Days Out: Loch Morlich Watersports

Loch Morlich isn’t so much a ‘hidden gem’ as a must-see. It’s famous for a reason. There’s a pine tree forest, which opens up onto a beautiful sandy beach, which in-turn surrounds the lapping shores of one of the finest lochs in the Cairngorms National Park. And this all sits peacefully below the majestic Cairngorm Mountains.

Activities such as stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), kayaking, canoeing and mountain biking are available at the Watersports centre, right on the beach. There’s also a boathouse which has a café, toilets and changing rooms, although it’s best to check the website to see which facilities are currently available. 

If you’re looking for an instructor-led day, Loch Morlich Watersports offer 1-hour kayaking trips, 1-hour canoe lessons, 1-hour stand-up paddleboarding lessons, and 2-hour group mountain bike sessions. These must be booked in advance online.

If you don’t need an instructor, or just fancy going at your own pace, you can hire a wide range of kit from the boathouse. They have 2- or 3-person canoes, kayaks, SUPs, row boats, and sailing boats. Again, these need to be pre-booked online in advance.

As ‘days out’ go, you can’t really get much better than Loch Morlich. And if you’re with your family but don’t really fancy getting active, you can get them booked into a lesson and then just relax on the beach with a good book. Bliss.