Dog Falls and Coire Loch, Glen Affric
GLEN AFFRIC AND BEAULY
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1. Park at Dog Falls car park, about four miles up Glen Affric from Cannich village. There is a picnic area and public toilets at the car park, as well as an information board giving information on the waymarked walks. The walk described here combines all three of the waymarked trails to make a fine short circuit. Start from the information boards; do not cross the bridge, but follow the waymarked red trail which heads downstream along the nearside of the river Affric.
2. The river is a magnificent side, with a broad, shallow and rocky bed enclosed by fine pinewoods. After a short distance downstream the path heads left away from the river and crosses the public road; from here, it runs a short distance above the road. To see Dog Falls, turn right at the junction to head down the path, crossing the road to reach a natural viewing balcony. The falls themselves are not particularly high, but the fast flow, fine setting and rocky gorge make this a delightful spot. Return to the path up above on the opposite side of the road.
3. A short distance further on, keep on the red trail which heads down and crosses the road, and then the river on a long, narrow wooden footbridge. The footbridge gives great views of the gorge upriver. After the bridge, you soon reach a path junction where the red trail heads off right; keep left here, now following the yellow trail. This winds about in the pinewoods. There are many dead trees here, an essential feature of a natural forest ecosystem which is lacking in most of Britain's woodland. This ancient Caledonian pine forest is in fact one of the few truly natural or wilderness landscapes in the UK, a feature shared only with the highest mountain summits. If you are quiet there is a good chance of spotting roe deer; pine martens are also said to be common. Bird life includes the rare crossbill, and the hugely impressive but seldom seen capercaillie.
4. The path winds about uphill, eventually cresting a ridge. Soon there is a great view of Coire Loch down below to the right; keep on the waymarked trail to reach it as there are steep rocks around here. The path soon passes close to the shore of the loch, which is a breeding place of rare dragonflies. Beyond, the path climbs a little once more and emerges on a wider grass grown track, which heads up to the right.
5. This track soon joins a larger forestry track; turn right, still following the yellow waymarkers. The forest around here has more plantation trees, but signs indicate that it is intended that all the reserve be returned to natural forest over time. Ignore the signed route off to the right (by a bench carved from a tree trunk), which heads back down to Dog Falls; continue instead on the track.
6. At the next junction, the yellow route turns right to return to the car park. Before heading this way, however, it is worth continuing up the track ahead (white waymarks) for half a kilometre or so; this leads to a wonderful viewpoint looking up Glen Affric, with magnificent lakes and forest backed by the high mountains at the head of the glen. Return back down to the last junction, continuing straight down the track to reach a bridge over the river and the car park beyond.
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