Farleitter Crag Trail

Farleitter Crag Trail is a 2.5-mile (4 km) loop from Uath Lochans picnic area, climbing through Inshriach Forest to the wooded rim of Farleitter Crag and returning to the car park. Allow about 1½ hours. The distance is modest, but the route is graded strenuous because it has many long, steep slopes. Choose it for a compact uphill walk to a crag view, not for an easy stroll beside the water.

The trail leaves the picnic area and climbs beneath tall pines. Much of the uphill is enclosed by woodland; as you gain height, the Uath lochans begin to appear between the trees. The path follows the wooded rim of Farleitter Crag, with rocky outcrops along the way. Expect to work uphill for much of this short circuit, then keep your footing on the return where the slope drops away again.

The path is generally firm and smooth, but the route also has occasional loose or uneven stretches. Rain can leave sections wet and muddy, so shoes with grip help on the steeper parts. Moss and lichen cover rocks in the woodland, and Scots pines here are more than 120 years old. Take a moment to look closely at the rock surfaces; they give the climb more to notice than trees alone.

The reward is the view from the wooded edge of the crag: the Uath lochans sit among the trees, with the Spey valley and Glen Feshie hills beyond. A small cairn marks the crag-top area, and a bench provides a place to pause. For a photograph, frame a lochan through the pines or include a strip of crag in the foreground so the view still feels part of the walk. Keep an eye out for red squirrels in the forest.

The separate Uath Lochans Trail is a gentler option: about 1½ miles (2.4 km), one hour, mostly gentle gradients with a few moderately steep sections, and narrow gravel path with boardwalk. It stays close to the wetlands, where frogs and dragonflies are worth looking for. Farleitter Crag is the choice when you want the longer climb and hillside outlook; the two trail names describe different routes from the same starting area. Some route guides join Farleitter Crag with the separate lochans circuit for about 3.25 miles; that combined option is longer than the 2.5-mile standalone loop described here.

The free Uath Lochans Forestry car park and picnic area are the trailhead. There is no public toilet there; the nearest public toilets are in Aviemore, Glenmore and Kingussie, and the nearest places to eat are in Kincraig. These are separate stops, so plan food and facilities before you set off. Overnight parking is not permitted at the car park.