Tour Scotland Winter Photograph Curling Sledge The Lake of Menteith

Tour Scotland Winter photograph of a curler using a sledge to move the curling stones around on The Lake of Menteith, Port of Menteith, Scotland. The Lake of Menteith or Loch Inchmahome, Scottish Gaelic " Loch Innis Mo Cholmaig ", is a loch located on the Carse of Stirling, the flood plain of the upper reaches of the rivers Forth and Teith, upstream of Stirling. Until the early 19th century, the more usual Scottish name of Loch of Menteith was used. There are a number of small islands in the loch. On the largest, Inchmahome, is Inchmahome Priory, an ancient monastery. The priory served as refuge to Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1547. She was only four years old at the time and stayed for three weeks after the disastrous Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in September of that year. The Loch is not particularly deep and can freeze over completely in exceptionally cold winters. If the ice becomes thick enough, at least 7 inches, an outdoor curling tournament called The Bonspiel or the Grand Match is held on the loch. The event can attract thousands of curlers despite its rarity. The last Grand Match was held in 1979.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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