Dubh Loch

The Dubh Loch path, a mere 4.5km,  starts at impressive Balmoral Estate building of Glas Allt Shiel, itself a good walk in from the car park at Spittal of Glenmuick.  The path briefly ambles through mature pine forest before launching into the rising glen of the Allt an Dubh-Loch burn continuing, elevated on the northern slopes of the glen, with excellent views of the burn cascading over some impressive slab rocks.  A fairly uniform, gentle gradient makes it easy walking to the impressive waterfall known as the Stulan, draining off the southern flanks of Lochnagar.  With further altitude gain the path finally levels off  to an expanding vista of Dubh Loch nestling remotely under the similarly named climbing crags on the northern flanks of Munros Broad Cairn and Cairn Bannoch.  Walking  relatively close to the water, over rather peaty ground, leads to a golden sandy beach at the head of  Dubh Loch and the rewarding end to the path itself.