Loch Fergus

Loch Fergus
Loch Fergus
Loch Fergus The location of Loch Fergus, South Ayrshire
Location	Coylton, South Ayrshire, Scotland
Coordinates	Coordinates: 55°25′53.7″N 4°32′27.1″W / 55.431583°N 4.540861°W / 55.431583; -4.540861
Type	Freshwater loch
Primary inflows	Knocksoul Burn, rainwater and field drainage
Primary outflows	Loch Fergus Burn
Basin countries	Scotland
Max. length	circa 680 yards (620 m)
Surface area	7.044 ha (17.41 acres)
Islands	One Island
Settlements	Ayr

Loch Fergus (NS 3932 1823) is a freshwater post-glacial 'Kettle Hole' sometimes recorded as Fergus Loch. It is quite visible and is situated in a low-lying area close to the B742 road between the farms and dwellings of Trees, Lochfergus and Bowmanston in the Parish of Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The loch lies to the north of Martnaham Loch, 4 miles (6.4 km) east southeast of Ayr. It drains to the southwest into the Snipe Loch.

The ground running towards Mossend Farm is marshy and prone to extensive flooding, indicating the previous extent of the loch. The outflow is a drain and once higher water levels are illustrated by physical indications of the once higher loch margins. In the work titled A Summary of the Character of Scotland dated 1624 it is stated that Loch Fergus, with an isle with many growing trees, where a great quantity of heron resort with the loch seal. There is a decayed monastery in it.

Loch Fergus is mentioned in the charter of the Burgh of Ayr from King William in 1205, when the boundary of the burgh is delineated.

Tradition states that the name is derived from King Fergus, one of the Scottish kings who defeated King Cole or Coilus, king of the Britons, in the adjoining fields. The story goes that King Cole and his army were encamped in the vicinity of Loch Fergus and King Fergus attacked them at night, taking advantage of their drunk and 'feasted' condition. King Cole and his defeated army escaped across the Water of Coyle, only to be caught, defeated, and the King himself killed near Failford. Campbell records that King Cole may have had a castle at Martnaham on the islet within the loch.

Paterson records that in 1628 the two merk land of Lochfergus was leased in feu-ferm to John, Lord Loudoun for 8s Scots. In the late 17th century the lands passed to the Cassillis family. In 1798 Archibald, Earl of Cassillis held the sasine of the loch lands.

The land around the loch is marshy and Lochfergus Wood has been a feature for many years, mainly located on the north-west side.

A boat house, reached by an artificial inlet, is marked on the first OS maps not far from the road, reached by an access lane branching of the nearby B742. This feature is missing from the maps by the 1890s.