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Loch Garten

2.49 miles (4 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This walk takes you around the beautiful Loch Garten RSPB Nature Reserve and also visits the nearby Loch Mallachie in the Cairngorms.
You start at the Loch Garten Osprey Centre at the north eastern side of the loch. Here you can observe the birds nesting in the Caledonian pineforest, visit the excellent visitor centre and view the birds on the live CCTV camera. There are a number of splendid nature trails to follow through the forest and along the pretty loch. Look out for wildlife which includes red squirrels, dragonflies, crested tits and, in early spring, the capercaillie. The walk continues on woodland trails to the smaller, but still delightful, Loch Mallachie. It's a glorious area with the Cairngorms mountains making a splendid backdrop.
The Speyside Way passes nearby so you can pick this up if you would like to extend your walk.
You could also head east into the expansive Abernethy Forest where there are miles of trails to follow. The woods include the River Nethy and a series of pretty lochs and streams.

Postcode

PH25 3HA - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Please click here for more information

Loch Garten OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Loch Garten Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

A few miles to the west there's more peaceful waterside walking around the beautiful clear waters of Loch Vaa.
Follow the Speyside Way north east and you could visit the nearby town of Grantown On Spey. There's riverside trails along the River Spey and peaceful woodland in Anagach Woods on the northern side of the river. The pinewoods are a good place to look out for wildlife including Capercaillie and red squirrels. To the north of the town you'll also find the peaceful Lochindorb. The loch has a good walking and cycling path running along its eastern side. From here you can enjoy views across the water to the ruins of Lochindorb Castle which sits on an island in the centre of the loch.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cairngorms Walks page.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Loch Garten - geograph.org.uk - 681357

Loch Garten

Loch Garten - geograph.org.uk - 2194520

Bikes parked by the lochside

Green Trail Car Park, Loch Garten - geograph.org.uk - 234110

Green Trail Car Park, Loch Garten

Loch Garten - geograph.org.uk - 33098

Close to the RSPB Osprey Centre

RSPB Osprey Centre - geograph.org.uk - 11325

RSPB Osprey Centre

Red Squirrel - geograph.org.uk - 33099

Red Squirrel. Feeding below bird feeding boxes at entrance to RSPB Osprey Centre

Entrance to RSPB Loch Garten Osprey watchpoint - geograph.org.uk - 1580917

Entrance to RSPB Loch Garten Osprey watchpoint Opens at 10am. The pool along the track to the watchpoint hold White-faced darter dragonfly.

Osprey returning to the nest - geograph.org.uk - 1031232

Osprey returning to the nest

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Loch Garten.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Loch Garten.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)