St Mary's Loch, Natural lake and Site of Special Scientific Interest in Scottish Borders, Scotland.
St Mary's Loch is a natural freshwater lake in the Scottish Borders, long and narrow in shape, lying in a valley surrounded by rounded hills. At its southern end, a thin strip of land separates it from the smaller Loch of the Lowes next to it.
A medieval church dedicated to St Mary once stood on the northern shore and gave the lake its name, though only the old burial ground remains from that time. The valley was settled for centuries and used for grazing and fishing long before tourism arrived.
A pub on the southern shore has been a meeting point for locals and travelers since the early 19th century, when writers like James Hogg and Sir Walter Scott gathered there regularly. A statue of Hogg stands nearby, and his connection to this valley is still remembered by people who visit the area.
A parking area near the southern shore gives easy access to walking paths along the water and to a sailing facility close by. Anyone planning to walk around the lake should wear sturdy footwear, as some sections of the shore can be uneven.
Arctic charr once lived in these waters but vanished due to overfishing before any detailed records were kept about them. The lake is now designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest partly because of the variety of fish that still survive there, including brown trout, pike, perch, and eels.
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