Sundown over the Lake of Menteith

The Lake of Menteith (Scottish Gaelic "Loch Innis Mo Cholmaig"), can be found on the Carse of Stirling.

It is not a particularly deep loch and can freeze over completely in exceptionally cold winters. If the ice becomes at least 7 inches thick - an outdoor curling tournament called The Bonspiel can be held on it. The last was held in 1979 although one was planned in 2010 but was cancelled on Health and Safety grounds. This did not stop hundredss of people walking accross the ice to the islands and playing small curling matches.

The 700-acre Lake is a well regarded for rainbow and brown trout fishing and is reputed to be one of the best location for fly fishing in Central Scotland. It is stocked weekly with 1000 to 1500 quality trout, and yields an average landed fish weight of over 2lbs.

The Lake has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its exceptional fauna and flora and its resifdent Ospreys.

Historically the lake has much to offer, with the impressive ruins of the 13th century Inchmahome Priory situated on the largest of it's three islands. Maintained by Historic Scotland, visitors can visit the island by boat from the jetty at Port of Menteith.

The name Lake of Meneith is believed to be due to a corruption by 16th C. Dutch cartographers of the Lowland Scots Laich o Menteith, where "laich" simply means "low place".