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Loch Muick stretching away between steep hills under cloud.
Aberdeenshire

Loch Muick

A long mountain loch at the head of Glen Muick on the Balmoral Estate, reached from the Spittal of Glenmuick, with Queen Victoria's lodge of Glas-allt Shiel on its far shore and a circuit of seven miles round it.

Welcome

Nine miles up the single-track road from Ballater, Glen Muick ends in a wide bowl of heather hills, and beyond the last car park the long dark water of Loch Muick stretches away between steep slopes towards the high plateau of the White Mounth.

The great corries of Lochnagar rise to the north.

The Spittal of Glenmuick, where the road stops, has a little visitor centre run by the Balmoral rangers and picnic tables by the burn, and red deer often graze the flats nearby. From here a path of about seven miles runs right round the loch, fairly level all the way, a favourite walk on the whole of Royal Deeside.

On the far shore, among a stand of trees, is Glas-allt Shiel, the lodge built for Queen Victoria and finished in 1868, a retreat from Balmoral where she came to be alone. Behind it the Glas Allt tumbles down the hillside in a waterfall.

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The Daily for 31 October, from Scotland with love. A ring of standing stones set among mist and autumn birch
A short drive awayThe Strong Water Co32 min by roadSee itThe Strong Water Co
Before you go

Open at all times.

The road up Glen Muick from Ballater ends at the Spittal of Glenmuick, where there is a pay car park, picnic tables and a small visitor centre run by the Balmoral rangers. The walk round the loch is about seven miles.

Start
The Spittal of Glenmuick car park, nine miles south of Ballater.
The walk
About seven miles round the loch, fairly level.

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Where it is

At the head of Glen Muick, nine miles south of Ballater, on the Balmoral Estate in the Cairngorms National Park.

Close byBallater.
  1. Small white house among autumn trees on a loch shoreGlas Allt ShielQueen Victoria's lodge of 1868 on the shore of Loch Muick, the retreat she called her widow's house, reached on foot along the loch.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. Casks stencilled Royal Lochnagar Distillery stacked in the warehouse.Royal Lochnagar DistilleryA small distillery by Balmoral, under the hill of Lochnagar.15 miles 42 min by road
  3. Balmoral Castle's turreted grey towers rise above ivy-covered walls and manicured lawnsBalmoral CastleThe royal family's Highland home.18 miles 59 min by road
Directions
The Balmoral Arms' dining room, dark walls hung with pictures above tartan banquettes.RestaurantsBalmoral Arms8.6 miles
ÖSLEY's granite front on Bridge Street, Ballater, a navy sign above the door.ShoppingÖSLEY8.6 miles
Cappuccino and sliced cake on a wooden table in a caféCafeBridge House Café8.6 miles
The Strong Water Co, AberdeenshireShoppingThe Strong Water Co8.6 miles
Stone arched bridge crossing a river below forested hills in autumnAttractionsBallater8.7 miles
The granite front of the Deeside Deli on Bridge Street, Ballater, flowers hanging by its windows.ShoppingDeeside Deli & Garden Shop8.7 miles
Fish Shop Restaurant, AberdeenshireRestaurantsFish Shop Restaurant8.7 miles
Knock Castle, AberdeenshireAttractionsKnock Castle8.8 miles
The Albert Memorial Hall, with a red telephone box outside its turreted stone facadeRestaurantsLunch and a Wander in Ballater8.8 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the loch, and when each is next free.

A landscape view of Faunoran House from the garden, the terrace and its white table, the house reflected in the long pond.Faunoran House
  • Sleeps 10
  • In Crathie
  • 8 miles from Loch Muick
Free 1–3 NovDarroch Learg, AberdeenshireDarroch Learg
  • A hotel
  • In Ballater
  • 9 miles from Loch Muick
Check datesInverenzie Cottage, AberdeenshireInverenzie Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Ballater
  • 11 miles from Loch Muick
Free 4–6 NovA grand stone house with multiple gables and chimneys stands on a lawn at dusk, a Land Rover parked in the drive under a stormy sky.Gairnshiel Lodge
  • Sleeps 16
  • In Glengairn
  • 11 miles from Loch Muick
Free 31 Oct – 2 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in AberdeenshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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What we have written about it and more in Aberdeenshire.

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