A gnarled old pine with exposed roots stands over a pebble shore, pine woodland lining the loch beyond.

Cairngorms

Loch an Eilein

A loch in the Rothiemurchus pinewoods, with a castle ruin on its island and a level three-mile path round the shore.

Welcome

Loch an Eilein, the loch of the island, lies in the old pinewoods of Rothiemurchus a few miles south of Aviemore, with a ruined castle on its island and the hills rising beyond.

It was once voted Britain's favourite picnic spot, and it is easy to see why: a short stroll from the car park brings you to the shore among ancient Scots pines, some of them more than three hundred years old.

A level path of three miles runs all the way round the loch, part of the estate's network of trails and one of the best low-level walks in Scotland. Red squirrels, Scottish crossbills and crested tits live in the forest here, and in summer an osprey sometimes comes scouting the water for fish. The estate runs guided canoe and paddleboard trips on the loch, and the whitewashed Loch an Eilein Centre stands by the path. Fires and barbecues are not allowed anywhere in the forest.

Before you go

The attended car park is open daily; parking is £2 a person or £5 a car, and the money goes to keeping the trails.

The road down to the loch is shared with walkers and cyclists, and its narrow bridge is unsuitable for coaches, motorhomes and caravans.

Parking: £2 a person or £5 a car, attended daily.
The walk: 3 miles (5 km) round the loch, level paths.
Where: Off the B970, south of Aviemore.

Did you know

Tall pines line the shore of a green loch, a low hill rising across the water and a bench set among the trees.

Did you know

Britain's favourite picnic spot.

Loch an Eilein was voted Britain's Favourite Picnic Spot in a poll run by Warburtons for National Bread Week.

A ruined castle on a small island is glimpsed through autumn branches, hills rising beyond the still loch.

Did you know

Pines three hundred years old.

The Scots pines of Rothiemurchus average more than a hundred years old, and some are over three hundred.

A loch stretches towards forested hills lit by a patch of evening sun, a pine branch framing the near shore.

Did you know

Raised to float timber.

In the 1700s a dam and sluice at the north end raised the loch, so that felled logs could be floated down a flooded stream to the Spey.

A ruined castle on a small island is framed between pine trunks, autumn colour showing among the trees around it.

Did you know

Ask the car park attendant.

The attendant at the car park can help you catch a glimpse of crested tits, which live around the loch.

A ruined castle on a small island rises above autumn trees, seen across the still water of a loch through pine branches.

Did you know

Ten million trees.

The Rothiemurchus forest covers about thirty square kilometres and is believed to hold more than ten million trees.

Hidden Scotland

From our guide to Cairngorms

Loch an Eilein, the loch of the island, is the kind of place you remember for years. It lies in the Rothiemurchus pinewoods a few miles south of Aviemore, ringed by Scots pines, some of them more than three hundred years old, with a ruined castle on its island. A level path of about three miles runs right round the shore, easy enough for most walkers. Look out for red squirrels and crested tits among the trees, and in summer an osprey fishing the water. Pack a picnic, but leave the stove at home, as fires are not allowed in the forest.