An Lochan Uaine

Lake, Pool, Pond, Freshwater Marsh in Inverness-shire

Scotland

An Lochan Uaine

The side of the Ryvoan Pass Native woodland extends high up the side of Meall a&#039; Bhuachaille. This is part of the Meall a&#039; Bhuachaille circular walk from the Glenmore Visitor Centre. See <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/meallabhuachaille.shtml" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/meallabhuachaille.shtml">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> — The side of the Ryvoan Pass Credit: Julian Paren

An Lochan Uaine, also known as the Green Loch, is a picturesque freshwater lake located in Inverness-shire, Scotland. Nestled amidst the enchanting Caledonian Forest, this natural gem is a popular tourist destination for nature lovers and hikers.

Measuring approximately 450 meters in length and 150 meters in width, An Lochan Uaine is a relatively small body of water. What sets it apart, however, is its stunning emerald-green color, which is caused by the presence of fine particles of rock that have been ground down by glaciers over the years.

Surrounded by lush greenery and towering trees, the lake offers a tranquil and serene atmosphere. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll along the well-maintained footpath that encircles the lake, providing breathtaking views from every angle. The path is relatively easy to navigate, making it accessible for people of all fitness levels.

Aside from its beauty, An Lochan Uaine also serves as a habitat for a variety of plant and animal species. The surrounding forest is home to an array of wildlife, including red squirrels, pine martens, and various bird species. The lake itself supports a diverse range of aquatic life, including trout and other freshwater fish.

Whether you're interested in hiking, wildlife spotting, or simply enjoying the tranquility of nature, An Lochan Uaine is a must-visit destination in Inverness-shire. Its vibrant green waters and idyllic surroundings make it a truly memorable experience for all who venture to this hidden gem in the Scottish Highlands.

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An Lochan Uaine Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.175221/-3.6541561 or Grid Reference NJ0010. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

The side of the Ryvoan Pass

Native woodland extends high up the side of Meall a' Bhuachaille. This is part of the Meall a' Bhuachaille circular walk from the Glenmore Visitor Centre. See Link

Julian Paren

Ryvoan Bothy, Glen More

The bothy is close to the point where the Braemar Hill Path leaves the path to Nethybridge. It is also beside the point where the path up Meall a' Bhuachaille leaves the floor of the valley.

Julian Paren

Ryvoan Bothy, Glen More

The building has no windows facing south.

Julian Paren

Ryvoan Bothy from the path up Meall a' Bhuachaille

A well-engineered path leads up the side of the hill giving views through east from north to south. This is part of the Meall a' Bhuachaille circular walk from the Glenmore Visitor Centre. See Link

Julian Paren

Staircase up Meall a' Bhuachaille

This was one of the first Scottish engineered paths to counteract erosion by hill walkers.

Julian Paren

The Green Loch

Sun on the trees is perhaps needed to show An Lochan Uaine in its true colours, although signage warning bathers and dogs to stay out of the water also suggest that algal blooms may have something to do with it. I'd normally associate such toxic growth with eutrophication from agricultural run-off, which seems a pretty unlikely cause here. The Cairngorm granite weathers to a coarse sand on which peaty soils form and upstream of here, the Allt na Fèithe Duibhe does not flow over cultivated land. However, the Loch appears, in fact, to be isolated from the stream which flows past on the other side of the path to Ryvoan.

Andy Waddington

Ryvoan Pass

Ryvoan Pass is named on the map along the line of the path well below the actual 374m spot height marking the col, whilst the path itself climbs above that low point to reach Ryvoan bothy (a short way behind the photographer) and continues to cross the eastern slopes of Meall a' Bhuachaille heading for Nethy Bridge. A junction path also bypasses the actual col to curve round east for an ascent of Bynack More, or to cross the Saddle to reach Loch Avon and the Shelter Stone.

Andy Waddington

Descending to Ryvoan from Meall a' Bhuachaille

Dropping (or climbing) 400m in a kilometre and a half, the voie normale on Meall a' Bhuachaille has some pretty steep sections, but the lower part as it traverses across the hillside is a little easier than the most brutal section between 550 and 600m above sea level. We are also low enough to be seeing Scots Pine colonising the heather moor with some success in the light of reduced deer numbers. Ahead, the Ryvoan Pass path is wide and obvious as it passes Ryvoan bothy where this route joins it. On its way to Nethy Bridge, the path crosses glacial moraines with kettle lakes before plunging back into the forest.

Andy Waddington

Ryvoan bothy from the path up Meall a' Buachaille

Steven Brown

Ryvoan Bothy

Steven Brown

An Lochan Uaine

Steven Brown

An Lochan Uaine

An Lochan Uaine is a small, tear-drop shaped lochan beside the estate road north-east of Glenmore Lodge. It occupies a narrow slot between Creag nan Gall and Creag Loisgte. The view is from its northern end.

Trevor Littlewood

Ryvoan bothy in 1992

Ryvoan, maintained by the MBA as it was in October 1992.

Trevor Littlewood

Caochan a' Ghuib

This little burn marks the spot where the faint path that runs through this square finally peters out. Older maps show it continuing down to the Glen More track, but don't believe them.

Aleks Scholz

Path through moorland

It's not much of a path, but it's there. We are on the stalker's path northwards from Lochan na Beinne, and the GPS of my phone puts the camera position right where the OS maps thinks the path is. This contradicts a statement made in the only previous Geograph of this path, this one: NJ0008 : Stalkers Path. Unless of course there is a second path not shown in maps.

Aleks Scholz

In the middle of nowhere

I ended up on this snowslope with this beautiful view because I tried to continue the path that in fact seems to end at the little stream Caochan a' Ghuib, a couple of hundred metres behind me in this picture. Down there in the draw is the main track from Glenmore Lodge to Ryvoan Pass. To get there, I eventually skirted to the left, following the idea that the path goes along a fenceline from my old OS map, but neither of those two existed. A bit of bushwhacking followed. Just to say that there is no path that links Lochan na Beinne with Ryvoan Pass, as much as I tried to desire that path into existence. See also NJ0009 : Where's the path?.

Aleks Scholz

An Lochan Uaine ("the green lochan")

One of several 'green lochans' in the Cairngorms, the translucent green-blue colour of this loch is supposed by local legend to come from the fairies washing their clothes in it; or, more prosaically, possibly just its algae or mineral content.

Alan O'Dowd