Around the perimeter reeds, sedges, horsetails, bulrushes and willow scrub are found and a European beech forest fringes the edge.

[6] The castle, which used to stand on one of the islets, was first known to have been recorded as a refuge and hunting lodge for the Earl of Atholl after the Battle of Culblean in 1335.

[11] There is a circular walking route around the loch with vantage points for bird watching and wildlife spotting.

The starting point for the walk is Burn O'Vat car park on the Ballater to Aboyne road.

Six Striped Rustic - a film which heavily features the loch by artist Chris Dooks was made in 2013, commissioned by Woodend Barn Arts in Banchory as part of their Atomic Doric season of cultural works about the area.

Collett and later charted[13] as part of the Sir John Murray's Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909.