An Lochan Uaine - luminous green loch

Freezing dip in the Green Loch

The Green Loch or An Lochan Uaine is probably my favourite loch in Scotland. When the sun is shining it’s a luminous green colour and very enticing. It’s also reached by a very pleasant forest walk that’s relatively flat and very pretty. We visited today and went for a brief dip. In my case at least that involving running in, getting wet, then running out again – twice. Ben was bit braver and actually swam a bit.

A wide angle shot of Rachel, Elizabeth, Daniel and Mum smiling in front the loch.
A wide angle shot of Ben, Elizabeth, Daniel and Mum smiling in front the loch.
Ben, Elizabeth, Daniel and Mum smiling in front the loch.
The Green Loch from the steps leading down.
A pathway in the forest.
Looking in the other direction towards the big hill behind the loch.
A different angle of the Green Loch with Elizabeth and Daniel walking along the shore.

My mother recorded a video of us all venturing in but it’s not suitable to be shared on this blog due to the foul language. The water temperature was freezing which is not surprising given the loch is fed by melting snow. My guess is it was around 5C.

We then stopped at Loch Morlich which is gorgeous for its sandy beach curtained by forest and hills. There aren’t many places in the world with an inland lake that has a sandy beach like this. The sand was formed from glacial erosion after the last Ice Age.

Loch Morlich with hills in the distance.
Loch Morlich.

We took some bird seed for the ducks and one of them ate from Elizabeth’s hand.

A male duck eating seed from Elizabeth's hand.
Mum standing on the sand looking at  Loch Morlich.

This last photo was taken outside the Rothiemurchus Farm Shop for a morning coffee.

Mum, Daniel and Elizabeth smiling next to the farm shop.

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2 responses to “Freezing dip in the Green Loch”

  1. Denise Avatar

    I can’t believe Ben swam in that. I’ve been in the sea in February in the south in a wetsuit and I wouldn’t do that again.

    1. Rachel M Avatar

      It was freezing. Perhaps I’ll post the video of it at some point. The colour of the water makes it look so inviting but it is bitingly cold.

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