Loch an Alltan Fheàrna

Loch an Alltan Fheàrna is a small freshwater loch in the Strath of Kildonan area of Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands. It sits in open moorland, roughly half a mile west of the much larger Loch Badanloch, and it belongs to the quiet, thinly populated Flow Country landscape of eastern Sutherland.

Where is Loch an Alltan Fheàrna?

The loch lies in the north-east of the historic parish of Kildonan, in the county of Sutherland (today the Highland council area). Its grid reference is about NC 750 335, and the nearest settlement listed for it is Kinbrace, a hamlet on the Strath of Kildonan road and railway. Its coordinates are approximately 58.27 N, 4.13 W. There is no village on its shores: this is remote upland country with scattered estates and sheep and deer ground.

What will you see?

The loch is pear-shaped. It is widest towards the south-east and narrows towards the north-west, and it stretches for almost a mile. Its surface covers about 212 acres, around a third of a square mile, and historical surveys record a greatest depth of about 36 feet. Its catchment is small, about two square miles, so the water comes mostly from surrounding moorland and small burns.

The outflow leaves the north-east end as a short stream, the Uidh a' Chlàrain, which runs into Loch Badanloch. In practice this makes Loch an Alltan Fheàrna a headwater of the same lochs-and-burns system. The landscape is peaty, open and treeless in the foreground, with big skies; it suits visitors who like empty hills, birdlife and silence rather than marked viewpoints.

What does the name mean?

The name is Scottish Gaelic. The Ordnance Survey name book of the 1870s explains it as "Loch of the Alder Burn", after the nearby hill feature Creag Allt an Fheàrna. The same loch appears in older records under variants such as Loch Allt an Fheàrna and Loch an Alltain Fhearna, so look for any of these spellings on maps and in older books. The stream name Uidh a' Chlàrain is glossed in the same records as roughly "burn or neck of the board".

Fishing and history

Nineteenth-century gazetteers describe the loch as holding small trout and char. In the 1870s the surrounding land belonged to the Duke of Sutherland, whose estates covered most of the county. Anyone planning to fish should check current permission with the local estate or angling association first, because access to Sutherland lochs is usually managed.

How to plan a visit

Get there by road to Kinbrace or along the Badanloch road, then continue on foot over open ground. There are no marked facilities at the loch, so bring a map (OS Landranger or Explorer sheets cover the area), waterproofs and sturdy footwear, because moorland can be wet underfoot at any time of year.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Loch an Alltan Fheàrna?

In north-east Kildonan parish, Sutherland, Highland, about half a mile west of Loch Badanloch and near Kinbrace.

How big is it?

Nearly a mile long, about 212 acres in area, with a maximum depth of about 36 feet according to historical surveys.

What does the name mean?

"Loch of the Alder Burn" in Scottish Gaelic.

Which stream drains the loch?

The Uidh a' Chlàrain, a short stream flowing north-east into Loch Badanloch.