Loch Morlich

Loch Morlich lies in the heart of the Cairngorm mountains, a few miles from Aviemore in the Highland region. This freshwater loch stretches beside sandy beaches that run for long stretches along its shore. Watersports are organised here, with kayaking, sailing and windsurfing available from the centre. A yacht club meets on the loch while cycling routes circle the water. The loch sits at three hundred metres above sea level, making it the highest beach in Scotland to receive a Seaside Award. The beaches hold an unusual secret in their sand. Broken glass litters the shore, yet this glass comes from wartime training, not from littering. During the Second World War the area became a commando school for Kompani Linge, a Norwegian unit trained by the British Special Operations Executive. Trainees practised sabotage on the old Aviemore and Coylumbridge Timber Railway. A memorial to the unit stands outside the Glenmore Forest Park visitor centre. Visitors find sandy shores beside clear water under mountain peaks. The watersports centre provides equipment and instruction for those who want to sail or paddle. Cyclists follow paths around the loch while walkers explore the surrounding forest. The Seaside Award marks the cleanliness and quality of the beach. The memorial offers a quiet place to remember the wartime training that once took place here.