Loch Morlich Beach
Loch Morlich Beach Notice
COVID-19 has changed lots of things we do. And as we re-open the majority of our facilities and welcome more of you back in Phase 3, we need your help to do it safely. Please check what’s open before you travel; enjoy your visit safely by following NHS and Scottish Government guidance; take your litter home with you; and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
At this location:
- The car park is open and normal charges (if any) now apply.
- Toilets are open.
Please bear with us and check back regularly for updates. You can also find more information by visiting our COVID-19 page and our FAQs.
- Fires and barbecues are not permitted at Loch Morlich.
- Blue-green algae has been found in parts of Loch Morlich. This occurs naturally in bodies of water during hot and dry periods but it can be toxic to dogs and harmful to people. Please avoid contact with the algae or water close to it. Do not let your dog enter or drink the water.
Watersports and walking at the highest beach in Britain
Families play games on the sand, windsurfers tack across the clean water, and when the sun shines you can top up your tan. Close your eyes and you could be at the seaside! Famous for being the highest beach in Britain, this is the only freshwater beach in Scotland to have a Rural Beach Award.
Guide map to Glenmore Forest Park (PDF 2.7MB)
Walking trails
Beach Trail
Meander through the beautiful pine, birch and alder woods by the Allt Mor burn to reach Loch Morlich’s golden sands.
Largely wide, smooth gravel and tarmac surface, with slightly uneven and loose sections. Some short fairly steep slopes. Includes two road crossings.
Allow 1 hour
The coarse, pink sand of Loch Morlich's popular beach comes from the granite of the Cairngorm mountains, ground down by glaciers and rivers over thousands of years.
Loch Morlich Trail
A charming circuit round the water, with fine views of the mountains above and a good chance of seeing Goldeneye, red-throated divers and even otters.
Mostly wide, smooth and flat gravel surface. Some uneven gravel sections, with potentially muddy areas. Short moderate slopes and one steep ramp. Includes two road crossings.
Allow 2 hours
Winding through Forestry Commission land, with the loch shining through the trees, this trail gives you a real experience of the great swathe of woodland that washes against the slopes of the Cairngorms. Look out for dippers, wagtails and herons by the burns that feed the loch along the way.
Activities
Fun on the water
If you’d like to try zipping across the waves, you can hire boats, canoes or windsurfers at Loch Morlich Watersports. They’ll teach you how to use them too.
Just a little way from the beach, the trails offer peace, quiet, and a forest alive with birds and animals. Come early in the morning and watch for birds like sandpipers and herons, or otters hunting along the streams that feed the loch.
Camping at Glenmore
Looking for somewhere to stay? Get a pitch at Glenmore campsite.
Facilities & access
The nearest public toilets and café are at the Boathouse on the beach. Glenmore Forest Park Visitor Centre is also only a ¼ mile east of the car park.
No camping is allowed within the car park area and fires and barbecues are not permitted.
Car parking charges
- £1 for up to 1 hour
- £1.50 for up to 3 hours
- £2 for all day
- £8 for minibus and coach all day
Still got time on your ticket? Your parking ticket is valid in all of our Glenmore car parks.
Season passes are also available to purchase from the nearby Visitor Centre.
- £25 for a yearly pass for up to two cars
- £10 for up to a fortnight for up to two cars
Getting here
From the roundabout at the south end of Aviemore follow the signs for 'The Cairngorms' for 6 miles. Stay on the main road passing the first car park at Loch Morlich, continuing on to the far end of the loch. A sign for 'Loch Morlich Watersports' marks the entrance to Loch Morlich Beach.
You can cycle here from Aviemore on the Old Logging Way; a superb, safe bike route that runs for 6 miles between Aviemore and the Glenmore Forest Park Visitor Centre.
Using SatNav?
PH22 1QU is the nearest postcode.
Public transport
Buses between Aviemore and the Cairngorm Mountain ski centre pass Loch Morlich Beach. Plan your journey at Traveline Scotland.
Get in touch
Have a question or suggestion for improvement?