Loch Oich

Loch Oich lies in the Great Glen of the Scottish Highlands, forming the highest point of the Caledonian Canal. This long, narrow freshwater loch stretches between Loch Ness to the north-east and Loch Lochy to the south-west. The River Garry feeds it from the west, while the River Oich flows out from its northern end. The Laggan locks separate Loch Oich from Loch Lochy, controlling water levels for navigation. Thomas Telford raised the loch’s level in the 19th century to create a usable channel for boats. The loch supports a wide range of wildlife, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Every autumn, Atlantic salmon travel from the sea through Loch Oich, Loch Lochy and Loch Ness to reach their spawning grounds. The surrounding landscape is rich in natural variety, with the waterway forming a key link in Scotland’s canal system. The monument called the Well of the Seven Heads stands on the loch’s banks beside the A82 road. The Well of the Seven Heads is a tall, needle-like structure topped by a hand holding a dagger and seven severed heads. Erected in 1812 by Alexander Ranaldson Macdonell, it commemorates the Keppoch murders. An inscription in Gaelic, English, French and Latin describes how the perpetrators were punished. The monument was moved a short distance in 1930 when the road was rebuilt. Nearby Invergarry Castle was once home to the MacDonnell chieftain who ordered the vengeance.