Ryvoan Pass & the Green Lochan

This is the classic short mountain walk of the Cairngorms, and it asks very little of the walker. It starts from the Glenmore Forest Park car park near the An Lochan Uaine route and follows a clear track into the Ryvoan Pass, a glacial gap between the ridge of Meall a' Bhuachaille and the slopes of Creag Loisgte. After roughly three kilometres on a gently climbing path through pine and birch, you reach the Green Lochan, known in Gaelic as An Lochan Uaine, a small deep pool whose water is a startling green. Local legend says the colour comes from fairies washing their clothes in the pool, while geologists point to the fine rock particles and the depth of the water; either way, the effect is striking on a bright day. A little further, the track reaches Ryvoan Bothy, a simple stone shelter at the head of the pass, and from there paths open toward Nethy Bridge or the high Cairngorms for those who want a longer day. The walk is free, very scenic and suits a wide range of ages and abilities.

The route rewards unhurried walkers. From the car park to the lochan and back is about six kilometres and takes roughly ninety minutes to two hours, including time to sit by the water. The track is wide, stony in places and generally well maintained, with modest gradients that most children can manage; pushchairs can struggle on the rougher sections. Turn back at the lochan for a short outing, or continue to the bothy for a longer one. If you carry on to the bothy, allow another thirty to forty minutes for the return.

The setting changes with the season. In spring the pass fills with birdsong and the first heather growth; in summer the lochan is at its greenest and the midges can be a nuisance on still days, so bring repellent; in autumn the birches around the pass turn gold, and in winter snow can make the route more demanding and the lochan partly frozen. The weather in the pass can be significantly colder and windier than at the loch below, so carry a jacket and a hot drink.

Wildlife is generally less common than in Rothiemurchus, but patient walkers can see crossbills, siskins and occasional red squirrels in the trees, and golden eagles sometimes soar above the ridge. The hills above are home to mountain hares and ptarmigan, which are best seen higher up. As in the rest of the park, keep dogs on a lead near nesting birds and livestock, and take litter home, because the Green Lochan is popular and sensitive to erosion.

For a bigger day, the Ryvoan route can be linked into longer circuits, including the walk over to Nethy Bridge or a loop that returns by the Chalamain Gap, a rocky boulder-filled cleft that requires scrambling and is not suitable for young children. These routes need decent navigation and fitness, and good weather. Most visitors will prefer the straightforward out-and-back, followed by a stop at the Glenmore visitor centre cafe or a swim at Loch Morlich.

If you want a fuller outing, start earlier and carry a flask. The pass is sheltered from the worst of the wind, which makes it a good choice on a breezy day when the tops are unpleasant, and the forest around it is lovely in light rain. Families often turn the walk into a picnic, with children skimming stones at the lochan, so pack snacks and a spare layer.