Glen Affric loop
Length
39.3 Kms
Elevation gain
686 m
Max elevation
321.8 m
Difficulty
****
Rating
****
Type
Loop
Route id
572
Main road
0 Kms
Country road
10.6 Kms
Dirt road
19.8 Kms
Dirt path
0 Kms
Trail
8.9 Kms
0
Route summary
The Glen Affric loop route is a country road, trail and forest road run within North & Grampian. The loop covers a distance of 39.25 Kms ( 24.39 miles )
and has an elevation gain of 686 m ( 2251 feet )
.
Description
A running route in Glen Affric on mixed surfaces using the north sides of Lochs Beinn a Mheadhoin and Affric and returing on the south side using the Affric Kintail trail route.
First part of the route for
8.9 Kms
is on a small single track road between the Dog Falls car park and the Glen Affric car park. During our run we were only passed by one car but we understand that during tourist peaks there will be much more cars. So take care and keep to to the side and avoid using headphones. The views of the loch are more frequent on the north side than they are on the south so make sure you take time to take it all in.
At the end of the tarred section beside the Glen Affric car park you start running on a dirt road. This follows the river and start of Loch Affric before coming up to Affric Lodge. This area is fenced off but a trail route is clearly signposted to take you around the perimiter of the lodge buildings. Once past the lodge you are onto 4x4 style paths of a variety of quality. The path crosses bridges, takes you through fords and at times presents you with some good technical running. Parts can be slippy and fords can be deep so no dry shoes at the end of this part. Golden eagles can be seen in this section and the remoteness of it all is pure bliss.
At
19.5 Kms
you reach the Affric Kintail trail. You can add distance by heading off to the right in an out and back (we did), but otherwise take the path to the left and start to head back on the south side of the lochs.
You soon reach the bridge over the river and the bothy. We did stop on the bridge and againt the isolation is something else. Jsut after the bridge you come to another ford. There is a small footbridge to the left that can be used when the stream is big and we did use this bidge. The route now becomes good quality though the views are sometimes hidden by all the trees.
After Loch Affric at
27.7 Kms
you come to a tee junction where you keep to the right to follow the Affric Kintail way. From this point you are mainly in the trees even though you are right beside the loch. You do get glimpses of the views but nothing spectacular unless you are willing to visit marked view points towards the end of the run.
The route finishes with a sharp uphill and then downhill back to the bridge beside the car park. This Loch Affric loop only is also on this site at a much shorter distance and is the best of the route. Loch Affric loop
Route directions
Kms
1
Start at the Dog Falls car park
0
2
Leave the car park towards the main road.
0.1
3
Turn left at the road and keep on this road until the end of the loch
0.1
4
Over the bridge
8.9
5
At Loch Affric car park go straight ahead on the dirt road
10.6
6
At the Affric Lodge gates take the signed footpath on the left
12.2
7
At the main dirt road turn right away from Affric Lodge
12.6
8
Loch Coulavie on your left
18.3
9
On meeting the Affric-Kintail trail turn left
19.5
10
Over the bridge crossing the river Affric
20.1
11
A small footpath to the left takes you over the small bridge rather than the ford
20.2
12
Left towards Loch Affric
20.9
13
At the tee junction take the right keeping on the Affric-Kintail way
27.7
14
Keep to left path
34.9
15
Take path to the left going downhill
38.3
16
And finish.
39.3
Car park area
Small bridge over the river
Car park area
Road outside the car park
Car park area
Car park is 2 GBP per day
Car park area
Image from Glen Affric
Car park area
Image from Glen Affric
North side road
First view of the loch
North side road
Image from Glen Affric
Further along
Away from the loch
Bridge
The Chisholm bridge
Glen Affric car park
Glen Affric car park
First part of the forest road after the car park
Trail around the lodge
Start of the short section of trail
Trail around the lodge
Looping round the lodge grounds
Trail around the lodge
Affric lodge in the distance
Start of the climb
Good path at this point
Start of the climb
Image from Glen Affric
Half way down the loch
Half way down the loch
Image from Glen Affric
Half way down the loch
The loch to the left
Looking towards the loch
More grey clouds ahead
Later part of north side
Waterfall in the distance
Later part of north side
Image from Glen Affric
Later part of north side
Image from Glen Affric
Later part of north side
Image from Glen Affric
Later part of north side
One of the fords, this was the worst of them
Later part of north side
Image from Glen Affric
Later part of north side
Image from Glen Affric
Final part of north side
Looking back
Final part of north side
Image from Glen Affric
Onto the south side
Looking back at the river
Onto the south side
Image from Glen Affric
Bothy area
Towards the bridge
Bothy area
View from the bridge
Bothy area
Bridge view
Affric-Kintail way
And the path improves
Along the south side
Loch Affric on the left
Along the south side
Image from Glen Affric
Rest time
A rather cold seat
Close to end of Loch Affric
In the trees
Tree bound
With the odd glimpse of the loch
Tree bound
Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin
Half way on the loch
Half way down Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin