Walk: Magical Loch Morlich

📌 Glenmore Forest Park, Highland
★★★

Scotland has countless locations with outstanding scenic splendour, but many of those with high mountain scenery require a long walk to reach. What marks out Loch Morlich as special is its combination of accessibility and unspoilt tnature – or even a wilderness feel at quiet times. The loch comes alive with water sports in summer, while autumn brings solace at water level as the first dustings of snow cover the high ground beyond the southern shore. A thick cover of snow often blankets the area during winter as thick ice forms on the loch, and late spring brings the curious dichotomy of sunbathers on the sandy beach while skiing continues on the slopes of Cairngorm Mountain above. Whatever the season, Loch Morlich is an enchanting destination and a circuit of its pine-clad shores is the best way to explore properly. Look out for red squirrels: they’re used to humans in these parts, so chances of spotting one will rarely be higher than here.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at the northeast corner of Loch Morlich, by minor road at Glenmore

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NH 972099

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.168112,-3.701105

🚌 Bus stops nearby

🚗 Car park (charge)

📝 Key info

▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 50 m | ⌛ 1.5 hr

Features: 🌲 Glenmore Forest Park ★★★; 🏖️ Loch Morlich Beach ★★★; 💧 Loch Morlich

⬤ Easy | Tracks for the southwestern half of the circuit, paths for the northeastern portion.

➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – Loch Morlich Beach – circuit of the loch. Route waymarked in red & on map 🔗 here (Loch Morlich Trail)

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Mallard ducks & black headed gulls on the loch. Red squirrels nearby at Glenmore Visitor Centre.

Weather: Varied – early sunshine, then a heavy shower mostly followed by extensive cloud. Temperature in high teens.

July 2021