Affric Kintail Way 2: Cannich to Affric road end

Summary

From Cannich the Affric Kintail Way climbs to reach a forestry track which undulates with good views in places until descending to the Dog Falls car park. From here a track follows the south side of Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin through pine and birchwoods to finish at the car park at the end of the public road up Glen Affric. There are toilets here but no accommodation or other facilities - so a pick-up would have to have been arranged (or the summer bus) unless backpacking or walking the next stage to the hostel at Alltbeithe.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Minor road, waymarked forestry tracks and paths.

Getting there

Start

Cannich.

Public Transport

Buses from Cannich to Inverness, July- Sept bus between Glen Affric road and Cannich.

Start Grid Ref

NH332316

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Services

Cannich has a campsite, cafe, shop and B&B accommodation. There are no facilities along the route except the toilets at Dog Falls and at the end of the stage.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 19.5km / 12 miles
Time: 5.5 - 6 hours
Ascent: 598m (Profile)

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Explorer 415 - Glen Affric

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Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

The second stage starts from the junction of the main street in Cannich and the A831 just to the west of the bridge over the River Cannich. Take Mullardoch road which climbs out of Cannich from the road junction near the bridge. Soon there are good views back over the village and up the strath. Continue climbing the steep road passing a viewpoint bench and Clan Chisholm stone. After the gradient becomes less steep turn left onto a signed track and once past the gate the track climbs slightly uphill.

Stage 2

At a fork keep left. Soon there is a signed detour to visit Comar Dun, once a fortified iron-age house with commanding views. Staying on the track, it now gently undulates with some views of the surrounding hills in places. Stay on the main track, ignoring any side tracks. Approximately 5km after leaving the road look for a signed path on the left which leaves the track to head down through the trees. This soon reaches another track turn left onto it and follow it downhill, passing a clearing with power lines, to soon reach the road opposite Dog Falls car park where there are toilets and picnic tables. Here there are waymarked walks around Dog Falls and Coire Loch which would make a spectacular detour if time allows.

Stage 3

To continue the route, cross the bridge over the river and follow the track which steadily climbs through the pinewoods on the far side. Soon it swings back sharply left; soon after this, turn right at a junction of tracks.

Stage 4

The track climbs towards a high point; look out for a marker indicating a short detour to the right to a viewpoint with seats and a vista over Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin up the glen.

Stage 5

The walk now descends and continues along the forest track on the south side of the loch for several kilometres. Ignore a track forking off to the left (signed for Tomich), continuing ahead.

Stage 6

Continue along the track, which passes some magnificient old pines (known as 'Granny Pines') mixed in with younger pines and a great many birches. The same trees that sheltered Bonnie Prince Charlie when he hid from government troops in this glen are still growing today; the same trees have harboured wolves and bear - out of all Britain's landscapes, only the arctic-alpine summits of the mountains are in as natural a state as this.

Stage 7

At long last the end of the loch is passed, and a signed junction is reached. The next stage of the Affric-Kintail Way continues with a left turn here, but if you wish to leave the way and head to the car park at the end of the road up Glen Affric, a short detour to the right, crossing a bridge over the river, leads to it. There are however no facilities at the car park except toilets, so unless backpacking or continuing, transport would need to have been arranged to take you to your accommodation.

Next stage: Affric to Alltbeithe

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