Hiking in Cairngorms National Park
Last summer I had the opportunity to spend some time hiking in Cairngorms National Park. I have been wanting to write a blog post about some of the hikes I did while I was there. An Lochan Uaine (Green Loch) was the first hike that Luke and I did on this trip to Scotland. We parked at the Glenmore Forest Visitor Center. Parking fills up quickly at this visitor center however, there is an overflow parking lot not far away. We made our way along the path enjoying hiking in the forest and we took our first break at Lochan Uaine also known as the Green Loch. The color of the loch is absolutely stunning and the most beautiful shades of green. If you enjoy fairy folklore then a visit to Lochan Uaine is for you. Legend has it that fairies would wash their clothes in the loch which gave the water the green hues. I quite like this explanation. If you want to read more fairy folklore in the Cairngorms check out this website! I read that you can show respect to the faries by wearing green to the loch. I made sure to wear my green hiking pants the next time I hiked there.
After a little break we continued on the path to Ryvoan Bothy. We took in the beautiful views of the glen at the bothy. We also explored the bothy itself which was so exciting to learn more about the structure. A bothy is a small cottage that is typically left unlocked and is free to use and is basic accommodation. Long ago these structures were used by travelers or farmers in the remote areas in Scotland for people to find respite from their journey and weather. Some bothies were used by employees working on estates as well. Today, some of these structures can be used as a place to rest or stay the night for free. I enjoyed reading this blog about a hiker who had stayed at Ryvoan Bothy, if you are interested in learning about someone’s experience staying there. Ryvoan Bothy is a trail junction, from there you can continue on different paths that range in difficulty. It is also a wonderful turnaround point and a great place to rest for a bit.
The next day we returned to Glenmore Forest Visitor Center to hike Meall a' Bhuachaille. This was definitely a more challenging hike but absolutely worth it. We wanted to hike it clockwise to change it up a bit initially but you can hike it counter clockwise and see the Loch Uaine and Ryvoan Bothy first. The trail starts in a beautiful forest with a gentle creek and lots of moss. It was very magical hiking through the forest. Then it began to open up and you start your ascent. It was pretty steep so just take breaks and then you can take in the lovely view. We pushed on and reached the top, it was pretty windy so we took a break behind the large cairn that protected us from the wind. We enjoyed a snack and some water then we began our descent that would take us to Ryvoan Bothy. The trail down was absolutely gorgeous and part of the trail was a stone footpath. The views down the mountain were breathtaking and the heather was blooming which was just gorgeous shades of purple. I would love to see it in full bloom someday. If you are up for a moderate hike Meall a' Bhuachaille is great because you get to enjoy views from the top of the mountain and you will also get to see Ryvoan Bothy and Loch Uaine all in one hike. It was one of my favorite hikes in Scotland, but honestly they were all fantastic and I will probably say that about them all haha. I will be writing more blogposts about other hikes soon!
