| Loch Spelve | |
|---|---|
 West end of Loch Spelve, a few hundred yards from the west end of the loch. | |
  Loch Spelve Location of Loch Na Keal within Argyll and Bute | |
| Location | Isle of Mull,Argyll and Bute,Scotland |
| Coordinates | 56°23′17″N5°43′48″W / 56.388°N 5.730°W /56.388; -5.730 |
| Type | Sea loch |
| Catchment area | 76 square kilometres (29 sq mi)[1] |
| Basin countries | Scotland,United Kingdom |
| Max. length | 7.7 kilometres (4.8 mi)[1] |
| Surface area | 8.93 square kilometres (3.45 sq mi)[1] |
| Max. depth | 58 metres (190 ft)[1] |
| Islands | Eilean Amalaig and Sgeir na Faoilinn, among others |
Loch Spelve is asea loch on the southeast coast of theIsle of Mull, off the west coast ofScotland. It is almost landlocked with a relatively narrow opening onto theFirth of Lorn. The A849 road runs past the northern arm of the loch and a minor road runs south from it and around the shore of the western arm via Kinlochspelve as far as the settlement ofCroggan. Raised beaches are notable features of the loch, particularly on the shores of the narrows through which it enters the open waters of the firth. There are a few rocky islets within the loch, the largest of which is Eilean Amalaig on which are the ruins of a castle.[2]
The river Lussa enters the northern part of the Loch as it flows pastArdura.[3]
There is aterminal moraine at Kinlochspelve dating from the last ice age.[4] The southern and eastern shores of Loch Spelve are formed frombasaltlava flows ofPalaeogene age, intruded by numerousdoleritedykes. The northern and western shores are formed ingranophyres andTriassicsandstones, the latter intruded byolivine-doleritecone sheets associated with the Palaeogenevolcanism.[5] Though unseen at the surface, theGreat Glen Fault is usually considered to run beneath this loch and nearbyLoch Buie.
Rope-grownMussel farming takes place in the loch at Inverlussa where there is a quayside and jetty.[6]
56°23′17″N5°43′48″W / 56.388°N 5.730°W /56.388; -5.730
| Main settlements |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Smaller settlements | ||
| Geographical features | ||
| History and architecture | ||
| Local culture and economy | ||
| Surrounding islands | ||