LOCH, a large and picturesque fresh-water lake of Scotland, in the county of Argyle, eight miles N.W. of Inverary. It is 24 miles in length, with an average breadth of 1 mile, and is surrounded by lofty mountains of a rugged and savage aspect, the highest of which (Ben Cruachan) rises to the height of 3670 feet. It receives several small streams, one of which connects it with Loch Aich, a small lake about 6 miles long, 3 miles distant. The Awe, a small river 7 miles in length, connects it with Loch Etive, an arm of the sea, at Bunawe. Loch Awe contains about 24 small islands, some of them beautifully crowned with trees. On one of these, Innis All, or the Beautiful Isle, are the ruins of a small Cistercian nunnery, and an old churchyard, containing a number of ancient tombstones curiously carved. On Innis Fraoch, or the Heather Isle, are the ruins of an ancient castle, once the residence of the chief of the Macnaughtans. The ruins of the celebrated castle of Kilchurn stand on a slightly elevated neck of land at the head of the lake. Its square tower is said to have been erected in 1443 by the lady of Sir Colin Campbell, the Black Knight of Rhodes, and founder of the powerful family of Breadalbane. So late as 1745 Kilchurn was garrisoned by the king's troops, and all the exterior and the greater part of the interior walls are still entire. The lake abounds in fish, and is especially famed for the size and excellence of its trout.