Description

Loch Esk is a source of one of the head-streams that forms the River South Esk.

The ink blot shaped loch lies a short distance away from Bachnagairn and can be seen from the upper stretches of Jock’s Road and the slopes of Broad Cairn. A stalker’s path heads through the trees where Tree Pipits sing and then passes over the granite intrusions called ‘The Glittering Skellies’.

In winter, the chill waters of the loch are fed from the melting snow-fields but the shore hosts a few species including Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Common Sandpiper and, on the grassy margins, a Dunlin’s reeling song can often be heard.

An intrusion of land almost makes an island and probably one day shall be the Isle of Esk but circumnavigation of the loch confirms that it was surrounded by trees some five thousand years ago, if the numerous peat submerged Caledonian forest roots are anything to go by.

To the north-west are the shining granite slabs of Craig Gowal and to the north Broad Cairn’s conical shape is capped by the rapidly descending mist.