by Myth » Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:24 pm
Date walked: 02/06/2008
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Multiple rounds... in both directions. The extension is well worth adding, but not too clearly signed, so watch your directions! The parking man is very friendly, and check the leaflet you get - your £1 entitles you to visit the fish farm - would be churlish not to!
This is a lovely walk at any time of year, in any weather - especially restful in winter, with ice margins on the loch. You stand a very good chance of seeing many kinds of wildlife, feathered and furred, if the place is not too busy. we've often had the place almost to ourselves when bad weather has forced us off the hills or slopes.
The estate do ask you NOT to take bikes around most of the loch ( the right and far sides), although there is a marked bike trail up to Loch Morlich (locked gate halfway last time I used) that can be accessed by going clockwise from the car park. Bells are useful in summer - it gets quite busy. Many people with children ignore thi however, and you do meet kids bowling along so watch out!
going clockwise, you start in old growth plantation pine, moving through mixed woodland, young growth plantation, and opens onto moorland before finishing back into old growth pine forest. the lochs stay more of less constantly in view throughout, but lift your eyes to the hillsides to see some of the other animals out there...
There are several really good climbing trees for kids on this gentle circuit, and if yours are like my wife, your heart will be in your mouth - and you'll be up there with them!
The shoreline in front of the Castle is a great place to hear the shortest echo I've ever found - so fast a clap is really the only thing that shows it up - stand facing the castle at 90 degrees to the wall and clap - the echo is near instantaneous.
Enjoy!
