Dubh Loch

Dubh Loch ("Black Loch" in Gaelic) is a remote hill loch in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, set on the Balmoral Estate at the head of Glen Muick. It sits below dark cliffs just east of Lochnagar, on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park area. Scotland has several lochs of this name, and this is the Glen Muick one.

Where is Dubh Loch?

The loch lies at 637 m (2,090 ft) above sea level and has a shoreline of about 2.3 km. Its outflow, the Allt an Dubh-loch, runs roughly 2 km south-east into Loch Muick near the royal lodge of Glas-allt-Shiel. Broad Cairn, a Munro, rises to the south-east, Cairn Bannoch stands to the west, and the ground climbs steeply north-west towards Càrn a' Choire Bhòidheach and Lochnagar. A high col to the south-west leads over to Loch Callater.

What will you see?

The setting is the draw. Above the water rises Creag an Dubh-loch, a huge black precipice that ranks among the finest crags in the area yet is far less visited than the cliffs of Lochnagar. There are no facilities here: no cafe, no surfaced path, just rock, water and open moor. The route also runs along the shore of Loch Muick.

How do you get to Dubh Loch?

Walks start from the car park at Spittal of Glen Muick. A path follows the southern shore of Loch Muick and then heads up the glen. The approach track is good, but beyond it the ground turns rougher and boggier. A well-known round trip linking Creag an Dubh-loch with Broad Cairn is about 20 km with roughly 813 m of ascent and takes around 7.5 hours; a boulderfield lies beyond Broad Cairn. You can extend it to take in Cairn Bannoch, a second Munro.

When should you go?

Summer and early autumn give the driest ground. In winter, snow and ice lie on these high slopes, and microspikes help on the descents. Carry a map (OS 1:25,000), sturdy boots and all the food you need, since nothing is sold along the way. Check the forecast before setting out.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the easiest starting point for Dubh Loch? The Spittal of Glen Muick car park, at the end of the Glen Muick road in Aberdeenshire.

How high is the loch? It lies at 637 m (2,090 ft), with a perimeter of about 2.3 km.

Is this the only Dubh Loch in Scotland? No, there are several. Check that your map points to Glen Muick rather than another glen.

Is the walk easy? Not really. The start is comfortable, but the terrain further on is wet and uneven, and the full day loop calls for fitness and navigation skills.