Glen Affric

Glen Affric makes a strong claim to be the most beautiful glen in Scotland, and the argument is hard to counter. The elements are all here: a long loch, ancient Caledonian pinewoods that are several hundred years old and regenerating actively, a river that earns its name, high Munros on both flanks, and the sense — rare in Scotland nowadays — of a landscape in the process of healing itself. Forestry and Land Scotland and the Affric estate have worked together on forest regeneration for decades; the result is visible on every hillside.

The glen is 40km from Inverness and the road ends at the second car park by the River Affric — beyond is foot only. The Loch Affric circuit (11km) is the classic introduction: a well-maintained path through pine and birch around the loch that gives close views of the high peaks. The serious route is the Affric–Kintail Way: a multi-day through-route from the loch head over a high bealach to Morvich near Shiel Bridge, typically two days with an overnight at Alltbeithe Youth Hostel, the most remote hostel in Britain.

The Munros here — Mam Sodhail (1181m), Càrn Eige (1183m) — are the highest peaks in the northern Highlands outside Ben Nevis. They require long approaches but are rewarding in a way that shorter Munros are not: the summit view takes in a huge arc from the Outer Hebrides to the Cairngorms on clear days.