Inverness & the Highlands - Discover Scotland: Experience the Best of Scotland - page 511

Need to Know
BEST TIME TO GO Spring for snow-patched mountains, August for purple heather.
TOP TIP Bring waterproofs. BEST PHOTO OP View from top of Cairn-gorms. For
more, Click here .
Cairngorms National Park
Don't Miss List
ERIC BAIRD, HEAD RANGER, GLEN TANAR, CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL
PARK
1 LOCH MORLICH
Not far from Aviemore, this is a perfect loch ( Click here ) , set in a perfect forest, sur-
rounded by perfect mountains. Go early in the morning, or out of season: you'll want
to feel like the first person to discover it, and you still can.
2 LOCHNAGAR
Rising above Balmoral Castle ( Click here ) , Lochnagar mountain (1155m) is a serious
- and massive - piece of rock, with terrific climbing on the north-facing corrie walls
(summer and winter - different tools, techniques and temperatures!). But any fit person
can walk up it: just be careful, stay on the path and check the weather forecast.
3 GLAS-ALLT WATERFALL
This comes tumbling, sometimes roaring, off Lochnagar into Loch Muick. It's the set-
ting that makes it - you can go up from Loch Muick, past the Glas-allt Sheil house.
(The building itself has a story: Queen Victoria had the place locked and unused after
the death of Prince Albert. Last time I looked in the window, I saw ancient dried roses
in a vase.) The path by the stream is steep, and narrow in places, but safe enough if you
pay attention.