Loch Vaa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Loch Vaa | |
|---|---|
 View from the bank | |
  Loch Vaa  Loch Vaa | |
| Location | Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 57°14′06″N 3°48′03″W / 57.23500°N 3.80083°W |
| Type | Freshwater loch |
| Primary inflows | Spring-fed |
| Basin countries | Scotland |
| Surface area | 39 acres (16 ha) |
Loch Vaa is a small freshwater loch in Highland, Scotland. It is located between Boat of Garten and Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park. It is used for fishing, swimming and boating and its wooden boathouse is a popular location for tourists and photographers. The loch also contains the remains of a historic crannog structure. In 2018–19 the loch was subject to a dramatic drop in water levels over a dry winter period and was not restored to usual levels until prolonged rainfall in July 2019.
Loch Vaa is a 39-acre (16 ha) spring-fed freshwater loch which is said to have "gin clear" waters.[1][2][3] The loch is owned by a local estate but a number of businesses have been granted rights for fishing, swimming and boating activities.[3] The fishery is managed and the loch is stocked with brown and rainbow trout; it is also frequented by wild grebe.[1] The loch's wooden boathouse, which is used for fishing, is surrounded by water and is a popular destination for tourists and photographers.[1]
The loch contains the remains of a crannog, a historic fortified structure constructed on an artificial island.[4] Birch timber recovered from the Loch Vaa crannog dates it to the 13th century, though the structure may be even older - dating back to the time of the Picts or earlier Iron Age peoples.[5]
