Coire an Loch loop
Length
14.4 Kms
Elevation gain
452 m
Max elevation
316.8 m
Difficulty
**
Rating
***
Type
Loop
Route id
573
Main road
0 Kms
Country road
0 Kms
Dirt road
14.4 Kms
Dirt path
0 Kms
Trail
0 Kms
0
Route summary
The Coire an Loch loop route is a forest road run within North & Grampian. The loop covers a distance of 14.39 Kms ( 8.94 miles )
and has an elevation gain of 452 m ( 1483 feet )
.
Description
An easy forest road route in a loop format that offers some lovely views along the way. The runs starts from the Dog Falls car park and straight away you are on the first climb of the route. The sound of the falls can be heard very clearly for about
1.75 Kms
when all of a sudden it all goes quiet.
The first
4 Kms
of this run is in amongst the trees, but at 3 Kms
there is a small add on available of about 1.7 Kms
to Loch Coire. We don't include that in this route, but have included some pictures as it is a very pretty small loch.
So at
4 Kms
the views open up with the village of Tomlich in sight and views to Beinn Bheag and Corrimony nature reserve. At the time of writing we are aware there are plans to locate over 40 huge wind turbines on these hills. This does seem very strange to us as why would you place these in such an area of natural beauty. We live close to a wind farm and have no problem with it at all, but here it just seems wrong. There is a web site available for more information on Glen Affric Friends where the local people are trying to get thier point of view across.
At
6.3 Kms
the route becomes a newer forest road which removes the need to cross the fords as shown on the OS map. This is the start of the main climb that is never too steep and is taking you back towards Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin in Glen Affric. Once the newer part of the forest road ends the views improve and it can feel nice and isolated.
At just over
10 Kms
you join onto the Affric-Kintail trail and from here it is a nice run back to the car park. There are opertunities for wonderful views along this part including a viewing point. Keep looking and don't be affraid to stop and take it all in.
Route directions
Kms
1
Head towards the bridge over the River Affric
0
2
Turn left following the red markers
1
3
A short detour to Loch Coire is available to the left. See description and pictures
3
4
Keep to the right heading uphill
6.4
5
The dirt road becomes less well made now. Better running
9.1
6
On meeting the Affric-Kintail path turn right
10.1
7
Take the path on the left back to the car park
13.4
8
And finish back at the car park
14.4
Car park
Large car park at 2 GBP per day
Uphill from car park
Early rest maybe
Uphill from car park
Image from Coire an Loch loop
Uphill from car park
Image from Coire an Loch loop
Tee junction
Heading north
First of several information signs
In the trees
In the trees
Image from Coire an Loch loop
In the trees
Image from Coire an Loch loop
Heading south
Heading south
Image from Coire an Loch loop
Loch Coire detour junction
Trail to the loch
Loch Coire detour junction
Image from Coire an Loch loop
Loch Coire detour junction
Beside Loch Coire
Loch Coire detour junction
At the high point looking down on the loch
Back on the loop
South side
Route starts to open up
South side
The village of Tomich
Good path
Lovely colours
Good path
Image from Coire an Loch loop
Looking back
Over the glen
Looking back
Image from Coire an Loch loop
Rainbow tree
A tree that wants to be a rainbow
Start of main hill climb
Final descent before the climb
Start of main hill climb
Up and up, but not too steep
New forest road
Bridge relacement for the ford
New forest road
Image from Coire an Loch loop
New forest road
Image from Coire an Loch loop
Quarry
Passwing the quarry
Quarry
Image from Coire an Loch loop
Downhill
The last of the new road
Downhill
Back onto the old surface
Back into the trees
Nice soft running
Back into the trees
Looks dangerous
Affric-Kintail trail
The junction for the final section
Affric-Kintail trail
Heading back
Glimpse of the loch
The loch through the trees
Glimpse of the loch
Image from Coire an Loch loop
All quiet
The stillness of the loch through the trees
All quiet
Image from Coire an Loch loop
All quiet
Image from Coire an Loch loop
All quiet
From view point
All quiet
View point information