Lake of Menteith frozen over

[munroman]

We went up there today, for me retracing a walk to Inchmahome that I had last made in 1979, before Global Warming was invented.

There were many hundreds of people out on the ice, walking, skating, sledging, (some pulled by dogs), and everyone enjoying themselves.

We walked to the Castle, then Inchmahome, then over to Port of Menteith where the curling was being held.

After watching the curling, I think I understand the rules, have a whisky, then another, throw some stones, have a whisky, discuss over a whisky, then go to the pub........

The Hotel was doing a roaring trade in burgers and Mulled cider, everyone we saw seemed to be smiling, and if this is Global Warming, bring it on....

A word of praise for Central Scotland Police, the area was mobbed with cars, and they dealt with the queues with politeness and patience, well done!

Some photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/munroskh/LakeOfMenteit...

Edited for speeling...

Edited by munroman on Sunday 10th January 22:41

[cat220]

Sounds great mate. I've done a lot of fishing there over the years and the years when you could curl on the Lake have always been talked about. If i'd had time this weekend i'd have been there!

Cheers,
C

[munroman]

If the weather stays at or near freezing then the lake will be ok next weekend too, the ice is very thick.

[ferobert]

looks nice. last new year me and a couple friends walked accross Loch Morlich. It had been -15 or so for at least a week and the ice was a good 20cm thick. Such an amazing feeling standing in the middle of a jet black frozen loch surrounded by the mountains. Wish id brought some ice skates tho!!

Ill let the pictures do the talking:

[Famous Graham]

Not frozen enough, apparently. The official curling championship was stymied due to Elf & Safety concerns.

Although somewhat pathetic, it did give rise to an amusing headline in the Scotsman referring to "rebel curlers". Not something you read every day

[S2red]

I see according to paper today thousands were on ice yesterday and some "naughty" person even drove a Landie over the ice

[VetteG]

Famous Graham said:

amusing headline in the Scotsman referring to "rebel curlers". Not something you read every day

Why does Nora Battie come to mind?

G

[andy_s]

The wife and kids were out on it too - I'm stuck at work. My MiL (60) has been on it only three times so a rare event. They walked over to the Priory and also the other little island you can't get too normally. Very exciting for them.

Here's a pic my wife sent:

[nonuts]

ferobert said:

Wow - I'm not sure I'd have the required nerve to walk on a lake that doesn't even look frozen. How did you check the ice was thick enough?

[ferobert]

nonuts said:

Wow - I'm not sure I'd have the required nerve to walk on a lake that doesn't even look frozen. How did you check the ice was thick enough?

you could see tiny bubbles frozen in the ice fairly deep, and the stress cracks showed the depth. Kept checking as we crossed. Took 8 of us jumping on the spot together to get it to crack a little (beside the shore, not in the middle!!)

[istoo]

some stunnign photos being posted in the past month, thats a cracker as well.
sideways, isnt it a Loch?

[MoreSteam]

istoo said:

some stunnign photos being posted in the past month, thats a cracker as well.
sideways, isnt it a Loch?

I think it's Jesus

[grumpyscot]

istoo said:

some stunnign photos being posted in the past month, thats a cracker as well.
sideways, isnt it a Loch?

No - it's the one and only lake in Scotland - all the rest are lochs.

[istoo]

grumpyscot said:

istoo said:

some stunnign photos being posted in the past month, thats a cracker as well.
sideways, isnt it a Loch?

No - it's the one and only lake in Scotland - all the rest are lochs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_of_Menteith
Any locals want to shed some light on if the wiki link is bks or not?

Still a great photo, i hope you have it at high res

[andy_s]

I heard it was a lake not a loch as it was mapped by a Dutchman in the past who marked it as 'lake' and the name stuck...?

[Famous Graham]

istoo said:

grumpyscot said:

istoo said:

some stunnign photos being posted in the past month, thats a cracker as well.
sideways, isnt it a Loch?

No - it's the one and only lake in Scotland - all the rest are lochs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_of_Menteith
Any locals want to shed some light on if the wiki link is bks or not?

Still a great photo, i hope you have it at high res

It is a corker. Or rather corkers. It's at least 3 stitched together, judging by the repeated dust bunny

[YAD061]

I used to go to the Lake of Menteith curling every winter, there would be vehicles all over it. In the summer there would be speedboats, I got a ride in an aluminium one with a bluebird on the side. There was also a great little pub on the shore, is that still there?

[VetteG]

YAD061 said:

I used to go to the Lake of Menteith curling every winter, there would be vehicles all over it. In the summer there would be speedboats, I got a ride in an aluminium one with a bluebird on the side. There was also a great little pub on the shore, is that still there?

Crikey! That wasnt recently! The Hotel though is just as good if not better.

G

[YAD061]

VetteG said:

YAD061 said:

I used to go to the Lake of Menteith curling every winter, there would be vehicles all over it. In the summer there would be speedboats, I got a ride in an aluminium one with a bluebird on the side. There was also a great little pub on the shore, is that still there?

Crikey! That wasnt recently! The Hotel though is just as good if not better.

G

yep, was over 40 years ago, I recall sitting in the garden with a coke and bag of Golden Wonder cheese and onion crisps

[Who me ?]

S2red said:

I see according to paper today thousands were on ice yesterday and some "naughty" person even drove a Landie over the ice

OOPS -someone ,a bit dimmer ,must have seen that .
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8454242.stm