Glen Loth

Glen Loth is a beautiful place to drive, walk, or even run if you're into that sort of thing. Being secluded and off the beaten tourist track, you can often enjoy complete solitude in one of the most inspiring glens on the east coast. Be warned though, this is a single track road as you can see in the banner above, and it isn't suitable for caravans, mobile homes, or commercial vehicles. Passing places are few and often consist of nothing more than a grassy verge. The road is not snow cleared in winter, and the surface is rough in places. If you do venture into the glen, be prepared to reverse lengthy distances to find a passing place. 4x4 vehicles shouldn't experience any difficulties. There is plenty of parking space around the broch where you can stretch your legs and breathe some exquisite Highland air.

The Glen has some remarkable little secrets too, such as the Clach Mhic Mhios standing stone, the Carn Bran broch, and the waterfall. Here are a few views of the glen.

This is Carn Bran broch. For more information on brochs, please visit highlandbrochs.com

The story behind the name Carn Bran has absolutely nothing to do with the broch itself. Quite some time back, a bloke called Fingal and the Sutherland Chief decided to settle an issue over whose dog was the best and fought them in Glen Loth. The Chief's dog, a white breasted Scottish deerhound called Bran, was so badly hurt during the fight that it died of its injuries and was buried under a cairn of stones which was named Cairn Bran. There is a cairn maybe 50 yards or so downstream of the broch on the banks of the Glen Loth burn which may be the cairn for the dog. Here's the cairn and where you'll find it.

Deer can often be seen wandering the hillsides. These stags were up near the top of the glen as you come into view of the Strath of Kildonan.

This is the Clach Mhic Mhios standing stone, which is marked on the map.

The views from the top of the Glen are simply breathtaking. This is Morven on the left, Maiden Pap and Scaraben in Caithness seen from Glen Loth looking out across the wilderness that is the heart of Sutherland.

The Glen Loth waterfall is a hidden treasure seen by few. Access is from the main A9 road and walking up the banks of the Glen Loth burn. There is no access to the waterfall from Glen Loth and on no account should anyone attempt to get down to the waterfall from the single track road. You only need to look at the cliffs to realise how dangerous that would be. There is only one safe way to access this waterfall and that is walking upstream from the main A9. Do not attempt any other route. There is no public path so following the river upstream is the only possible safe access, which means you may get your feet wet as the going is rough in places. Please also note that the waterfall pool is deep and dangerous, especially if the river is in spate. This is not a family adventure so don't take small children.

Glen Loth is reputed to have gold and you can read about the legend of the Glen Loth gold here