walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Loch an Eilein

Loch an Eilein


Postby Pooroldman » Wed Jan 22, 2020 5:55 pm

Route description: Loch an Eilein, Rothiemurchus

Date walked: 22/01/2020

Time taken: 2.25 hours

Distance: 7 km

1 person thinks this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Two Pensioners and a Poodle.22nd of Jan 2020.Weather sunny periods but clouding over towards the end and warm, 12 deg C on the car thermometer.
This walk is much more popular than the walks we usually go on, with mixed Bicycle, walking and jogging traffic, not to mention dogs.
Good car park which I suspect would be busy in the Summer. All the facilities were closed for the winter except the all categories toilet ( a notice said to use this one) which was heated. The car park charge was £1:50 each except the booth was closed.
The main path around Loch an Eilein was wide well paved and very well maintained, an easy walk for two old folk one of which collects his repeat prescriptions in a carrier bag (me). Obviously well looked after with trees trimmed back and a brand new bridge at the South end of Loch an Eilein.
Excellent views across the Loch with wonderful Scots Pine trees which must be very old.
We decide to take the Loch Gamhna path which is signed as "not maintained". This path is single file and crossed by many tree roots, not recommended for buggies. At the southern end of the Loch it was well boggy for about 100 m, as it says in the notes, where a small stream joins the Loch from the surrounding hills. Some Tussock Jumping was required, but we both crossed with reasonably dry boots. There was one more bit of boggy going on the west side of Loch Gamhna where another small stream crossed the path, more Tussock Jumping was required.I suspect that both these streams are pretty seasonal.
Back onto the main Loch Eilein path with views across the Loch to the castle. This section appears to be more used than the rest of the path.
Excellent views of the Castle on the last section.
We met three lots of bikes, two Joggers and about eight walkers, so not too busy. The car park charge did not seem excessive considering the amount of work that had been done.
A good walk for two old folk and a dog, needing a leg stretch in the middle of winter,
Pooroldman
Ambler
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Nov 29, 2019

Re: Loch an Eilein

Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Fri Jan 24, 2020 1:40 pm

This is one of my favourite walks. Thanks for the report!

Tim
User avatar
HalfManHalfTitanium
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 2992
Munros:119   Corbetts:28
Fionas:6   Donalds:6
Hewitts:152
Wainwrights:103   
Joined: Mar 11, 2015

Re: Loch an Eilein

Postby PeteR » Sat Jan 25, 2020 11:29 pm

This is a lovely walk. Have done the longer circuit of both lochans combined with a trip up Ord Ban. Did a circuit of just the larger lochan a few weekends back, with MrsR. That was an adventure for her, as she has various medical issues that impact her, but she really enjoyed it :D
User avatar
PeteR
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 2107
Munros:282   Corbetts:173
Fionas:121   Donalds:89+52
Sub 2000:200   Hewitts:3
Islands:9
Joined: Jan 27, 2010
Location: North Ayrshire

1 person thinks this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: dogplodder and 73 guests