Did you know
The hawthorn lochs.
Uath Lochans means the small lochs of the hawthorn.
Cairngorms
Uath Lochans
Small lochans in the pinewoods of Glen Feshie near Feshiebridge, with a one-hour trail round the water and a longer climb to a view over the Spey valley.
Welcome
The Uath Lochans are a group of small lochans in the woods of Glen Feshie, reached by a narrow, winding road beyond Feshiebridge.
The name is said "wah lochans" and means the small lochs of the hawthorn. A waymarked trail of 2.4 km goes round the water on a firm gravel path, often narrow, with stretches of boardwalk, and takes about an hour.
Frogs can be seen beside the paths and dragonflies dart over the wetlands, and the woods have Scots pines more than 120 years old. The longer Farleitter Crag Trail climbs from the lochans through rocks hung with lichens and mosses to views of the Spey valley and the Glen Feshie hills, with the water showing between the trees below you as you go. The car park is free and has a lochside picnic area, and the nearest places to eat are in Kincraig.
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Before you go
A free forest car park, a one-hour trail round the lochans and a longer climb, with no public transport to the start.
- Where
- Uath Lochans car park in Glen Feshie, near Feshiebridge, south of Aviemore. On a SatNav, PH21 1NX is a little further along the road, so you pass the car park before you reach it.
- Open
- Forestry and Land Scotland give no opening times for the car park or the trails. From 1 April to 30 September fires and barbecues are banned in the Cairngorms National Park.
- Price
- No charge to park.
- Parking
- A forest car park on the right, a mile along the no through road. No camping or overnight parking in the car park.
- Walks
- Uath Lochans Trail: 2.4 km (1½ miles), allow 1 hour. Farleitter Crag Trail: 4.0 km (2½ miles), allow 1½ hours. Walkhighlands give the two joined as 5.25 km, 1½ to 2 hours, with 130 metres of ascent.
- Underfoot
- Round the lochans: mostly gentle gradients with some short, moderately steep sections, on a generally firm gravel path that is often narrow, with boardwalk, and can be muddy and slippery after rain. Farleitter Crag Trail: a hilly route with many long steep slopes, mostly firm and smooth with occasional uneven and loose sections, wet and muddy in places after rain.
- Safety
- There is open water at the lochans: watch children closely. Check for ticks after your visit.
- Getting there
- From Aviemore take the B9152 south to Kincraig, then follow the signs for Feshiebridge and Insh; the car park is on the no through road about a mile after the fork. There is no public transport to the start.
- Food
- The nearest places to eat are in Kincraig village. Public toilets are in Aviemore, Glenmore and Kingussie.
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Did you know
Say it wah.
The name is pronounced wah lochans.
Did you know
Pines over a century old.
The walk passes Scots pines more than 120 years old.
Did you know
Between the trees.
As the longer route climbs, the lochans show between the trees below.
Did you know
Draped in moss.
In the woodland round the lochans, lichens and mosses drape the rocks.
Hidden Scotland
From our guide to Cairngorms
The name of these small, still pools near Feshiebridge is said as wah lochans, and it means the little lochs of the hawthorn. They lie in the pinewoods south of Aviemore, with the Cairngorms rising beyond. An easy trail loops round the water, where dragonflies hunt over the reeds in summer and old Scots pines stand reflected in the pools. A longer path climbs through mossy, lichen-draped woodland to a wide view over Strathspey, with the lochans glinting between the trees as you go. The road in is narrow and winding.
Read more
What is on
What is new across Cairngorms, day by day.
New places, news and stories, as we find them.
What is on in CairngormsWhere it is
In Glen Feshie near Feshiebridge, south of Aviemore, up a no through road beyond the village.
Close byNearby.
RSPB Insh MarshesThe RSPB's wetland reserve on the Spey, ten square kilometres of marsh and pools on the valley floor from Kingussie down to Kincraig.4 miles as the crow flies
Ruthven BarracksThe ruins of a government barracks on a grassy mound across the River Spey from Kingussie.5 miles as the crow flies
The Highland Wildlife ParkThe Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's park at Kincraig, with Scotland's only polar bears, snow leopards, wolves and a drive-through reserve.5 miles 8 min by road
Loch an EileinA loch in the Rothiemurchus pinewoods, with a castle ruin on its island and a three-mile path round the shore.8 miles 11 min by road
Loch an Eilein CastleA ruined island castle of the late 14th century on Loch an Eilein, a place of safety from the war bands of the Thieves' Road.8 miles 11 min by road- RothiemurchusA Highland estate of ancient pinewood, lochs and hill by Aviemore, cared for by the Grant family since the 16th century.8 miles 11 min by road
Stay nearby
Places to stay near the lochans, and when each is next free.
Killiehuntly Bothy- Sleeps 4
- In Cairngorms
- 3 miles from the Uath Lochans
The Hayloft- Sleeps 2
- In Cairngorms
- 3 miles from the Uath Lochans
Killiehuntly Farmhouse- Sleeps 10
- In Cairngorms
- 3 miles from the Uath Lochans
Geordie’s Cottage- Sleeps 5
- In Cairngorms
- 3 miles from the Uath Lochans
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We want to show you the best that Scotland has to offer. The makers and the creatives, the enduring experiences, the evocative tales, the concealed corners. The roads less travelled that take you to places that matter. The adventures that gather you up and sweep you away. The blend of the wild and the artistic that makes Scotland what it is. We’d love for you to join us.
Read on
What we have written about it and more in the Cairngorms.
Find out more
For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .
- Uath Lochans, Forestry and Land ScotlandThe lochans, the trails, how to get there and local notices.forestryandland.gov.scotForestry and Land Scotland↗
- Trails at Uath LochansThe Uath Lochans Trail and the Farleitter Crag Trail, with a route card.forestryandland.gov.scotForestry and Land Scotland↗
- Fire byelawThe ban on fires and barbecues in the National Park from 1 April to 30 September.cairngorms.co.ukCairngorms National Park↗
- Uath Lochans and Farleitter CragThe route in stages, with distance, time and ascent.walkhighlands.co.ukWalkhighlands↗