An Lochan Uaine

An Lochan Uaine, the Green Lochan, is a small lake in Ryvoan Pass, east of Glenmore, beneath scree slopes and old pinewoods. Its vivid green water is the reason to make the walk; this is a destination on foot, not a quick pull-in. The waymarked Ryvoan Trail is 5.8 km (3.5 miles), a moderate walk that takes about 2.5 hours. Many walkers reach the lochan itself in 30 to 45 minutes each way from Glenmore Visitor Centre. Those figures describe different versions of the outing, so decide whether the lochan is your turnaround or part of a longer walk.

The usual walk starts at Glenmore Visitor Centre. The lower forest road is broader and firmer; an upper hillside option is rougher, and steps lead down to a viewing area by the water. Visitor reports often mention limited parking at the start, so allow a little time to find a space. The nearby Allt Mor Café is handy for coffee, soup or cake before or after the walk; it is by the visitor centre, not at the lochan.

The colour is the lochan's signature. Sunlight reflecting minerals in and around the water is the physical explanation for its green tint. At the water-edge viewing area, include the pines and the scree slopes above the loch in your view; they show the setting around the green surface and make a stronger picture than a close crop of water alone.

An Lochan Uaine means “The Green Lochan.” Local folklore says fairies washed their clothes here, giving the water its colour. It's a good story to carry alongside the geology while you look at the lochan.

The walk passes through surviving ancient Caledonian forest. Woodland recovery around Ryvoan Pass has been under way since the early 1990s: reducing deer pressure and removing non-native trees let Scots pine spread naturally farther up the pass, with willow, rowan and birch returning too. The old pines are part of what makes the lochan feel tucked into the hills, and the walk gives you a close look at that larger forest story.