The origin of the name is uncertain, although it can probably be traced to one of several places in Scotland that have Spittal as part of their names.
Ostensibly fresh water, with no connection to the nearby Atlantic, the pond is in fact brackish, as the ocean can inundate the lake during severe storms. For this reason, parts of the lake can become discoloured and malodorous due to the work of sulfur-producing bacteria which thrive in brackish conditions
