The loch has a southwest to northeast orientation. The lochside contains two contrasting land features on the east and west sides, with the north side on a shallow climbing slope. The southend of the loch has an opening, containing the outflow to the River Carron, with several small lochans on the flat plain at the southern end of the loch. On the east side, the cliff face rising to the plateau of Creag An Eilein rising almost vertically on the east coast of the loch, starting beyond the northeast end of the loch and continuing down past the end of the loch, rising even higher before levelling out at Strathcarron. The slope rises to Creag Dhubh Mhor at 612 metres. At the east side of the loch, is the mountain of Sgurr na Feartaig at 862 m. The west side, that contains both the railway and road, is a shallow slope which becomes increasing steep rising to Fuar Tholl at 907 m.