Loch Morlich

Loch Morlich
Location Badenoch and Strathspey, Highland, Scotland
Coordinates 57°10′N 3°42′W / 57.167°N 3.700°W / 57.167; -3.700Coordinates: 57°10′N 3°42′W / 57.167°N 3.700°W / 57.167; -3.700
Type freshwater loch
Basin countries United Kingdom

Loch Morlich (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Mhùrlaig) is a freshwater loch in the Badenoch and Strathspey area of Highland, Scotland near Aviemore. The loch is home to a watersports center with kayaking, sailing and windsurfing among the activities available. There is also a yacht club and cycling routes around the loch. The loch is at the foot of the Cairngorm mountains,[1] just a few miles from Aviemore.

Long stretches of its shoreline are formed of sandy beaches. In 2009 these beaches received a Seaside Award by the Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) campaign, the first time that this had been given to a fresh water loch.[2] At 300 metres above sea level it also became the highest beach to be given this award.[3]

When examined closely the sand of these beaches contains large amounts of broken glass. However, this glass does not come from careless tourists discarding bottles irresponsibly, but is in fact left over from the Second World War when the area around Loch Morlich was used as a commando school. In particular it was used as a training area for the Kompani Linge (the Norwegian Independent (army) Company, trained by the British Special Operations Executive) because of the close resemblance of the area, both in landscape and climate, to Norway. A memorial to the Kompani Linge can be found outside the Glenmore Forest Park visitor centre.

References

  1. ↑ "The Cairngorms: Mountain merriment". The Scotsman. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Fresh water loch wins beach award". BBC News. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Freshwater loch flies the flag for Scotland's best beaches". The Scotsman. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2014.


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