Loch Lee

Loch Lee is a long reservoir at the head of Glen Esk in the southern Grampians. It’s a good choice for a quiet lochside walk and open Highland scenery; make the longer circuit only if you want a half-day hike. Set your destination to Invermark car park at the end of the public road: the loch itself is reached on foot, about 15–20 minutes from the car park.

Treat this as a self-contained outing. There’s no confirmed food stop at the water or along the walk, so plan provisions before you head up the glen. Dogs are welcome under Scotland’s outdoor access code.

For the full circuit, allow four to five hours for 15.75 km and about 497 m of climbing. The route follows Loch Lee’s north shore, passes Falls of Unich and Fall of Damff, then climbs over open moorland before descending with a broad view back over the loch. The upper section is rough and boggy, with a faint path in places. If you want a shorter outing, walk to Falls of Unich and return instead of committing to the loop.

Water of Lee and Water of Unich feed the loch from the west. At its eastern end, Water of Mark flows out and joins the River North Esk. The north-shore path passes the loch’s dam.

The Falls of Unich sit in a rocky channel above the loch. On the full circuit, the higher track on Shank of Inchgrundle gives the wide view back along Loch Lee; that’s the place to pause for a photo that shows the water in its mountain setting.

The approach passes Invermark Castle, an 18th-century building made from local sandstone. It was built to protect people in the glen from cattle thieves using routes from Aberdeenshire. A ruined church stands beside the loch shore, adding another glimpse of the glen’s earlier settlement.

Wild primroses bloom along the banks in spring. Peregrines call from the crags, and golden eagles are seen here occasionally. Those sightings depend on luck, but they add to the sense of scale in this open landscape.