- Scottish Highlands Mountaineering and Hillwalking Reviews.
Scotland is in the nature of the land an ideal environment for hillwalking, mountaineering and rock Climbing, many Scottish peaks lie within easy reach of a public road but some areas of the Cairngorms, Skye and Knoydart are very remote.
All climbers should be aware of the potential dangers and be properly equipped.
Winter may present an entirely different picture from spring and summer, some of the principal climbing centres include Arran, Skye, Ben Nevis, Glencoe and the Cairngorms.
The relatively low altitude of most peaks, only four are over 4000ft, this can be deceptive as rapid weather changes make them hazardous,
The western and northern Highlands provide some remoter ranges and peaks, the more popular, Bens Nevis and Lomond, have well marked footpaths.
We advise you are up to date with the correct information and equipment for the activity, The Scottish Mountaineering Club publishes a series of specialized guide books which are available from climbing shops and good booksellers also there are plenty of agencies who are qualified to make your experience of hillwalking, mountaineering and rock Climbing in the Scottish highlands a happy and safe one
On our doorstep is Glen Affric, a National Nature Reserve, and also Glens Cannich and Strathfarrar, areas of breath taking beauty, they provide access to some of the wilder and more remote areas of Scotland,
wildlife can be found within the remnants of the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest, red deer, golden eagle, badger, pine marten, otter and many more add a magical experience in the surroundings of Glen Affric, often described as the most beautiful glen in Scotland, it stretches for some 30 miles from Kintail in the west to within a couple of miles of Cannich in Strathglass.
Strathglass is situated at the heart of some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland. Stretching from Glen Affric towards Beauly, it is only a short distance from Inverness the capital of the Scottish Highlands.
Cannich, nestled below the slopes of Beinn a Chairein, is at the junction of three glens: Glen Cannich, Glen Affric and Glenurguhart, the steep climb out of the village of Cannich through natural woodland and into Glen Cannich follows river and waterfall before the scenery opens to afford glimpses of the impressive hydro dam at the foot of Loch Mullardoch. This is the largest dam in Scotland and the structure straddles half a mile, a massive bastion of concrete. To the west the hills are green and fertile and the ruins of old settlements are scattered along the route, two of the finest peaks in the Highlands, Mam Sodhail and Carn Eighe lead away to the hills of Kintail.
Water from the burns tumbling down the mountains on the north side of Glen Shiel and from Beinn Fhada end in two major streams the Allt a Chòmhlain and the Allt Cam-bàn, together they combine to create the River Affric that flows through two major lochs to Fasnakyle in Strathglass where it meets with the Abhainn Deabhag to form the River Glass.
Towards the top of Strathglass, en route to Plodda Falls, is the conservation village of Tomich, in the lower half of Strathglass is the village of Struy at the entrance to Glen Strathfarrar, today most of the land in the area is still owned by sporting estates and the Strathglass area is renowned for the quality of its shooting and trout & salmon fishing, within the Glens, there are walks and climbs to suits all levels, for the less experienced it is the perfect introduction to long distance walking, following mainly towpaths and woodland tracks, please note you need to find out when the estates are in the shooting season to avoid any accidents at these times, ask at the local tourist centres they can advise you.
There are some challenging sections, for the more experienced who may wish to tackle and bag a few Munros or Corbetts The Glen Affric national nature reserve, and also Glens Cannich and Strathfarrar are indeed the place for walkers and climbers, well worth the visit.
