Glen Affric in the Western Highlands
Upper Glen Affric is just inland from the Isle of Skye, to help you place it on a map. It's supposedly one of the remotest parts of Scotland, yet it seems to be quite a busy place for walkers! The cluster of craggy munros that surround it make it a great centre for hiking, and it's also on an increasingly popular coast-to-coast route.
I stayed in the little youth hostel there for three nights in mid-May with three friends, and we enjoyed two good days of hillwalking in contrasting conditions. This story is more about the soggy walk in to the glen, the enjoyable stay in the hostel itself, and other random bits and pieces, with the two hillwalking routes covered separately.
- I'll remember most the convivial atmosphere in the hostel, with lots of real characters
- It's ruled with a disciplinary flourish by Jill, the warden
- There are several ways to reach it - we chose the squelchy route from Cluanie Inn
- Others were surprised by the fancy meals which we managed to conjure up (they were very good)
- It's a brilliant location to get away from it all and focus on the mountains
- Word of warning - to allow time for the walk in, which takes up to 3 hours - keep to the higher tracks through the pass to avoid the worst of the marshland.
Links to the two Glen Affric walking stories:
- An Socach (921m), Sgurranan Ceathreamhnan (1151m), and Mullach na Dheiragain (982m) - 14 May 2007 >
- Beinn Fhada (1032m) - 15 May 2007 >
Story contributed by Andrew Llanwarne
Key Facts
| Location | Glen Affric in the West Highlands, just north of Glen Shiel and inland from the Isle of Skye |
| Date walked | 13-16 May 2007 |
| Walk type | High hills and mountain hikes |
| Difficulty | Requires experience of hillwalking, plenty of stamina and suitable equipment |
| Distance | 12 km (7.5miles) each way from Cluanie Inn |
| Height climbed | 200m |
| Time taken | 2 hrs 45 mins |
| Map used | OS Landranger 1:50,000 No 33 (for walk in) and No 25 for northern mountains. |
| Walk source info | Munro books, maps, conversation |
| Getting there | By car to Cluanie Inn, then on foot |
| Places to stay | Youth Hostel at map ref 080202, also Camban bothy in Fionngleann at map ref 053183 |
| Disabled access | No |
