Glenmore: Forest, Loch Morlich and Special Trails

Those who choose Glenmore for a trip will discover a landscape where forest, loch, mountains and history are closely connected with a variety of trails and excursions. Glenmore Forest Park lies in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Centuries-old forests characterise the park; it is also one of the best places to spot Scottish crossbills. The park forms part of the largest continuous area of native woodland in Great Britain. Glenmore therefore offers not only beautiful natural scenery, but also practical points of reference for choosing your daily activities.

Forest Trails and Water at Loch Morlich

The Loch Morlich Trail is a particularly varied excursion. The two-hour circular route leads through the forest and offers beautiful views of the mountains. If you would prefer to combine a shorter route with a clear destination, you can plan the Glenmore Beach Trail. This easy, yellow-marked circular trail leads to Loch Morlich and its inland beach. The trail is suitable for wheelchairs, scooters and pushchairs, making it interesting for travel groups with different needs.

Loch Morlich can also be experienced from the water. Visitors are permitted to use non-motorised watercraft there, and canoeing is possible on the loch. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between a forest walk, a circuit around the inland beach and an activity on the water without changing the character of the landscape.

The Old Logging Way is available for a longer route. The traffic-free route runs for 6 miles between Aviemore and the Glenmore Forest Park Visitor Centre. The trail is well surfaced, firm and has predominantly gentle inclines. For planning your day, this length is just as important as the character of the route. The Ryvoan (Green Lochan) Trail is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) in total and is a relatively flat out-and-back route over firm paths or forest tracks. For orientation, it is also worth noting that the restricted zone includes the Ryvoan Trail and An Lochan Uaine, also known as Green Lochan.

History Between the Forest and the Visitor Centre

In addition to its natural attractions, Glenmore also offers traces of history. The remains of the settlement of Beglan can be found in the area, probably dating from around 1740. Directly outside the Glenmore Visitor Centre there is also a memorial to the resistance fighters of Kompani Linge. The historical background goes back to the Second World War: Norwegian resistance fighters trained in the Glenmore area as part of the strictly secret Special Operations Executive, or SOE. They became known as Kompani Linge.

This combination of landscape and history makes the choice of excursions particularly varied. You can combine an active day on a trail with a historical stop, or focus entirely on forest, mountains and water. Nature enthusiasts also have the opportunity to look out for Scottish crossbills in Glenmore Forest Park.

Guidance for Finding Your Accommodation

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Glenmore, it is worth deciding in advance what daily routine you want. Those mainly interested in experiencing the trails and forest can take the different route lengths and trail surfaces into account when planning. For days by the water, Loch Morlich and its non-motorised recreational opportunities are key. History, wildlife observation and mountain biking can also be considered as separate priorities: Glenmore Lodge offers mountain biking courses.

The Glenmore Visitor Centre is a useful point of reference; accessible public toilets are available there. Buses between Aviemore and the Cairngorm Mountain Ski Centre pass Loch Morlich Beach. This information may be relevant when planning travel within the excursion area. When choosing your accommodation, consider which focus suits your travel group and how much time you want to allow for trails, water, history or quieter nature observation.

More Destinations to Consider

If you would like to compare Glenmore with other destinations, you can also consider Tarskavaig, Croick, Scarfskerry, Onich, Duror, Grantown On Spey, Kinbrace and John o' Groats.

For the higher-level travel overview: Highland.