Glen Affric Circuit

The Glen Affric Circuit is a magnificent walk around Loch Affric, widely regarded as one of the finest low-level routes in the Highlands, passing through ancient Caledonian pinewood and increasingly stark, remote moorland beneath some of the grandest mountains in the northern Highlands — out of all Britain's landscapes, only the arctic-alpine mountain summits remain in as natural a state as this glen.

The route starts from the large car park at the end of the Glen Affric minor road, a popular picnic site with toilets. The walk begins along a track continuing the line of the tarmac road, forking right to climb gently and pass through birch woods that soon give way to magnificent Scots pine — the ancient "Granny Pines" seen here are said to be the same trees that once sheltered Bonnie Prince Charlie hiding from government troops, and historically sheltered wolves and bears too. The track keeps close to the loch, with fine views across the water to Mullach Fraoch-Choire at the head of the glen, before crossing the Allt Coire Leachavie on a bridge.

Beyond this point, the pines and the loch are gradually left behind as the landscape becomes ever more open and stark; further on, the Allt Coulavie must be crossed, usually possible via boulders but potentially impassable in spate. The track continues for kilometre after kilometre of superb forest and mountain scenery, past small Loch Salach a Ghiublais — a short, pathless detour up a nearby hillock rewards with a magnificent view over the water. The route eventually crosses a bridge and passes a narrow, bridged section of the loch before reaching a final fork; keeping left leads back across the river to the car park.

This is a long walk through genuinely remote terrain with no escape routes partway round, though the going is on good tracks and paths throughout — the burn crossings are the main hazard and can become impassable after heavy rain, so full waterproof boots and a realistic assessment of conditions are essential, and midges can be ferocious here on still summer evenings.

Parking at the River Affric car park is chargeable; there is no public transport to the start.