Loch Morlich Beach

Loch Morlich gives you classic Scottish mountain scenery without actually having to climb a mountain. Surrounded by Glenmore Forest and overlooked by the Cairngorms, the loch is also home to a golden sandy beach - officially the highest beach in Britain and Scotland's only award-winning freshwater beach.

We've picked out a roughly four-mile circular route around Loch Morlich, winding through the surrounding pine forest with beautiful views across the water towards the mountains. The route is mostly wide and relatively flat, although there are some uneven sections, short slopes and road crossings along the way. We'd definitely make time to stop at Loch Morlich Beach too.

Dogs can enjoy the lochside and beach, but remember this is open water and conditions can change, so keep them under control around the water, watersports and other visitors. For particularly adventurous dogs, Loch Morlich Watersports offers boat, canoe and paddleboard hire, and dogs can even join you on the water. There's also a rather brilliant 'hot dog pool' on the beach - a boat filled with fresh water where dogs can cool off.

Loch Morlich Beach has a chargeable car park with accessible parking, and overnight parking between 11pm and 6am isn't permitted. Public toilets are available 24 hours a day from 1 April to 31 October, with year-round toilets available in Glenmore village. Toilets at Glenmore Visitor Centre are available when the café is open. Fires and barbecues aren't permitted at Loch Morlich or within Glenmore Forest Park.

If you want to make a trip of it, Glenmore Campsite is close to Loch Morlich Beach and welcomes dogs. There's also an on-site bar and restaurant which is dog friendly both inside and out. We recommend heading out early, particularly in good weather, if you'd prefer a quieter walk.

Distance: Approx. 4 miles
Time: Approx. 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy

This walk was explored for Dog Owners Guide by Ambassadog @moragthecavapoo, who provided the images and first-hand dog friendly information for this listing.

Follow our chosen Loch Morlich route on OS Maps

This walk was also selected as one of the UK's 10 Most Scenic Dog Walks as part of our campaign with Petgevity.