Snipe Loch
Encyclopedia
Snipe Loch or Loch Snipe is a freshwater loch. It is situated in a low lying area close to the B742 road next to Clocaird Farm in the Parish of Coylton
, East Ayrshire
, Scotland. The loch lies to the north of Martnaham Loch
, 5 miles (7 km) east of Ayr.
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 was 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).
Etymology
The name could appropriately refer to the bird, 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 was known as Glencaird on the early OS maps and Old Glencaird id now marked as Cloncaird Cottages.
Coylton
Coylton is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is located east of Ayr, and west of Drongan, on the A70. Sundrum Castle Holiday Park is located to the west of the village, in the grounds of Sundrum Castle, which partly dates to the 13th century...
, East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
, Scotland. The loch lies to the north of Martnaham Loch
Martnaham Loch
Martnaham Loch is a freshwater loch lying across the border between East and South Ayrshire Council Areas, 2km from Coylton, in the parishes of Coylton and Dalrymple, 3 miles from Ayr. The loch lies along an axis from north-east to south-west. The remains of a castle lie on a possibly artificial...
, 5 miles (7 km) east of Ayr.
History
Snipe Loch is a post-glacial 'Kettle Hole' fed by the outflow from Loch FergusLoch Fergus
Loch Fergus is a freshwater post-glacial 'Kettle Hole' sometimes recorded as Fergus Loch. It is quite visible and is situated in a low lying area close to the B742 road between the farms and dwellings of Trees, Lochfergus and Bowmanston in the Parish of Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The loch lies...
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 was 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).
Etymology
The name could appropriately refer to the bird, Snipe
Jack Snipe
The Jack Snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus is a small stocky wader. It is the smallest snipe, and the only member of the genus Lymnocryptes...
, Lymnocryptes minimus, however in Scots
Scots
Scots may refer to:*The Scottish people, the inhabitants of Scotland*Scots language *Scotch-Irish*Scottish English*Scots pine, a Scottish tree*Short for Pound 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 was known as Glencaird on the early OS maps and Old Glencaird id now marked as Cloncaird Cottages.