AREA WALK 5 - CENTRAL WALK ROUND LOCH IMRICH

From the village square head east, shown in yellow on the map, towards Kingussie. At the Balavil Sports Hotel turn right down Golf Course Road till you reach the bowling green. At the side of the little cottage called Dullatur you will see one of the gates leading into Loch Imrich. The path circles the loch which lies in secluded woodland and has several points of access and exit as shown on the map. Such a quiet and peaceful corner is surprising in the centre of an active village and is much appreciated by resident and visitor alike. The loch is a kettle-hole formed by glacial action during one of the ice-ages. It is fed mainly by rain and winter snow melt but there were two small occasional freshets that fed into the loch during rainy spells. One of these has been diverted to feed the stock pond that serves the water-driven sawmill when it is operating. There are several seats placed round the loch for relaxation and contemplation. The Badenoch Angling Association at one time stocked the loch with trout and it was used for casting competitions. Some small fish can still be seen among the several interesting species of water plants which thrive in the loch. Grey heron and assorted species of ducks and other wildfowl frequent the loch. For many years the pond was used in winter for curling (the weather seemed to be much colder then!!), though now that there is a new curling pond constructed in the area of the Highland Folk Museum, Loch Imrich will no longer be used.