Walk, run, cycle, horseback, there are many ways to enjoy the country park. The circular route around the loch is 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) long and is suitable for all abilities. The route forms part of the larger Forfar Path Network. A wide variety of wildlife makes the country park its home. Pause on your way round, take in your surroundings, and you never know what you might see or hear. Kingfisher, fox, otter and roe deer are among the regularly-spotted park residents. Look out for fishing osprey during the summer months. The history of Forfar Loch At the end of the last ice age, a melting glacier left behind a line of lochs in the Forfar area, of which Forfar Loch is the most westerly. The other lochs in the chain from east to west are Balgavies, Rescobie, Fithie and the now drained Restenneth, site of the historic priory. Pitch & Putt Crazy Golf Outdoor Fitness Zone Leisure Centre Ranger Centre Play Park Lochside Caravan Park St. Margaret’s Inch Lochside Burn Outdoor Fitness Zone Inchmacoble Burn Dean Water Ha’ Penny Burn Sylvies Burn Outdoor Fitness Zone While still part of Strathmore estate, Forfar Loch itself was partially drained in the 18th Century to enable the extraction of shell marl. This greyish clay-like material is formed from the remains of freshwater shellfish and was used historically to improve soil fertility. Although still a substantial body of water, before drainage, the loch was about 1.5 kilometres longer and 5 metres deeper. The ground occupied by the Forfar Sailing Club is part of a natural gravel ridge which extends westward into the loch. Now a peninsula, it was formerly an island and is considered to be the site of a medieval chapel founded around 1234. In 1605 it was recorded as being formerly the site of "The Chapel of the Holy Trinity" and has been known as St. Margaret’s Inch since at least the 1590s. The Dean Water at the south-western corner of the park is the loch’s outlet and is part of the River Tay’s catchment. After heavy rain, your eyes are not deceiving you, the flow of the Dean can reverse. This is due to the in spate flow of the Kerbet Water which joins the Dean 3 kilometres downstream causing its water to back up. However, according to folklore the real cause is a resident Kelpie, an ill-natured water horse, which rejoices in floods and swims upstream pushing water back into the loch. Forfar Loch Country Park the countryside on your doorstep Forfar Loch is one of three country parks managed by Angus Council Ranger Service. The Service runs a year-round event programme, details of which can be found online, in our events diary and on park notice boards. Rangers are available all year to visit schools and community groups throughout Angus. In addition groups are welcome to visit the park. We offer a variety of talks and activities which can be adapted to meet the needs of a particular audience. Volunteers of all ages play a vital role in helping manage the park. If you are interested in volunteering please get in touch. Forfar Loch Country Park is located on the western edge of the historic burgh of Forfar. Visitors can escape to the countryside yet be only a five to ten minute walk from town centre facilities. Angus Council Ranger Service Ranger Centre Forfar Loch Country Park Craig o’ Loch Road Forfar DD8 1BT T: 01307 461118 E. [email protected] http://archive.angus.gov.uk/leisure/rangerservice.htm Canmore Angling Club manage angling on the loch and a permit is required for fishing. Forfar Sailing Club meets regularly from Spring to Autumn. For further information about any of the above please contact us at the Ranger Centre. COUNTRYSIDESERVICES cover photo by Stan Simpson
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