Northern Highlands
Glen Affric Weather
Mountain forecast and current conditions · summit 1183m
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:22
- Sunset
- 21:12
- Civil dawn
- 04:34
- Civil dusk
- 22:00
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 May 2026
About the weather here
Glen Affric is widely regarded as Scotland's most beautiful glen — a long, deep valley of Caledonian pine forest, lochs and remote Munros extending west from Cannich. The glen sits in a transitional zone between the wetter west coast and drier east coast climates, giving it some of Scotland's most varied weather and exceptional clear days with outstanding visibility.
What to expect
Glen Affric benefits from a rain shadow effect from the Kintail hills to the west, which gives it somewhat drier conditions than Skye and Torridon while still receiving significant westerly rainfall. The glen's east-west orientation means it funnels both wind and weather. The high Munros at the western end (Mam Sodhail, Carn Eighe) receive significantly more rainfall than the eastern glen entrance at Cannich. Summer settled spells give exceptional light quality for photography.
Wind exposure
Moderate in the glen floor; high to severe on the Munro ridges at the western end. The high ground around Mam Sodhail and Carn Eighe is fully exposed to Atlantic weather. The glen itself has reasonable shelter in its lower and middle sections.
Winter conditions
Glen Affric in winter is one of Scotland's most remote and beautiful landscapes. The Caledonian pine forest with snow is spectacular. The high Munros are a full winter mountaineering undertaking. Road access stops at the Dog Falls car park — the glen beyond is foot access only in winter. Emergency assistance is distant: plan accordingly.
Official forecasts
Always check an official mountain forecast before setting out. Current conditions displayed above are from the Open-Meteo API and are indicative only.
Hills in this area
| Hill | Height |
|---|---|
| Carn Eighe | 1183m |
| Mam Sodhail | 1181m |
| Toll Creagach | 1054m |
Frequently asked questions
- What is Glen Affric famous for?
- Glen Affric is famous for its ancient Caledonian pine forest (one of the largest surviving fragments in Scotland), its chain of lochs (Loch Affric, Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin), and its Munros at the western end. It is regularly voted Scotland's most beautiful glen. The Trees for Life charity's rewilding work in the glen is well-known.
- What is the weather like in Glen Affric?
- Glen Affric receives significant rainfall (1,500–2,500mm annually depending on location) but has more settled clear periods than Skye or Torridon to the west. The transitional position between west and east Highland climates means good visibility days are more frequent than on the Atlantic coast. May–June gives the best conditions.
- How long is the drive from Inverness to Glen Affric?
- Dog Falls car park (the main access point) is approximately 50km from Inverness — around 1h drive via the A831 through Cannich. The final section from Cannich is on a single-track road. There is no regular public bus service to the glen.
- Can I walk through Glen Affric to Kintail?
- Yes — the glen-to-glen route from Cannich through to Morvich in Kintail is a classic 2-day backpacking route of approximately 35km. The route passes the Alltbeithe Youth Hostel (one of the most remote in Scotland) and crosses a high pass before descending to Kintail. This is a serious multi-day route requiring navigation skills and self-sufficiency.