📌 Boat of Garten, Highland
★★★
Loch Vaa is one of dozens of lochans deep within the Caledonian forests northwest of the Cairngorms. Its shores are brightened by a colourful boathouse, grebes and wading birds, with good views of scacely-climbed Beinn Ghuilbin from the eastern shoreline. However, the most noteworthy part of a wander here in recent years has been the body of the loch itself, which has been prone to unpredictable swings in water level despite being fed by usually reliable springs. In May 2019, the water line reached a 750-year low, marooning the boathouse far from the shore; in April 2020, the water rose to a 20-year high, jamming boats against the building’s ceiling. A mile away, neighbouring Avie Lochan retained stable water levels throughout. Who knows what future years will bring?
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Laggantygown cemetery, A95 2 mi southwest of Boat of Garten
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NH 910174
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.234565,-3.806857
🚌 Bus to Avielochan (0.5 mi)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 2 km / 1 mi | ▲ 30 m | ⌛ 45 min
Features: 💧 Loch Vaa
⬤ Easy | Woodland paths throughout, often narrow and informal. Fence to climb (perhaps with rocks placed to facilitate this) at the southeast end of the loch.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit of Loch Vaa
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Little grebes, common sandpipers, greylag geese, a screeching bird of prey, roe deer, wood ant nests.
Weather: 12°C, mostly cloudy.
July 2020
