One the seventh day of Christmas, Pinewood Steading gave to me – Glen Affric!
One of my favourite places in the Highlands and said to be the most beautiful glen in Scotland. Even the drive is amazing. It’s only 30 miles from Pinewood, but takes about an hour – the road becomes single track and is very windy, but you need to stop regularly to take in the views!
Glen Affric
For walkers, it’s a paradise, with short walks to Dog Falls, an amazing waterfall, and is a beautiful forest stroll through ancient Caledonian Pines. Dog Falls itself is a dramatic waterfall in a rocky gorge.
Dog Falls, Glen Affric
If you do an extended walk here, you can find a wonderful small lochen (Coire Loch). This is a great spot to find rare dragonflies.
Coire Loch in Glen Affric
Or join the Affric/Kintail way, or go all out on an 11 miler around Loch Affric itself – you’ll feel very remote on this walk. The type of forest here is considered to be one of the few truly natural landscapes in the UK. You’ve got a good chance on these walks of spotting roe deer. You may even see pine martens (which you can also find in the garden at Pinewood!) If you’re a bird watcher, watch out for the rare crossbill and rarely seen capercaillie.
