Loch of Hundland

The Loch of Hundland is a shallow freshwater loch in the parish of Birsay in the north west of the mainland of Orkney, Scotland. The loch lies between the larger lochs of Swannay and Boardhouse and acts as the main water catchment for Loch of Boardhouse. It has a great variety of aquatic plants including species that are unusual locally and nationally, and many types of birds including waders, gulls, larks and ducks that nest or use the loch.^[3] It is also popular for trout fishing.^[4]

Loch of Hundland
Hundland loch
Loch of Hundland looking south west over pasture towards the loch. The water in the distance is the Loch of Boardhouse.
Loch of Hundland
Coordinates	59°6′58″N 3°14′3″W[1]
Type	Freshwater loch
Primary outflows	Burn of Kirbuster [2]
Basin countries	Scotland
Max. length	1.3 mi (2.1 km)[2]
Max. width	0.5 mi (0.80 km)[2]
Surface area	100.8 ha (0.389 sq mi)[1]
Average depth	4 ft (1.2 m)[2]
Max. depth	7 ft (2.1 m)[2]
Water volume	51,000,000 cu ft (1,400,000 m3)[2]
Surface elevation	25 m (82 ft)[1]
Islands	6 islets[1]

The loch was surveyed^[2] in 1906 by James Murray and later charted^[5] as part of the Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909. ^[6]

Climate

Climate data for Orkney: Loch of Hundland, Elevation: 28 m (92 ft), 1991–2020 normals
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	6.6 (43.9)	6.8 (44.2)	8.0 (46.4)	10.2 (50.4)	12.8 (55.0)	14.6 (58.3)	16.6 (61.9)	16.5 (61.7)	14.5 (58.1)	11.6 (52.9)	8.9 (48.0)	7.0 (44.6)	11.2 (52.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	4.2 (39.6)	4.1 (39.4)	5.1 (41.2)	7.0 (44.6)	9.1 (48.4)	11.3 (52.3)	13.3 (55.9)	13.3 (55.9)	11.7 (53.1)	8.9 (48.0)	6.4 (43.5)	4.5 (40.1)	8.3 (46.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	1.8 (35.2)	1.5 (34.7)	2.3 (36.1)	3.7 (38.7)	5.5 (41.9)	8.0 (46.4)	10.1 (50.2)	10.1 (50.2)	8.8 (47.8)	6.3 (43.3)	3.9 (39.0)	2.0 (35.6)	5.4 (41.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	121.6 (4.79)	91.8 (3.61)	85.4 (3.36)	61.4 (2.42)	54.2 (2.13)	53.0 (2.09)	59.5 (2.34)	70.6 (2.78)	92.2 (3.63)	122.5 (4.82)	127.6 (5.02)	116.2 (4.57)	1,056 (41.56)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	20.5	17.8	17.4	13.7	11.8	11.2	11.8	12.9	15.0	19.5	21.7	21.6	194.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours	27.4	58.4	97.4	147.8	199.7	146.9	137.9	135.6	97.2	71.5	37.5	21.3	1,178.5
Source: Met Office[7]