Photo: Steven Brown / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

Long distance

Affric Kintail Way

Connects Loch Ness to the west coast through Glen Affric, widely considered the most beautiful glen in Scotland. Remote, wild and deeply rewarding. Combines forest tracks, glen paths and a remote mountain pass into one of Scotland's most beautiful through-routes; well-suited to experienced hillwalkers happy with one wild-camp or hostel night in the middle.

Quick facts

Distance: 72 km/ 44 mi
Typical days: 4
Total ascent: 1800 m
Difficulty: moderate
Start → Finish: Drumnadrochit → Morvich
Best direction: East to West
Water sources: Drumnadrochit, Cannich and Morvich provide tap water at the trailheads. Glen Affric burns are reliable and clean enough to treat. The Bothy at Alltbeithe (Glen Affric SYHA) has tap water — the only mid-route fill point. Carry 2L on the long Glen Affric day.
Mobile signal: EE/Vodafone reliable at Drumnadrochit and Cannich. No signal in Glen Affric — the whole interior of the route is signal-free. Morvich has signal again. The hostel at Alltbeithe is fully off-grid.

✔ Waymarked throughout

Dogs on lead through livestock sectionsLivestock sections present

72km · 1800m ascent

Approximate profile derived from per-stage ascent — accurate on total climb and pattern, not a pixel-precise GPX trace.

Our take

This is the route that experienced hillwalkers whisper about. Glen Affric is staggeringly beautiful — old Caledonian pine forest, lochs reflecting the sky, and a genuine sense of remoteness that the West Highland Way lost decades ago. The middle section has no road access and minimal phone signal. You carry everything or use the basic bothies. Not for beginners.

Highlights

Glen Affric — ancient Caledonian pine forest
Loch Affric and Loch Beinn a Mheadhoin
Alltbeithe youth hostel — one of the remotest in Scotland
Descent to the west coast at Morvich

Day-by-day itinerary

A suggested 4-day schedule. Adjust to your fitness and conditions.

1Drumnadrochit to Cannich22km · 400m ascent

From Loch Ness-side through forest and farmland to Cannich, the last village before the wild heart of Glen Affric.

Terrain: Forest tracks, farm paths, quiet lanes. Moderate gradients.
Overnight: Cannich has B&Bs, the Slaters Arms pub, and a campsite. Last resupply point.
Stats: Drumnadrochit → Cannich · 22km · ↑400m

2Cannich to Alltbeithe20km · 500m ascent

Into Glen Affric through ancient Caledonian pine forest past Loch Affric to the remote Alltbeithe hostel. Staggeringly beautiful.

Terrain: Glen paths, rough tracks, some boggy sections. No road access.
Overnight: Alltbeithe SYHA — one of Scotland's most remote hostels. Wild camping by the loch.
Stats: Cannich → Alltbeithe · 20km · ↑500m

3Alltbeithe to Camban14km · 500m ascent

Over the high pass between Glen Affric and Glen Lichd. The most demanding section with the finest mountain views on the route.

Terrain: Mountain pass, rough paths, river crossings. Exposed and remote.
Overnight: Camban bothy or wild camping. No other options in this remote section.
Stats: Alltbeithe → Camban · 14km · ↑500m

4Camban to Morvich16km · 400m ascent

Descent through Glen Lichd with the Five Sisters of Kintail towering above to the west coast at Morvich near Loch Duich.

Terrain: Glen path, descent through forest, final approach on good tracks.
Overnight: Morvich has a caravan park. Shiel Bridge and Ratagan have B&Bs and a SYHA hostel.
Stats: Camban → Morvich · 16km · ↑400m

Hills along the route

Munros, Corbetts, Grahams and Donalds within 5km of the route line — extensions or rest-day options.

Transport

To start (Drumnadrochit)

Bus · Stagecoach Highland / Scottish Citylink
Inverness to Drumnadrochit (Stagecoach 17; Citylink 919)
Stagecoach 17 hourly; Citylink 919 every ~3 hours
~25–32 min journey. Inverness has direct trains from Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Check times & book →

From finish (Morvich)

Bus · Scottish Citylink
Shiel Bridge to Inverness (917) or Glasgow / Skye (915)
Up to 3 daily each direction
Morvich is ~2 miles from the Shiel Bridge stop; walk or taxi required.
Check times & book →

Best months

Accommodation

Very limited. Cannich has B&Bs. Alltbeithe SYHA hostel is basic (no road access). Wild camping is the norm for the middle section. Alltbeithe SYHA must be booked directly via the SYHA website months ahead; it has no road access and resupply is impossible there. Cannich and Morvich have B&Bs and a campsite.

Resupply

Carry all food from Drumnadrochit or Cannich. No shops between Cannich and Morvich (3 days). Plan carefully. The single shop at Cannich is the last resupply before Morvich (three days). The Tomich Hotel near Cannich does evening meals; carry a hot lunch each day in cooler months.

Connect with

Chain into a longer expedition by combining with adjacent long-distance routes.

Affric Kintail Way + Cape Wrath Trail

Cape Wrath Trail crosses the Affric Kintail Way

Use the Affric Kintail Way as a wayfinding section of a Cape Wrath Trail north-west traverse.

Affric Kintail Way + Great Glen Way

Affric Kintail Way starts at Drumnadrochit on the Great Glen Way

Finish the Great Glen Way at Inverness, return south to Drumnadrochit, then walk the Affric Kintail Way west for a Highland figure-of-eight.

Current conditions

Weather at the start point (Drumnadrochit)

Daylight Today

20h 17mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 04:20
Sunset: 22:17
Civil dawn: 03:10
Civil dusk: 23:27

NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026

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Getting to and from the Affric Kintail Way

Train and town anchors at each end of the route — on TripSCOT.

On TripSCOT

station

Start: Inverness station

Highland capital — Cairngorms east side, Affric, Far North via bus/car

22km from Drumnadrochit

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

station

Finish: Plockton station

Coastal Wester Ross; Plockton village; Skye Bridge approach

20km from Morvich

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On TripSCOT

town

Stock up: Inverness

Highland capital — gateway to Cairngorms, Affric, Far North

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