Snipe Loch

Snipe Loch
Snipe Loch and fishing platforms
Location	Coylton, South Ayrshire, Scotland
Coordinates	Coordinates: 55°25′25.7″N 4°33′9.2″W / 55.423806°N 4.552556°W / 55.423806; -4.552556
Type	Freshwater loch
Primary inflows	Loch Fergus Burn, rainwater and field drainage
Primary outflows	Snipe Loch Burn
Basin countries	Scotland
Max. length	Circa 525 ft (160 m)
Max. width	Circa 160 ft (49 m)
Surface area	5.77 acres (2.34 ha)
Average depth	Shallow
Settlements	Ayr

Snipe Loch (NS385173) or Loch Snipe is a freshwater loch. It is situated in a low-lying area close to the B742 road next to Clocaird Farm in the Parish of Coylton, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The loch lies to the north of Martnaham Loch, 5 miles (7 km) east of Ayr.

Snipe Loch is a post-glacial 'Kettle Hole' fed by the outflow from Loch Fergus and its outflow running into Martnaham Loch. The early OS maps show a sluice on the outflow, allowing the water level to be controlled. The loch was fed by springs situated near the lane at Cloncaird Farm. The early OS maps show an arm of the loch running almost as far as the lane to old Glencaird (sic).

The name could appropriately refer to the bird, snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus, however in Scots the word can refer to a featureless place, lacking significant characteristics, something long and thin, or a boggy place. In Scots the snipe is variously known as a "bluiter wheep, earn-bleater, heather-bleat, mire-snipe, or moss-bleater". Nearby Loch Fergus and Martnaham Loch are larger and have clear defining features such as castles, islands, etc.

The farm was known as Glencaird on the early OS maps and Old Glencaird id now marked as Cloncaird Cottages.

The loch is a popular angling loch and is a bird watching site. It is stocked with rainbow trout and also contains perch. pike, and eels, and are frequented by wild-duck, teal, and widgeon. Nearly half of the lochshore is dominated by deciduous woodland.