Glen Affric

Glen Affric lies in the Highland region of Scotland, southwest of Cannich and about 25 kilometres west of Loch Ness. The glen follows the River Affric through Loch Affric and Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin, with a minor road ending near the second loch and rough tracks continuing beyond. Ancient Caledonian pinewoods cover much of the glen, alongside moorland and mountains. It is recognised as a national scenic area and a national nature reserve, with several conservation designations. Walkers, climbers and mountain bikers come here for the varied terrain. The glen holds the third largest area of ancient Caledonian pinewoods in Scotland. Scots pine dominates, mixed with birch, rowan, aspen and willows, while the forest floor supports plants such as creeping ladies’ tresses and twinflower. Rare lichens grow on the trees, and some gnarled pines date back thousands of years. The Forestry Commission once planted non-native spruces and pines, but these have since been removed. Forestry and Land Scotland now manages the reserve to restore native woodland and reduce deer numbers. Visitors find open moorland, dense pine forests and two long lochs with mountain backdrops. The National Trust for Scotland and Trees for Life have planted new trees near Loch Affric, where a bothy houses volunteers. Wildlife includes black grouse, capercaillie, Scottish wildcats and otters, while beavers were reintroduced to the lochs in 2025 and 2026. Dragonflies such as the brilliant emerald fly over the bogs, and golden eagles soar above the glen.