Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Duddingston Loch is a lake, or freshwater loch, in Edinburgh. It is one of the last two remaining natural lochs within the city, the other being Lochend Loch. It is situated to the south of Holyrood Park and lies southwest of the village of Duddingston.
Duddingston Loch is on the southern side of Holyrood Park, to the south of Arthur's Seat.[1] It is the largest and the only natural loch of the three lochs within the Park. The loch has an area of 8 hectares (20 acres) and a maximum depth of 3 metres (9.8 ft).[1]
History
Around three thousand years ago, in the Bronze Age a hoard of weapons, such as swords and spears, as well as other artifacts was deliberately destroyed before being deposited in the waters of Duddingston Loch. These artifacts remained at the bottom of the loch until a dredger dragged them up from the loch bed in 1778. The Duddingston Loch Hoard is displayed in the Early People gallery at the National Museum of Scotland.
Skating on Duddingston Loch, 1900
Henry Raeburn's famous painting The Skating Minister is set on Duddingston Loch.The loch used to be a popular venue for skaters, with the Edinburgh Skating Club meeting there, but is now rarely sufficiently iced.
The loch was also important in the development of the sport of Curling.[1] Duddingston Curling Society was constituted on 24 January 1795, but with records of curling on the loch dating from at least 1761. Thomson's Tower, designed by William Henry Playfair in 1824, served the society and still stands on the north side of the loch. The Society was wound up after the winter of 1854/55 when the remaining members merged with the Coates Curling Club. A new Duddingston Curling Society was created from 1894/95.
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Duddingston Loch is a lake, or freshwater loch, in Edinburgh. It is one of the last two remaining natural lochs within the city, the other being Lochend Loch. It is situated to the south of Holyrood Park and lies southwest of the village of Duddingston.
Duddingston Loch is on the southern side of Holyrood Park, to the south of Arthur's Seat.[1] It is the largest and the only natural loch of the three lochs within the Park. The loch has an area of 8 hectares (20 acres) and a maximum depth of 3 metres (9.8 ft).[1]
History
Around three thousand years ago, in the Bronze Age a hoard of weapons, such as swords and spears, as well as other artifacts was deliberately destroyed before being deposited in the waters of Duddingston Loch. These artifacts remained at the bottom of the loch until a dredger dragged them up from the loch bed in 1778. The Duddingston Loch Hoard is displayed in the Early People gallery at the National Museum of Scotland.
Skating on Duddingston Loch, 1900
Henry Raeburn's famous painting The Skating Minister is set on Duddingston Loch.The loch used to be a popular venue for skaters, with the Edinburgh Skating Club meeting there, but is now rarely sufficiently iced.
The loch was also important in the development of the sport of Curling.[1] Duddingston Curling Society was constituted on 24 January 1795, but with records of curling on the loch dating from at least 1761. Thomson's Tower, designed by William Henry Playfair in 1824, served the society and still stands on the north side of the loch. The Society was wound up after the winter of 1854/55 when the remaining members merged with the Coates Curling Club. A new Duddingston Curling Society was created from 1894/95.
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