Loch Morlich in Aviemore, Scotland is a beautiful freshwater loch surrounded by forests and edged with sandy beaches. Here is a complete guide.
How To Get To Loch Morlich
Situated in the Heart of the Cairngorm National Park the address is – Loch Morlich, Glenmore Forest Park, Aviemore, Inverness-shire, PH22 1QY
By Bus:
You can get the Line 37 bus from Aviemore, which takes roughly 13 minutes.
By Car:
Loch Morlich is approximately 6.5 miles from Aviemore town by car.
From Aviemore, follow the signs for the Cairngorms. The car park entrance will appear on the right shortly after you get your first sighting of the loch.
Parking prices are:
£2 for up to 1 hour
£3 for up to 3 hours
£4 for all day (vehicles up to 7 seats)
Blue Badge holders park for free.
For those short on time, or that prefer everything to be organised for them, there are some awesome tours on Get Your Guide available to book in advance.
Loch Morlich Entrance Fee
It is free to visit Loch Morlich.
Loch Morlich Opening Times
Loch Morlich is open every day all year round.
The Watersports Centre at is open from 9am – 5pm every day.
Best Time To Visit Loch Morlich + Tips
To make the most of what Loch Morlich has to offer, it would be best to visit during the summer months.
This would however still be a stunning place to visit during the colder months.
The toilets are only open during the summer, closing at the end of October and re-opening at the beginning of April every year.
Although wild camping is allowed in this area, camping is not allowed within the car park area.
Also, fires and barbecues are not permitted at all.
We spent the evening at Loch Morlich before heading up to Dores Beach in an attempt to spot Nessie, before beginning our NC500 trip.
What To Pack
What To Expect At Loch Morlich
This stunning loch is located in the centre of the beautiful Cairngorms National Park.
Not only is it fringed by soft sandy beaches but also surrounded by the thick green fir trees of the beautiful Glenmore Forest.
Furthermore, this stunning loch has the spectacular Cairngorm mountain range, with its often snow capped peaks, as its stunning backdrop.
Situated at the end of the loch is the award winning Loch Morlich Beach.
As well as being famous for being the highest beach in Britain, this is the only freshwater beach in Scotland to have a Rural Beach Award.
Loch Morlich Beach
This beach is a designated bathing water site, hence safe areas for swimmers are clearly marked. However, the water can be quite chilly at times, so you will see swimmers wearing wetsuits.
In addition, located on the beach is a Watersports Centre that offers a range of activities including kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding and more.
Also on the beach, you will find the Boathouse Cafe where you can enjoy light snacks and homemade food to eat in or take out.
Moreover, dotted around the beach you will find picnic tables allowing you to sit and enjoy your refreshments.
As well as all of the above, there is also a good choice of scenic walking/hiking and cycling routes that you can take around Loch Morlich.
If you enjoy wild camping, you’ll be pleased to know that this is allowed around the Loch, although camping is not permitted on the north and northeast shores.
Also, you need to be aware that only a 2-3 night stay is permitted in one location.
With its beautiful, award winning beaches as well as stunning location, Loch Morlich is understandably considered one of the finest lochs in Scotland.
Also a great stop off to rest up before starting your North Coast 500 itinerary.
Loch Morlich Watersports
The Watersport Centre is open from April to October each year.
Equipment available for hire:
2/3 person Canoe – £28 per hour.(2 adults + 1 child or 1 adult + 2 children)
Kayak – £15 per hour (Board suitable for 10 years and up.)
Stand Up Paddle Board = £20 per hour (Suitable for one person any age. Wet suit included.)
Row Boats – £40 per hour (Max 5 persons)
Laser Funboat or Laser Pico – £40 per hour (Sailing experience required.)
Lessons available:
Kayaking Trip – Junior or adult 1 hour group trip with lessons.
Family Canoeing Trip – 1 hour family canoe lesson with an additional hour of hire.
Stand Up Paddle Board Trip – 1 hour group trip with lessons.
Private Lesson – Choose from sailing, stand up paddle boarding or kayaking.
Guided Mountain Bike Trip – 2 hour group mountain bike guide with lessons.
We recommend visiting the Loch Morlich Watersports website for further information and to book any lessons in advance.
Where To Stay In Scotland
Luxury – exploreNESS Apartment
Offering free WiFi and free private parking, exploreNESS Apartment is located in Inverness, just 0.8 miles from Inverness Castle.
The property is less than 0.6 miles from Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and 1.6 miles from Caledonian Thistle.
The apartment features 1 bedroom, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, an equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, a washing machine, and 1 bathroom with a shower. Towels and bed linen are provided.
A buffet breakfast is available daily at the apartment.
Mid-Budget – Loch Earn
Located 1.7 miles from Inverness Castle, Loch Earn provides accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.
There is also a kitchen in some of the units with a dishwasher, a fridge, and an oven.
A continental breakfast is available daily at the bed and breakfast.
Guests can relax in the garden at the property.
Budget – Inverness Youth Hostel
Just 10 minutes’ walk from Inverness Rail Station, Inverness Youth Hostel offers free private parking and bicycle storage.
Eastgate shopping centre is a 10-minute walk from this hostel. Hootananny, a popular music venue, is just 15 minutes’ walk away.
Culloden Battlefield and its visitor centre is just a 10-minute drive away. The banks of Loch Ness and the country village of Dores are both a 20-minute drive away.
All rooms have a shared bathroom. Packed lunch and luggage storage is available on request.
For more places to stay in Scotland, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com.
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