Scotland is easily one of my favorite destinations in the world, and I’m constantly discovering new incredible places around the country. I visited Glen Affric several years ago, on the way to the Isle of Skye, and knew it was a place I’d have to come back to. I recently revisited on my way up to Orkney, and finally got to do the wonderful circular hike around Loch Affric. Here’s everything you need to know about the walk!
Starting the Hike
The Loch Affric circuit starts at the River Affric car park. This car park is managed by Forestry Scotland, and there is a charge of £3 for all-day parking (coins only). The drive through Glen Affric is along a winding single-track road – the scenery is beautiful here. There are regular passing places along the road, so please drive courteously.
The Circuit of Loch Affric
The hike starts from the righthand branch of a track near the car park (the “no entry” signs are only for vehicles, not for pedestrians). You can do the walk either clockwise or counter-clockwise, but I chose to go counter-clockwise like the route from WalkHighlands.
Overall, it’s easy to navigate and the route goes along well-maintained tracks and paths. Soon enough, you’ll pass a few groups of buildings near the loch – the trail goes behind these houses.
The scenery here is really incredible. Photos don’t seem to do it justice!
If you’re lucky, you might even spot wildlife like red deer or a golden eagle. There are lots of little waterfalls running down from the high mountains.
After about 2 hours, I reached the western edge of the loch and turned to carry on along the track on the other side. This is where the route follows the Affric Kintail Way, a 44-mile long-distance trail that runs from Drumnadrochit to Morvich.
The scenery across the loch and to the mountains beyond was just stunning.
I got back to the bridge over the River Affric just as it started raining. Talk about perfect timing! All in all, the walk was just over 11 miles and took me almost exactly 4 hours in total.
What to See in Glen Affric
There’s more to explore in Glen Affric if you have the time. It’s not that far from Inverness or Fort William. One of my favorite spots is Loch Beinn a’Mheadhoin. I absolutely love exploring the little islets and rocky shoreline – it’s also a decent place for a wild swim! Plus, it’s one of my favorite wild camping spots. Badger Falls and Dog Falls are other good spots to visit, with lots of walks.
Plodda Falls is a magnificent waterfall to visit if you’re in the area. The road to get there was pretty rough when I went, but it was worth it. Don’t miss the golden retriever statue on the side of the road near Tomich – this is the birthplace of the golden retriever breed!
Beauly is a small place, but home to a lovely priory. It’s just ruins now (there’s no roof), but it’s a pretty spot with lots of shops and cafes in the town. Beauly Priory is free to visit.
Drumnadrochit is home to the Nessie Visitor Center, where you can learn all about the mythical Loch Ness Monster. Urquhart Castle is just down the road – it’s mainly ruins now, but its superb location on the shores of Loch Ness make it one of the best castles in Scotland.
Planning Your Trip to Glen Affric
Glen Affric is a remote part of Scotland – you’ll need your own car to get here, and you should be prepared to drive on single-track roads. There is no public transportation here, although there are buses that travel to Cannich and Tomich. Drumnadrochit is easily accessed by bus from Inverness, and on the Citylink bus between Fort William and Inverness. You can get to either Fort William or Inverness by train – I always use Trainline to book my train tickets. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
If you’re not wanting to wild camp in the area, you’ll find the most options for places to stay around Cannich. There is also a shop here, so it makes for a good base to explore more of the area.
The hike around Loch Affric was beautiful – it was a long walk mileage-wise, but not overly challenging. I loved getting to explore more of Glen Affric, and I definitely hope to return again! I hope this post helps planning your visit around Loch Affric.
Have you hiked the Loch Affric circuit before? Or have you visited Glen Affric?
You might also like my posts:
What to See and Do In and Around Inverness
A 7-Day Itinerary for Scotland’s North Coast 500 Road Trip
Alternative Isle of Skye: 4 Ways to Avoid the Crowds
The Complete Orkney Guide: An 8-Day Itinerary for the Orkney Islands
Orkney: What You Need to Know Before You Go
Cairngorms National Park Travel Guide: What to See and Do
A Travel Guide for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Scotland
The Best Walks in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
All of my Scotland posts!
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[…] I went. On another trip, I actually went back to do the full Loch Affric circuit – read all about Glen Affric […]
[…] circuit around the loch takes 4-6 hours and is approx 11 miles. The path is well maintained although it is a little boggy […]