Loch Kernsary
Looking down Loch Kernsary
Loch Kernsary Location in Wester Ross
Location	NG88358018
Coordinates	57°45′38″N 5°33′30″W / 57.760624°N 5.558404°W / 57.760624; -5.558404
Type	freshwater loch
Basin countries	Scotland
Max. length	2.0 km (1.2 mi)[1]
Max. width	1.09 km (0.68 mi)[1]
Surface area	93 ha (230 acres)[2]
Average depth	38.05 ft (11.60 m)[1]
Max. depth	92.8 ft (28.3 m)[1]
Water volume	380,752,177 cu ft (10,781,701.0 m3)[1]
Shore length1	10 km (6.2 mi) [2]
Surface elevation	23 m (75 ft)[2]
Max. temperature	57 °F (14 °C)
Min. temperature	50.2 °F (10.1 °C) at 40 feet[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Loch Kernsary also known as Loch na h-Airde Bige is a small remote shallow low-altitude freshwater loch, located directly southeast of Poolewe in Kinlochewe, Wester Ross.^[1][2] It is fed by the river Coulin from the south and its outflow is into Loch Clair in the north-west. The Kernsary River drains into the loch from the south and in turn is drained through a tiny lochan Loch Poll Uidge à Chrò. The Lochan drains into the Inveran River, that drains a short distance into Loch Maree directly to the south-east.

Loch Kernsary is a part of a group of eleven other freshwater lochs in the Wester Ross area that are considered a Site of Special Scientific Interest.^[3] The eleven other lochs, all located to the north-west of Kinlochewe are: Loch a' Bhaid-luachraich, Lochan Dubh Druim na h-Airdhe, Loch Fada, Loch na Moine Buige, Fionn Loch, Loch na h-Uidhe, Lochan Beannach Mor, Lochan Beannach Beag, Loch a’ Mhadaidh Mor, Loch Garbhaig and Loch an Sgeireach.^[3] These 12 lochs support a nationally important flock of Black-throated loon, also known as the black-throated diver (Gavia arctica).^[3] Together they are part of the Wester Ross Lochs Special Protection Area which is considered of European importance.^[3]

On the south shore of Loch Kernsary on the small Àird Mhòr peninsula, there is the remains of a crannog, located some 10 metres from the shore and separated from the shore by a deep channel.^[4][5] The small flat island that is now covered with conifer trees, measures 30 metres on a north-south bearing by 23 metres on a east-west bearing.^[4]

About 20metres south-west of the crannog on land, is the remains of the boat-shaped building, hidden in the heather, measuring some 10metres by 5 metres.^[4] The walls measure 1.2 metres wife and 0.7 metres in height.^[4] The rough nature of the building design and the use of two rough orthostats at the entrance indicate that the building was built in the same period as the crannog.^[4]

Loch Kernsary is the location of an almost level hiking route known as the Loch Kernsary Circular, that starts in Poolewe and follows the north coast of the Loch Kernsary , before making wide a circular walk back to the town and is about 12.2 km long.^[6]

• 
  Loch Kernsary - Poolewe Circular Walk
• 
  The western arm of the loch
• 
  The view is taken looking South. Torridon in the background.
• 
  Loch Kernsary looking towards the Fisherfield forest
• 
  Looking along the length of the loch.
• 
  Moonrise over the loch
• 
  Forrested crannog