Lochans, Dumfries and Galloway

Lochans Scottish Gaelic: Na Lochan
Lochans Location within Dumfries and Galloway
Council area	Dumfries and Galloway
Lieutenancy area	Wigtown
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Stranraer
Postcode district	DG9
Dialling code	01776-Unknown
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Dumfries and Galloway
Scottish Parliament	Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

Lochans is a small village around 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Stranraer, in Dumfries and Galloway in south-west Scotland. In 1971 it had a population of 355.

Areas of historic significance

In the 19th century, Lochans Mill was a small two-storey range. The walls are made with stone rubble and the mill roofed with slate. In the late 1700s, this building was built as meal mill. The wheel at the side is made from cast iron and has six spokes mounted on a cast-iron axle; it is 3.66 m (12 ft) in diameter by 1.37m (41⁄2 ft) wide. Everything inside the mill has been removed, so there is no machinery. "Lochan" is the Gaelic word for a small loch.

Glaciology

Lochans are also used by a variety of scientists in the field of glaciology. Lochans are simply lakes, ponds or small concentrated rivers which are located on high rise glaciers or in open-wide plains. Not to be confused by tarns, kettle ponds, or truncated spurs, lochans are much more concentrated and use up a smaller area.