Crossing the Highlands from the shores of Loch Ness to the west coast, the Affric Kintail Way is a new long distance route for walkers and mountain bikers. It starts at Drumnadrochit, where it links in to the existing Great Glen Way, and ends at Morvich, close to Loch Duich in Kintail – so it’s possible to do a coast-to-coast route by starting in Inverness in the east and following the GGW to Drumnadrochit.
I headed out to test out this new route, and decided to mountain bike it, mostly because it meant I could do it in the space of a day, with some logistical pre-planning. I parked the car at Drum, where there’s free parking by the information centre, and set off on the Affric Kintail Way. For the return journey, I had booked the City Link bus to pick me up near Morvich and drop me off at Drum. However, you have to check the bike carrying policy carefully, as the company doesn’t guarantee taking bikes unless they are dismantled and put on as luggage.
The Affric Kintail Way was a superb experience, even on a largely rainy summer’s day! It’s hilly for the first few miles from Drum but the approach to Cannich is a pleasant one and, once past Cannich, it feels like you are truly heading for the wilds of Glen Affric. Signposts direct you along a long forest track then left down a step singletrack drop to the Dog Falls car park, over the road and up past a fine viewpoint to Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhoin.
More forest tracks lead to near the head of Loch Affric now, where a left turn at a track junction takes you along the “Yellow Brick Road” to Athnamulloch, over the river and along a rougher track to the youth hostel at Alltbeithe – one of the most remote in the country. This is a route for experienced travellers – you’re a long way from any roads here and with no mobile phone reception.
Continuing up past Camban bothy the riding becomes more difficult (ie impossible in places) as you pass the waterfalls on a narrow path which descends to Gleann Lichd for the final few flat miles to Morvich.
Video of part of the route
Photos from the Affric Kintail Way
The route
Route information
For more information on the Affric Kintail Way, visit the official website at www.affrickintailway.com