meann, Leum 
a’ Chlamhain, Araich-Lin, Truid air Sgithiche, nan Cuinne, a’ Chlair, 
Baddanloch, Allt an Fhearna, and na Moine, all lie towards the head- 
waters of the basin, while the river Helmsdale, after leaving the lochs, 
flows through a large tract of country before reaching the sea, and with its 
many tributaries drains the larger portion of the basin. The area draining 
into the lochs under consideration is about 82 square miles, as will be 
seen from the summary table, while the area draining into the river 
Helmsdale irrespective of these lochs is about 138 square miles. In 
this respect the Helmsdale basin contrasts strongly with the Brora 
basin, where the river Brora, after leaving Loch Brora, drains a very 
small area — not more than 3 square miles. The loch nearest the source 
of the river Helmsdale is Loch an Ruathair, the stream issuing from 
which, on being joined about a mile from the loch by the Knockfin river, 
receives the name of Helmsdale. A short distance seawards the river 
Helmsdale is joined by the Claggan Burn, bearing the overflow from Lochs 
Coire nam Meann, Leum a’ Chlamhain, and Araich-Lin, and still a little 
farther on it is joined by the Allt Ach’ na h-Uai’, bearing the overflow 
from the remaining lochs in the basin already mentioned. 
This series of lochs is interesting on account of the variation in their 
outlines, most of them departing from the usual long and narrow form 
characteristic of Scottish lochs, while one of them is almost circular in 
outline. 
Loch an JRuatJiair (see Plate II.). — Loch an Ruathair (or Loch-an- 
Rnar) is situated close to the Highland Railway line between Kinbrace 
and Forsinard stations. It is a good fishing loch, containing trout and 
char, amid pretty surroundings, with Creag Sail a’ Blathaich (1139 feet), 
and Meall a’ Bluirich (1331 feet), rising off the north-western shore, 
overshadowed by the peaks of Ben Griam Mhor and Ben Griam Bheag, 
which attain an elevation of nearly 2000 feet, farther distant in the same 
direction, while to the south-east the Knockfin heights exceed 1400 feet. 
