Scotland's Most Beautiful Glen
Ask most Scots which glen they’d take a visitor to first, and a great many of them will say Glen Affric. A haven of ancient Caledonian pinewoods reflected in the waters of dark lochs, hidden waterfalls tumbling through rocky gorges, hills that rise above 3,000ft on all sides, and a feeling of genuine remoteness that belies how close it is to Inverness.
The Caledonian pine forest here is among the finest surviving fragments of the ancient woodland that once blanketed much of Scotland. These are the direct descendants of the forest that grew here after the last ice age, some of them hundreds of years old, gnarled and full of grandeur. Walking through them, with the light filtering through the canopy and red squirrels moving overhead, is one of the genuinely distinctive experiences the Scottish Highlands has to offer.
Exploring Scotland’s favourite glen on a walk with a qualified local expert, you’ll enjoy a wonderful day of spectacular scenery and nature, while discovering all there is to know about history and life of this most amazing place.
A Day in Glen Affric - Our Favourite Hikes
These are examples of the days we guide in Glen Affric. Every booking is tailored to your group – we’ll work with you to plan the right day based on your fitness, experience and interests.
Our guide team are all highly experienced and qualified local experts. All our guides hold the Mountain Leader Summer Award qualification as a minimum, and have many years experience guiding throughout the Highlands. We’ll be delighted to share our passion for Scotland and its wild places with you.
The classic Glen Affric day — a full circuit of Loch Affric through ancient pinewood and open moorland, with the loch never far from view. At around 16km it's a satisfying full day without being punishing. The reflections on Loch Affric on a calm morning are among the most photographed views in the Scottish Highlands — mountains mirrored perfectly in the dark water, framed by old Scots pine. Your guide will bring the ecology of the forest to life as you walk — the lichens that signal ancient woodland, the birds to listen for, and maybe even the signs of otter along the shoreline.
A gentler introduction to Glen Affric, combining the beautiful Coire Loch — a small, still lochan tucked into ancient pinewood — with the Dog Falls gorge, where the River Affric drops through a series of dramatic cascades into deep, dark pools. One of our favourite days for those who want the full atmosphere of Glen Affric without a long day on the hill. The forest here is stunning, the river walking is beautiful, and the falls themselves are spectacular after rain. In summer, Coire Loch is exceptional for spotting dragonflies.
Plodda Falls near the village of Tomich is one of the most dramatic waterfalls in the Highlands — a 46-metre drop into a wooded gorge, with a viewing platform that puts you directly above the falls. It is also one of the most accessible, reached by a short walk through Douglas fir and Caledonian pine. Works beautifully as a standalone half-day, or combined with Coire Loch and Dog Falls for a fuller day that takes in the best of the wider Affric area without much exertion. The woods around the falls have fascinating ecology.
The most accessible Munros from Glen Affric, and a superb full day for those wanting to go high. The two peaks have contrasting characters — Toll Creagach (1,054m) is broad and rounded with sweeping views north over Loch Mullardoch; Tom a' Chòinich (1,112m) is shapelier, with rocky ridges and a more dramatic feel. The approach up Gleann nam Fiadh passes through ancient pinewood before the glen opens onto wilder ground. The bealach between the two summits follows an old drove route that once linked Affric Lodge with lodges now submerged beneath the raised waters of Loch Mullardoch — one of many hidden histories your guide will bring to the surface.
The Guide Difference
More than just a walk through beautiful scenery
Glen Affric is well-signposted and perfectly walkable independently – so why come with a guide?
With Highland Guiding, you’re in the hands of a qualified Mountain Leader who will deftly manage navigation and safety throughout your day. But they also do so much more than that. A friendly welcome and companion for the hours ahead, a local expert who reveals the hidden connections between everything around you and leans into your own interests and curiosity. Someone who will be delighted to tell you about the flora and fauna as you walk, to explain how the local geology shaped the landscape and the culture that grew from it, and to bring the land alive with the legends and folktales of heroes and villains alike.
In Glen Affric you’ll discover the story of the Caledonian forest – the centuries of clearance and slow recovery. The myths and folklore of the different tree species and how to tell them apart. The turbulent history of the local Highland clans
A day in Glen Affric with Highland Guiding is a day spent understanding the place as well as moving through it. That’s what makes it memorable long after the photographs fade.
Planning Your Glen Affric Day
Getting there
Glen Affric is reached via the village of Cannich, around 25 miles southwest of Inverness on the A831. The glen road from Cannich runs for around 8 miles to the Loch Affric car park at its end. A car is essential – there is no public transport into the glen itself.
Meeting point
We meet you at the trailhead for your chosen route – Dog Falls car park, the Loch Affric car park, or near Tomich for Plodda Falls. Exact details confirmed on booking.
How far from Inverness?
Around one hour from Inverness city centre to the Dog Falls car park; a few minutes further to the end of the glen road. Also easily reachable from Aviemore in around 1 hour 15 minutes via the A9 and A831.
What to bring
Waterproofs, walking boots and a packed lunch. The glen can be sheltered in light rain but exposed on the higher routes. We’ll send a full kit list when you book.
Grading
Glen Affric days range from Grade 1A (Plodda Falls) to Grade 5C (the Munros). See our full grading guide for details.
Pricing & booking
Every booking is private — just your group and your guide. We don't run shared or open-group departures. One rate covers your whole group, however many of you there are, up to 10 people.
Day rate
£280
per guide
Covers
Whole
group — no per-person charge
Group size
Up to 10
people per guide
Booking type
Private
no shared departures
We meet you at the trailhead — transport to and from the start point is not included. If you have any questions about logistics, just get in touch when you enquire.
Full pricing information →