An Lochan Uaine (Green Lochan)

An Lochan Uaine, known simply as the Green Lochan, is one of the most beautiful and photographed spots in the northern Cairngorms — a small loch of extraordinary emerald-turquoise colour, tucked into ancient Caledonian pine forest, with the Ryvoan Pass and its historic bothy just beyond.

The route starts from the Glenmore Visitor Centre, turning right past a flag and memorial commemorating the Norwegian resistance fighters who trained here during the Second World War. Rather than the usual out-and-back approach, this circular option follows an old high-level path through magnificent stands of ancient pine, offering a more dramatic first sight of the lochan than the standard lower route. Wooden steps lead down to the water's edge at An Lochan Uaine itself, where the loch's vivid colour — attributed by geologists to pollen and by local folklore to fairies washing their clothes in its waters — never fails to surprise on a sunny day.

From the lochan, a gentle climb continues up through the Ryvoan Pass to Ryvoan Bothy, an atmospheric, unlocked shelter maintained under the bothy code; visitors are welcome to look inside but should take any rubbish away with them. The return retraces the outward route down to the lochan before continuing along the main path as it descends the glen, becoming a track. Near Glenmore Lodge, a choice of waymarked routes leads back to the visitor centre — the quickest via the blue-marked path running parallel to the road, or a longer, more attractive alternative via the purple route and a final yellow-marked stretch past Loch Morlich.

This is an easy, family-friendly walk on generally excellent paths, though the high-level section has a rougher stretch with tree roots and steps, and dogs must be kept on leads between 1 April and 31 August to protect the capercaillie that live in these woods.

Parking at the Glenmore Visitor Centre is chargeable; a bus service runs from Aviemore to Glenmore.