Arriving for lunch at Loch an Eilein, it felt as if we’d stumbled into a fairy-tale; a glassy loch surrounded by forest with a castle island in its centre. We didn’t get the chance to explore too much thanks to our first proper encounter with Scotland’s famous midges, so we set up camp in the first flat spot we could find and hared down the road to Ullapool for a delicious dinner at the Arch Inn. We agreed it would’ve made an unbelievable camping spot if we’d had more time – just another reason to return to the North Coast 500. Planning ahead makes everything less stressful and gives you more time to enjoy your surroundings. Loch an Eilein, deep in the forest of Rothiemurchus is sheltered by ancient Caledonian pines and has lovely views of a 13th century island castle, winning the UK’s best picnic spot back in 2010. Perfect for kids to swim in too, as it’s shallow by the pebbly beach. Camped a Friday night recently (in November) as. Loch an Eilein: Wild and recreational - See 1,350 traveler reviews, 644 candid photos, and great deals for Aviemore, UK, at Tripadvisor. We woke up to a clear, sunny day and went for a nerve-shockingly icy morning swim; we ran in, ran out and congratulated ourselves on our hardiness before bumping into a local woman who told us she swam there every day, even in winter. Photo: Getty Images. The loch is surrounded by native forests. Not free, you have to pay to camp and to park!!!! Check weather forecast and pack appropriately. We made our way back to the campsite and sat on the deserted beach to watch the sunset. centre which is presumably locked overnight(?). Aviemore campsites are year round destinations thanks to the incredible snowsports in the area, a popular way to escape to the mountains. Where: South of Aviemore is Rothiemurchus, follow the A970 South past Spey Lodge and turn left toward Loch an Eilein. For me, travel represents the excitement of escape and the pure enjoyment of discovering new places. Dotted with remote beaches, dramatic mountain passes and hidden lochs, you could spend weeks on the route and still not scratch the surface. Waterproofs are also a good idea; although we avoided the rain, we were constantly outrunning a storm – if we’d started even a few days later, it would’ve been a very wet holiday. Low clouds streaked across the sky, bringing distant squalls. It has a basic toilet block which is open during the summer but may close at other times. In Scotland, you’re permitted to camp on just about any patch of unenclosed land, so you can pitch up in some dazzlingly remote locations, from beaches to mountainsides – just make sure to leave no trace when you head on your way. Book activity breaks to go ziplining or canyoning and don't miss the serene beauty of Loch an Eilein or a rousing tour of the Cairngorm Brewery. Step back in time and retrace the steps of the Highland cattle raiders as you enjoy views of the dramatic and mysterious Highland castle and enjoy the exceptional wildlife of the forest including Red Squirrels and Scottish Crossbills. If you don’t have long, make sure you plan well and prioritise; I’d recommend the North and West coasts in particular. It is really very beautiful and the walk was just the right length for our four children (aged 10-15). Loch an Eilein . Kind of ridiculous. Of course you can begin from whichever end of the trail you wish. Waking up the next day was a beautiful surprise – no flooding (a near miss) and a crisp view out onto the loch, with no-one else in sight. Our first stop was Orkney’s one-of-a-kind Italian Chapel, two Nissen huts transformed into a beautiful place of worship by Italian prisoners of war interned in Orkney. There is no road to this location. Please click ok to confirm you're happy to continue using our site. We went round Loch an Eilein twice, once on foot and the second time by mountain bike which we hired at the local bike hire place. Read more. The site is over three miles walk from the nearest car parking. Loch an Eilein Cottage is incredibly accessible by road, rail and air. November 2020 Allgemein. Loch an Eilein: Quiet, wild, stunning - See 1,348 traveler reviews, 644 candid photos, and great deals for Aviemore, UK, at Tripadvisor. 8.59 km. The low level route around the loch is perfect for families, even if they're pushing off-road buggies. After breakfast, we explored Skara Brae, an impressively well-preserved 5000-year-old village perched on the edge of the beach; after our wild and windy night in the tent, it was strange to think that people had lived there so long ago, so exposed to the elements. The first designated area is at Loch an Eilein next to the car park. Waterproofs are also a good idea; although we avoided the rain, we were constantly outrunning a storm – if we’d started even a few days later, it would’ve been a very wet holiday. The cabin at the entrance to the car park was un-manned on Thursday and Friday (with no info about overnight stays) and it wasn't until I returned from a walk on Saturday to drop my tent, that I encountered a (very helpful, friendly) attendant who advised that I owed £5 for the night (£5/adult/night; £2/<16/night; camper vans £10 + 2&pppn). Bring warm clothes – and lots of layers. Our North Coast 500 road trip will go down as one of my favourite experiences to date, but 6 days wasn’t long enough to explore as much as we wanted. Rothiemurchus estates have established two wild camping areas in order to encourage responsible wild camping. I could’ve even done with a little hat for my nose. There are no facilities and advice on responsible wild camping should be followed - see Weblink above. The River Feshie The gorge was formed by a feeder stream in winter spate The sky was greying and the wind was picking up it was a dramatic change in such a short time since we’d left Loch an Eilein. We started the journey from Loch Lomond – not technically on the North Coast 500, but a scenic stop-off on the way up from Carlisle. A highlight was Ardvreck castle, a striking, tumble-down ruin jutting into Loch Assynt, framed by the surrounding hills. There were a couple of other wild campers further along the beach, but we awoke in our sheltered spot with the sense of being completely alone. The air felt heavy and sticky. The wild camping laws in Scotland are pretty unique compared with the rest of the UK. It’s a great place for a swim into the slowly shelving loch, with surrounding forests. After braving the midges for a scenic wake-up dip in Loch Lurgainn, we headed back to Ullapool for breakfast and then on another magnificent coastal drive of the North Coast 500 to our final destination – a whitewashed cottage in the seaside village of Glenelg, opposite the Isle of Skye, where we’d booked to stay for a week with other friends. I then continue to Loch an Eilein where I spend the second night wild camping at Loch an Eilean. 27. The second area is for wild tent camping only and is located about 1/2km beyond Iron Bridge Grid Ref NH 933 074. The practice of wild camping is simple – take a walk and plonk your tent down near enough wherever you fancy to, whether it’s next to a secret waterfall, or on top of a sketchy, rocky ridge overlooking a loch, or even on a remote beach where your only neighbours are passing seals. One of Britain’s most remote beaches, it has no road access; we parked at Blairmore Carpark and schlepped 6.5km with the tent, camp stove and the warmest clothing we could find. In typical chaotic fashion, we headed up the coast to Loch Fleet and blindly searched along the shore, pitching the tent haphazardly with fingers crossed that the tide wouldn’t rise too far in the night. Our one stop along the way – discounting, of course, the photo opportunities at every turn – was Smoo Cave, a majestic sea cave with a 50ft high entrance, three chambers and a vast natural waterfall. That night, we stayed in a cosy Airbnb in Thurso, a quaint town on the North Coast 500  – although we’d only been camping for two nights, a hot shower and a proper bed felt like well-deserved luxuries. We met a few hill walkers on the way who were coming off the Cairngorms early, one couple of lads told us they’d abandoned their route after the first peak and retreated to safety as they could … It’s touted as Scotland’s answer to Route 66 (without the guaranteed sunshine), but having driven the North Coast 500 this summer, I would disagree; it’s a unique experience of its own. Grid Ref NH 897 084. The day held a whistle-stop tour of other must-see beauty spots on Orkney’s west coast – Birsay, with its tidal island; Yesnaby, home to majestic rock formations (with what looked like fantastic wild swimming spots, but sadly we didn’t have time for a dip), and the mysterious Ring of Brodgar, a 4000-year old stone circle. As I've said, it is a great location but is "wild" only in the sense that there aren't any dedicated facilities per se., altho' there is a toilet block a short walk away next to the info. So, I've graded accordingly but would rather leave the impression that it's a great site overall, but just for one night! Loch an Eilein (loch of the island) with its 13th century island castle, was voted Britain's Best Picnic Spot. Loch an Eilein is a beautiful loch with a rugged ruined castle sitting on a small island. Forest Cottage sits amongst pine, birch and bracken on Loch an Eilein’s wooded north-east shore, in the heart of Rothiemurchus - one of Scotland's most picturesque Highland estates, near Aviemore. The first designated area is at Loch an Eilein next to the car park. The Rothiemurchus Camp and Caravan park is a beautiful and fairly wild campsite, ideally situated at the start of the Lairig Ghru trail. We got chatting and he told me that the site was only supposed to be used as an "overflow" if other sites in the area were full, but I got the impression that anytime would be OK (inc. Christmas and New Year), but that there was only an attendant at weekends..he gave me a leaflet outlining the set-up which states the t&cs, specifically that stays of only ONE NIGHT are permitted. It has also long been a much loved favourite of countless thousands of visitors. A winter wild camp in mild weather beside Loch an Eilein in Scotland, to catch a picture of the sunrise. Whatever you go for, make sure you feel comfortable driving it; the North Coast 500 majors on narrow, twisty roads. Grid Ref NH 897 084. It has a basic toilet block which is open during the summer but may close at other times. For the sake of this guide, we started at Loch Aa Eilein. Created: 25/08/2007 :: Updated: 03/04/2019 :: To report an error please your message and data to this form or simply click the submit button below. Under no circumstances should open fires or campfires be lit anywhere on the estate due to the significant fire risk to the forest. 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