Loch an Eilein

Scotland at its best - scenery and history combined. Loch an Eilein is a small loch on the Rothiemurchus estate about 5 km south of Aviemore. The name Loch an Eilein comes from the gaelic 'loch of the island'.
In the late 18th century and early 19th century, area round the loch was used for limestone and for timber. Story has it that Rob Roy and others used the loch and one side of the loch is called 'Robbers Way'. There are only three remaining houses on the loch side and they are used by forestry officers now.
In the middle of the Loch on the island are ruins of the castle. The castle was once a stronghold of the Wolf of Badenoch who died around the turn of the 15th century but was a Cumming stronghold before that.The Jacobites, retreating from Cromdale in 1690, besieged the castle which was under the control of Dame Grizel Mor Grant, widow of the fifth laird Grant. At this time the castle was connected to the shore by a causeway. The causeway was lost when the water level in the loch was raised in the 18th century.