Loch Benachally
The summit of Spurn Hill looking south by south-east to Loch Benachally in the distance.
Loch Benachally Location in Perth and Kinross
Location	NO071502
Coordinates	56°38′06″N 3°30′58″W / 56.635°N 3.516°W / 56.635; -3.516
Type	freshwater reservoir
Primary outflows	Benachally Burn
Max. length	1.641 km (1.020 mi)[1]
Max. width	0.74 km (0.46 mi)[1]
Surface area	173 ha (430 acres)[2]
Average depth	24.93 ft (7.60 m)[1]
Max. depth	63.97 ft (19.50 m)[1]
Water volume	179,777,998 cu ft (5,090,746.0 m3)[1]
Shore length1	4 km (2.5 mi) [2]
Surface elevation	308 m (1,010 ft)[2]
Max. temperature	57.2 °F (14.0 °C)
Min. temperature	48.8 °F (9.3 °C)
Islands	0
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Loch Benachally is a large shallow freshwater reservoir that is located close to the Forest of Clunie in Perth and Kinross, Scotland.^[1][2]

The reservoir is operated by Scottish Water.^[3]

Iron Age villages

Directly south-east of the reservoir are the remains of an Iron Age hut circle settlement and field system, centred on NO08354982, that can clearly be seen from an aerial view.^[4] The settlement consisted of a line of 6 hut circles connected by a common baulk, with an isolated hut about 37 metres (121 ft) to the east.^[4] The huts range from 13 metres (43 ft) down to 8.3 metres (27 ft) between wall centres. Some huts have stone enclosures.^[4] The field system of the Iron Age settlement has been visibly preserved down the ages and is marked with the remains of lynchets, walls and heaps of cleared stone.^[4] As the huts are in a straight line, they resemble a street. The conspicuousness of the "street" is enhanced by a wall which runs parallel to the row of houses, 15 metres (49 ft) to the south.^[4]

To the east-north-east of the Loch Benachally directly from the dam at the very south of the loch, is another Iron Age hut circle settlement and field system.^[4] Here as well, the field system is easily recognisable.^[4] The hut circle settlement follows a north-west to south-east orientation and is a larger settlement with 12 hut circles.^[4] The huts measure from 11.3 metres (37 ft) down to 3.7 metres (12 ft) between wall centres.^[4] There are two fields—a large field to the north and west of the hut circle group, and a small field to the south.^[4]