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We asked our members to vote for the best winter walk in Scotland and the results are in.
What Makes Loch Morlich Special for Winter Visitors
Loch Morlich sits in the Cairngorms National Park surrounded by ancient Caledonian pine forest. In winter, it transforms into something that looks more Scandinavian than Scottish — and the experience is far more accessible than most people realise.
- The beach at Loch Morlich is Scotland’s highest and most surreal in snow. A sandy beach at 300 metres elevation, fringed with pine trees and backed by snow-capped Cairngorms. It’s free, always open, and virtually empty in winter. Bring a flask and sit — there’s nowhere else like this in Britain.
- Combine it with Rothiemurchus Forest for a full day. The Loch an Eilein circuit through Rothiemurchus is a gentle 5km loop past a castle on an island, through ancient forest with red squirrels. It connects easily with Loch Morlich and together they make a perfect winter day without any mountain climbing.
- Aviemore is the base but Boat of Garten is the better stay. Aviemore has more accommodation but it’s a town built for tourism. Boat of Garten, 10 minutes away, is a genuine Highland village with the Boat Hotel, excellent walks, and ospreys in summer. It’s quieter, cheaper, and more atmospheric.
- The Cairngorm reindeer are nearby and worth visiting in winter. Britain’s only free-ranging reindeer herd lives on the Cairngorm plateau. The Reindeer Centre at Glenmore runs daily hill visits where you walk among the herd. In winter, with snow on the ground, it’s magical — especially for children.
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In today’s email:
- Is Loch Morlich The Best Winter Walk In Scotland?
- The Cairngorms National Park – a special place
- Collect your gift! – A Free Digital Copy Of The Ultimate Scotland Travel Guide
- Around the Web – Scotland’s answer to Willy Wonka is ready for Christmas, Gold Buffalo coin donated anonymously raises over £1000 for air ambulance, Music legend Bob Dylan sells Scottish estate to whisky producer and more
- From Social Media – Scottish Borders
- Scottish Food You Will Love – Cranachan – The Most Scottish Desert Ever
- Coo Wee – Glasgow shoppers ‘brought to tears’ as elderly couple break out in ‘beautiful’ dance
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Is Loch Morlich The Best Winter Walk In Scotland?
Here is a list of the 13 winter walks in Scotland suggested by Visit Scotland.
We took this list and asked The Love Scotland members to vote and the results are in.
1. Loch Morlich
2. Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve
3. Calton Hill
4. Granite Trail
5. Cardrona Forest
6. Clatteringshaws
7. Castle Fraser Estate
8. The Scottish Deer Centre
9. Ben Lomond
10. Stac Pollaidh Circuit
11. Buckhaven to Elie
12. Cruden Bay to the Bullers of Buchan
13. Ayrshire Coastal Path
As you can see from the results below, Loch Morlich came in at no 1
The Cairngorms National Park – a special place
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Around The Web
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Coo Wee
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Our Daily Newsletter is free and will remain free for our loyal followers forever.. (if you are not subscribed then just enter your email below) But as they say in the infomercials, that’s not all.. For less than the price of a wee dram, you can upgrade to our premium Newsletter which will give you access to our archive of travel deep dives, travel itineraries as well as special deals curated for our premium subscribers. So consider buying us a drink and upgrade to get all the goodies….
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A Traveller’s Perspective
Loch Morlich is one of the best winter walks in Scotland for people who want beauty without extreme effort. The circular walk around the loch takes about two hours on a clear path, mostly flat, with the Cairngorms rising behind the trees. In winter, the mountains are dusted white and the loch surface is glass-still. It is a walk that rewards you far more than its modest length suggests.
Park at the Glenmore visitor centre car park and walk clockwise around the loch. The path is well-maintained and suitable for most fitness levels, though it can be icy in winter — bring walking poles if you have them. Stop at the beach on the north shore, which in summer is popular with swimmers but in winter is deserted and strikingly beautiful. The Cairngorm Reindeer Centre is nearby if you want to extend your day. Combine the walk with a hot chocolate at the Pine Marten Bar in the Hilton Coylumbridge.
On a cold December morning, Loch Morlich is absolutely silent. The Caledonian pine forest around the shore smells of resin and frost. The loch is mirror-flat, reflecting the snow-capped Cairngorms so perfectly that you cannot tell where the mountain ends and the reflection begins. Your breath hangs in the air. The crunch of your boots on the frozen path is the only sound. Every now and then, a red squirrel darts across the track ahead of you. It is winter Scotland at its most peaceful.
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