Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The walk
The walk starts from the Dog Falls car park, the first on the road up Glen Affric. A path follows the River Affric downstream, crosses the road and runs above it to the viewpoint over Dog Falls, where the river pours through a narrow gorge. A long footbridge crosses below the falls. The yellow-waymarked path then winds up through old Scots pine and birch, over a low ridge and past Coire Loch, a small lochan in the trees. Forest tracks lead round the hillside, with a short climb up the white-waymarked track to a viewpoint looking up the glen, and a last track drops back to the car park.
It is 5.3 km with 161 m of ascent; allow about 1¾ hours. The grade is Easy: the paths are rough and rocky in places, with steps and some steep slopes.
Forestry and Land Scotland grades all three trails strenuous for their long steep slopes, steps, narrow bridge and road crossings. The pinewood is part of the Glen Affric National Nature Reserve; crossbills and pine martens live here, and rare dragonflies breed on Coire Loch. Mobile reception is poor beyond Cannich.
The car park charges (£5 for the day; one ticket covers all four Glen Affric car parks) and has toilets all year. There is no public transport to the start.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- The three Forestry and Land Scotland trails at Dog Falls joined into one circuit
- Dog Falls, Eas a' Choin, is a rocky gorge on the River Affric crossed by a long footbridge
- Coire Loch is a small lochan in the pinewood; rare dragonflies breed there
- Part of the Glen Affric National Nature Reserve, one of the last remnants of the old Caledonian pinewood
Getting there
Start: Dog Falls car park, Glen Affric · Pay and display. 57.31254, -4.85257
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Dog Falls car park: Booking.com → Expedia →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
