Snipe Loch
21 June
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Loch Snipe and Cloncaird Farm buildings
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Looking to the east
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The Loch Fergus Burn running towards Snipe Loch
Snipe Loch (NS385173) is a freshwater loch, situated in a low lying area close to the B742 road next to Cloncaird Farm. The loch lies to the north of Martnaham Loch, 5 miles (7 km) east of Ayr. Snipe Loch is a small (6 acres or 2.5 ha) and shallow post-glacial 'Kettle Hole', fed by the outflow from Loch Fergus and it's outflow running into Martnaham Loch.
The early OS maps show a sluice on the outflow, allowing the water level to be controlled. The loch is also fed by springs situated near the lane at Cloncaird Farm. The early OS maps show an arm of the loch running almost as far as the lane to old Glencaird (sic).
The name could appropriately refer to the bird, Jack Snipe, ''Lymnocryptes minimus'', however in Scots the word can refer to a featureless place, lacking significant characteristics, something long and thin, or a boggy place. In Scots the Snipe is variously known as a "bluiter wheep, earn-bleater, heather-bleat, mire-snipe, or moss-bleater". Nearby Loch Fergus and Martnaham Loch are larger and have clear defining features such as castles, islands, etc.
The farm at Cloncaird was known as Glencaird on the early OS maps and Old Glencaird is now marked as Cloncaird Cottages.
The loch is a popular angling loch and is a bird watching site. It is stocked with Rainbow Trout and also contains perch, pike, and eels, and are frequented by wild-duck, teal, and widgeon. Nearly half of the lochshore is dominated by deciduous woodland.
The name could appropriately refer to the bird, Jack Snipe, ''Lymnocryptes minimus'', however in Scots the word can refer to a featureless place, lacking significant characteristics, something long and thin, or a boggy place. In Scots the Snipe is variously known as a "bluiter wheep, earn-bleater, heather-bleat, mire-snipe, or moss-bleater". Nearby Loch Fergus and Martnaham Loch are larger and have clear defining features such as castles, islands, etc.
The farm at Cloncaird was known as Glencaird on the early OS maps and Old Glencaird is now marked as Cloncaird Cottages.
The loch is a popular angling loch and is a bird watching site. It is stocked with Rainbow Trout and also contains perch, pike, and eels, and are frequented by wild-duck, teal, and widgeon. Nearly half of the lochshore is dominated by deciduous woodland.
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