Loch an Eilein

About this place

Forest loch with a ruined castle on an island, encircled by an easy walking trail.

The name means loch of the island, and the ruined castle standing on its own small island - reputedly once used by the notorious Wolf of Badenoch - gives this spot its distinctive silhouette. A flat circular path of around three miles rings the whole loch through Caledonian pine forest, making it a manageable half-day walk for families, with the option to turn back early if legs get tired. Ospreys and red squirrels are both regularly spotted here, particularly away from the busier sections near the car park. It's part of the Rothiemurchus Estate, free to enter, with parking and toilets at the start of the walk.

Make a day of it — within 5km