Morvich is a great base from where to start your adventure. There’s a small car park here and several options if you’re looking for a walk, run or mountain bike ride at Kintail. It’s a long and challenging walk of around 6 miles to the Falls of Glomach from Morvich (a 12-mile round trip) over a high mountain pass, the Bealach na Sroine. But the walk is worth the reward of seeing one of Scotland’s highest waterfalls, set in a spectacular gorge – please take great care when viewing the falls!
There are also less strenuous walks available from Morvich where you can simply relax and enjoy the wonderful Highland surroundings and its special nature. This includes a walk through the young native woods at Innis a’ Chrotha – look out for woodland birds, dippers in the nearby rivers and signs of pine martens. The track up Gleann Lichd, a classic example of a glaciated Scottish glen, leads between steep-sided slopes sweeping up from near sea level to over 1,000m on both sides. Please note that Innis a’ Chrotha and Gleann Lichd are crofting areas where cattle and sheep roam freely – all dogs must be kept under close control.
There are two magnificent cross-country routes into Glen Affric from Morvich, which can be linked as a circular route around Beinn Fhada. You can do it as one long, 18-mile day or over two days, overnighting at the Glen Affric Youth Hostel. For those keen on extreme mountain biking, this route has also become more popular in recent years. Please note that this route involves over 500m of ascent, the terrain is rough and there’s no path for a 500m section at the western end of Gleann Gniomhaidh.
The Affric–Kintail Way is a 44-mile long distance route between Drumnadrochit and Morvich for walkers, mountain bikers and pony trekkers. It’s possible to start from either end but most people tend to do it east to west and finish at Morvich. The Glen Affric Youth Hostel is on the West Affric estate and makes a very useful stopover point. With no phone reception and little in the way of electronic devices, staying at the hostel is like stepping back in time – a great place to enjoy a ‘digital detox’ and to have a break from the media!
For those driving to the Isle of Skye and with only time for a quick stop, there’s a short but very steep and rough walk at the site of the Jacobite Battle of Glenshiel, fought in 1719. The site is next to the A87 main road, and has a small information board with details of the battle. You can admire breathtaking views of Highland scenery from here; it’s arguably Scotland’s most beautiful battle site.
Beinn Fhada
A long climb up Beinn Fhada (the ‘long mountain’) but the views are worth every step!
Walk details
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Difficulty
Hard
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Time
7–8 hours
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Distance
11 miles (18km)
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Ascent
3,100ft (940m)
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Start
Morvich car park (free for NTS members), off the A87 opposite the Morvich Caravan Club site
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Finish
Morvich car park
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Step 1
(1/5)Starting from the National Trust for Scotland’s Morvich countryside centre, walk along the continuation of the road until the turning space at the end, and then cross the bridge at Innis a Chròtha.
Keep ahead on the track on the far side before looking out for a signposted path that heads off right after 60m.
The path is clear to follow, passing through a couple of gates before continuing up the glen above the Abhainn Chonaig (river).
After a couple of kilometres keep right at a fork (the Falls of Glomach path goes off to the left here).
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Step 2
(2/5)The old path now climbs gently up the glen. As the glen is ascended it takes on an increasingly wild character. For the most part, the route keeps well above the river.
The Allt a Choire Chaoil (‘stream of the narrow corrie’) can usually be crossed on boulders, although it may be difficult or even dangerous in spate.
The stalkers’ path then zigzags en route as it climbs towards Bealach an Sgairne (a mountain pass).
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Step 3
(3/5)Above the zigzags, turn right at a cairn (the left path heads for the Bealach).
The now smaller but still very clear stalkers’ path contours round and then descends slightly into the lower reaches of Coire an Sgairne. The scenery in this hidden corrie is impressive, as are the views across to the jagged Sgùrr a Choire Ghairbh over to the right.
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Step 4
(4/5)Continue up the stalkers’ path which zigzags to the upper corrie, and then swings left to climb in zigzags again to reach the broad Sgùrr an Doire Leathain ridge.
Continue up this ridge, leaving the stalkers’ path (there’s a small cairn) and heading up close to the edge of the sweeping plateau.
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Step 5
(5/5)Navigation can be difficult here in mist. The summit of Beinn Fhada is to the southeast; it is possible to walk round the northern edge of the plateau to reach it, giving fine views of Loch a Bhealaich.
A cylindrical trig point marks the summit, which is a Munro at 1,032 metres.
The easiest option for the descent is to retrace your steps, reversing the route of ascent.
