Loch an Eilein

As dawn breaks, wander through the ancient Caledonian pine forest on the shores of Loch an Eilein (Loch of the Island) and marvel at the 13th-century ruined castle, secure on its own island. It’s a peaceful and serene beauty spot now with the sound of siskin, crested tits and chaffinches in the trees. How different it would have been in the 14th century, when it’s believed that the Wolf of Badenoch, a bloodthirsty and brutal character, used here as one of his many lairs. Today as you pack a picnic and walk or cycle round the loch, it’s hard to believe it has ever been anything other than the tranquil corner of the Cairngorms it is now.