Loch an Eilein

Loch an Eilein is a small freshwater loch in the Rothiemurchus Forest, about five kilometres south of Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park. Its irregular shape and calm waters sit within a landscape of ancient pinewoods and gentle slopes. The name comes from Scottish Gaelic and means ‘Loch of the Island’, a reference to the ruined castle in its centre. The loch is surrounded by a flat, even path that makes walking easy for all ages. Nearby, remnants of a limestone kiln recall the days when local stone was burned for lime. Logs once floated down the connecting river to downstream mills, and cattle rustlers like Rob Roy used the area. The island castle dates from the 14th century and was built as a refuge from raiders. It once belonged to Alexander Stewart, known as the Wolf of Badenoch. In 1690, Jacobite forces besieged the castle but Dame Grizel Mor Grant defended it successfully. By the late 18th century the castle was abandoned and partly flooded after a dam raised the water level. The causeway that once linked it to the shore now lies beneath the surface. The ruins appeared in the BBC series ‘Monarch of the Glen’ as an island graveyard. The loch and its surrounding forest form part of Cairngorms National Park. Birdwatchers come to spot crested tits, redstarts and occasional merlins. The five-kilometre trail around the water is popular with walkers, cyclists and families. The flat route offers views across the loch and through the pinewoods. There is a visitor centre and washrooms near the car park at the northern end. The park’s accessibility makes it a favourite spot for picnics and quiet days out.