Loch Imrich Loop

The Loch Imrich Loop circles a small glacial kettle-hole through secluded woodland just off Newtonmore’s main street. The mapped ring is 0.29 miles (466 metres) and takes about 15 minutes. It is an easy pause between village stops, not a substantial hike. A published 0.5-mile figure may include an approach to and from the nearby hotel; the local map says its distance and time are to and from the hotel but does not define that approach. This route follows the lochside ring only.

From the village square, head east along the main street and turn down Golf Course Road. Enter by the gate beside the bowling green and Dullatur Cottage on the loch’s southwest side. The path is mostly smooth, though it can be muddy after rain. Seats and information panels give you reasons to pause; look for ducks, herons and other waterbirds. From a bench, include the wooded bank in the water’s reflection for a stronger view of the small loch.

Gates mark the entry points. Close them behind you and keep dogs under close control.

A glacier left Loch Imrich as a kettle-hole during the last Ice Age. Local history says people curled on the frozen pond for many years before a newer curling pond was built near the Highland Folk Museum. The loch was also stocked with trout; small fish and water plants are still noted around its shore.