Loch Eck

Loch Eck is a freshwater loch on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, north of Dunoon. It stretches seven miles in a north-south direction and forms part of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The River Cur feeds the loch at its northern end, while the River Eachaig drains it at the southern end. The loch is one of only two natural habitats for the powan fish in Britain. It also supports salmon, sea trout, brown trout and arctic char. The loch lies within Argyll Forest Park and is close to Benmore Botanic Garden and the Benmore Outdoor Centre. A footpath runs along the west shore, leading to the Paper Caves set into the hillside. According to legend, the Argyll family hid documents in these caves to protect them from forfeiture. A low concrete dam controls the loch’s water level, supplying freshwater to much of southeast Cowal. Emma Thompson owns a house beside the loch. In 2013 an algal bloom caused the deaths of two dogs, prompting warnings about contact with the water. The loch’s waters flow through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, linking it to the wider landscape.