The Green Lochan – A Pinewood Dog Walk and Lunch
A few hours.
The route
The trail from Glenmore to An Lochan Uaine, the Green Lochan, is a lovely walk for a dog: wide forest tracks through old Scots pines to a pool of startling green-blue water under the scree.
Afterwards, head down into Aviemore for a hearty lunch at Route 7, a family café where dogs are made welcome.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Park Cottage in Kincraig, 6 miles away. Sleeps 6; next free Fri 23 Oct to Sun 25 Oct.
The day
Glenmore
A morning in the pinewoods with the dog, on good tracks most of the way. Out through the forest to the Green Lochan and round, then back down the hill for a warm lunch with the dog under the table.
About four hoursAbout 3.5 miles on foot
An Lochan Uaine
An attraction
The Glenmore Visitor Centre is on the ski road just past Loch Morlich. Its car park is run by the Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust and charges, so pay at the machine; Forestry and Land Scotland passes are not valid there. From the centre, the Ryvoan Trail runs through old pine and birch forest to An Lochan Uaine. The Green Lochan sits in a steep cleft below grey scree, and its water really is green-blue. The story goes that fairies wash their clothes in it. The trail is a loop of 5.8 km on mostly smooth gravel tracks, with a few short, fairly steep slopes and one road crossing, and Forestry and Land Scotland says to allow two and a half hours. A wildfire burned part of the forest between the Ryvoan Trail and the ski road in the summer of 2026. Stay on the open tracks and the waymarked trail, keep your dog close, and keep out of the burned woods, where damaged trees can fall, above all in wind. The pass beyond Ryvoan Bothy, towards Nethy Bridge, is still closed.
25 min by car
Route 7 Café
Lunch
Lunch is at Route 7, about 25 minutes' drive down the ski road and through Aviemore: a family café upstairs in the Highland Home Centre on the Dalfaber estate, where finding it the first time takes a little faith. The kitchen does breakfasts, lunches and burgers, with lighter dishes and vegan ones too. It opens every day at 9am and the kitchen stops at 3.20pm. Dogs are welcome, with water bowls, bags and a treat. Over Christmas and New Year, check before going.
If it rains
Most of the trail is under trees, so a shower does little harm. In strong wind, keep out of the forest altogether, as fire-damaged trees can fall: walk the dog on the open shore of Loch Morlich by the road instead, and go on to lunch at Route 7 as planned.
