Explore: An Lochan Uaine
IMPORTANT UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 2026
An Lochan Uaine and the Ryvoan Trail are currently closed following the wildfire at Glenmore in July 2026. Forestry and Land Scotland is carrying out safety work in the affected forest and there is currently no public access to the Green Lochan.
Please don't attempt to access the lochan while the closure is in place. Check Forestry and Land Scotland for the latest information before planning your visit.
We'll update this guide as soon as the route reopens.
The Green Lochan
Hidden among the ancient Scots pines of Glenmore Forest, An Lochan Uaine is one of the most beautiful and distinctive places around Aviemore.
Its name means the Green Lochan, and once you see the colour of the water it's not difficult to understand why.
Photo credit: Hannah Bailey (www.whatmakesagoodphoto.com)
Walking to An Lochan Uaine
When the route is open, the Ryvoan Trail leads through Glenmore Forest to An Lochan Uaine.
The official Forestry and Land Scotland route from Glenmore is around 5.8 km, with approximately 2½ hours recommended for the full trail. It's graded moderate, following mostly smooth gravel tracks with some slopes and a few shorter, steeper sections.
The walk itself is a large part of the appeal. The route passes through beautiful pine and birch woodland, with the chance of spotting red squirrels among the trees before the Green Lochan eventually appears ahead.
There are different ways to extend the walk too, including continuing towards Ryvoan Bothy when access allows.
Ryvoan Bothy
If you continue beyond An Lochan Uaine, the trail eventually reaches Ryvoan Bothy, a simple stone mountain shelter sitting in a wonderfully remote spot beneath the surrounding hills.
Like other bothies maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association, it’s free to use and left unlocked for walkers. There are no facilities, so think of it as a basic shelter rather than accommodation.
If you do stop by, remember the Bothy Code: respect the bothy and its surroundings, take all rubbish away with you, leave fuel for the next person if you can, and be considerate of other visitors. Bothies rely on everyone looking after them.
The walk out to Ryvoan makes a lovely extension to the Green Lochan route if you have more time and energy.
Why is An Lochan Uaine green?
That's the obvious question, and unfortunately the scientific explanations aren't nearly as entertaining as the folklore.
The colour has variously been attributed to algae, minerals and reflections from the surrounding landscape.
But the story you'll hear most often around here is that fairies washed their clothes in the water and turned the lochan green.
We'll let you decide which explanation you prefer.
Can you swim in the Green Lochan?
You'll find plenty of photographs online of people swimming at An Lochan Uaine, but we'd treat it primarily as a place to walk to and enjoy rather than suggesting it specifically as one of our wild swimming spots.
If you're looking for somewhere to swim around Aviemore, there are plenty of other places we'd choose first.
Have a look at our Discover Cairngorms guides to Loch Pityoulish, Loch Vaa, Feshiebridge, Loch Garten and the River Spey for more ideas.
Make a day of it in Glenmore
One of the best things about An Lochan Uaine is its location.
Glenmore and Loch Morlich are just a short drive from Aviemore, with enough to do in the area to fill an entire day.
You could walk around Loch Morlich, spend some time on its sandy beach, hire a kayak or paddleboard from Loch Morlich Watersports or explore some of the other forest trails.
Cairngorm Mountain is further up the same road too, so this is a particularly easy part of the Cairngorms to explore without spending half your day in the car.
Before you go
Check the latest route and access information with Forestry and Land Scotland before setting off. Conditions and temporary forestry closures can change, particularly after severe weather.
For more detailed route information and mapping, you can also find An Lochan Uaine and the Ryvoan Bothy circuit on Walkhighlands.
