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Rothiemurchus Forest via Balvattan from Coylumbridge

Cairngorms Walk

Nat Park - Cairngorms - Cairngorm North

County/Area - Highland

Author - Andy Smith

Length - 4.6 miles / 7.5 km    Ascent - 300 feet / 91 metres

Time - 2 hours 40 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Rothiemurchus Forest via Balvattan from Coylumbridge
Click image to visit gallery of 3 images.

This very short family walk gives very impressive views onto the northern Cairngorm range and the imposing entrance to the Larig Ghru valley. Despite its short distance, this walk gives a real sense of remoteness and adventure making it an ideal all year round walk for the family. It is always within fairly easy range of Coylumbridge village near Aviemore, but make sure you and the family are well prepared for rapid change in weather and temperature.

The route shares its starting point (grid ref. NH915107) with walks 1016, 1721 and 3299 in Coylumbridge close to the hotel. There is ample parking in two large lay-bys close to the campsite and permission can be granted to park at Larig Ghru Cottage (grid ref. NH915104) from the campsite office.

Leave the road via the Larig Ghru footpath passing through a large gate. Continue for a while until the path splits. Take the right signed Glen Einich. Follow the path out the forest. Leaving the forest into the clearing is quite dramatic with superb views straight ahead towards the Cairngorm massif. Clearly the northern corries can be seen along with the immense scale of the Larig Ghru, which may be over 10km in the distance, but appears to be right in front of you!

Simply continue along this track for another 1.5km until a junction is reached, ignore the first, take the second left at grid ref. NH917079 and head east passing Lochan Deo and onto the Cairngorm Club footbridge which makes an ideal half way point to stop for lunch.

Once ready simply retrace your steps for 150m ignoring your previous track on the left, instead continue straight on back into the forest. After a while the track narrows before widening once again as you cross a pretty footbridge deep in this wonderful forest. From here simply walk on until your starting path meets you from the left as you walk back on through the gate and back to reach your car.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1906 Lochan Mor & Rothiemurchus Forest from Inverdruieeasy/mod3.6 miles
Walk 1505 Craigellachie National Nature Reserveeasy/mod5.0 miles
Walk 1904 Loch Morlich circular (near Aviemore)easy4.0 miles
Walk 2412 Craiggowrie & Creagan Gorm from Loch Morlichmod/hard7.3 miles
Walk 2607 Lairig Ghru & Chalamain Gap from Glenmoremod/hard11.0 miles
Walk 3579 Meall a'Bhuachaille & Ryvoan Bothy from Glenmoremoderate5.5 miles
Walk 3218 Eag a' Chait gap Via Rothiemurchus Lodge from Glenmoremoderate8.2 miles
Walk 1020 Glenmore to Linn of Dee via Lairig Ghru & Corrourhard21.0 miles
Walk 1605 Loch an Eilein & Rothiemurchus Forest from Loch Morlicheasy/mod10.0 miles
Walk 2421 Braeriach via the Chalamain Gaphard15.0 miles

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