Loch Ore

Loch Ore lies in Fife, Scotland, at the heart of Lochore Meadows Country Park. The water body is used mainly for leisure, especially yachting, though uneven depth can make speed boating tricky. Its name comes from the Pictish language and predates Gaelic in the area. Modern Gaelic speakers once translated it as ‘the dull loch’. In AD 83 the Roman general Agricola camped on the loch’s edge before marching to meet Calgacus at Mons Graupius. The original loch was drained in the 1790s by Captain Park in an attempt to improve his estate. The drained land stayed boggy and useless until mining subsidence in the mid-20th century let the water return. The new loch sits in a different place from the old one and still shifts depth today. Islands in the water are the remains of the railway embankment that once served the coal mine. The loch now hosts many sports teams, including the University of St Andrews Boat Club. Regular events include the Scottish Open Water Championships with swims of 5 km, 2 km and a 4×1 km relay. Saints Regatta in September is organised by the same university club. The park’s water and islands offer calm spaces for sailing, walking and watching wildlife.