Cannich

The Walks
Cannich is ideally situated as a base to explore the vast wilderness to the west. The two big glens of Affric and Cannich meet here and stretch out westwards for many miles while further north the glens of Strathfarrar and to a lesser extent Strath Conon hold more hillwalking potential. All these glens lie roughly east-west and parallel to each other and provide opportunities for some visits to the remotest summits in the UK. Cannich itself is relatively low lying at the confluence of the rivers Cannich and Glass

Glen Affric holds claim to the two highest summits north of the Caledonian Canal - Mam Sodhail at 1181m and Carn Eige at 1183m. These two summits alone are seven miles away from the road end at Glen Affric and require quite a long walk to reach them. Two closer summits, Tom a' Choinich and Toll Creagach, form an easier day while many people try and traverse all four summits plus Beinn Fhionllaidh (the remotest of all) in a single day. The latter walk requires a monster stomp and takes over 12 hours normally.

Meanwhile, further away still, it is possible to visit Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan - regarded by many as the most beautiful summit in Scotland - via an overnight stay wild camping or in Glen Affric Youth Hostel. Many simply visit Glen Affric because of its reputation as being the finest glen in Scotland. And very fine it is too with its exquisite blend of extensive Caledonian forest, loch, rapids, distant mountains, and wildlife songs echoing across Loch Mheadhoin. Yes, it's a real treat to be here on a fine spring day.

Glen Cannich to the north holds the huge Loch Mullardoch and has an impressive backdrop of the Glen Affric summits. There are four big munros up for grabs here and reaching the two most remote summits requires a mammoth walk if you don't have a boat to hand.

The two closest summits, Carn nan Gabhar and Sgurr na Lapaich, can be reached in a more comfortable walk. Sgurr na Lapaich in particular is a grand summit with huge deep corries and a very shapely summit. These summits are also monsters with three of them above 1080m. They consequently hold a lot of snow late into the winter season. Another summit worth doing if you want a shorter walk is Sgorr na Diollaid. This is not too far from Cannich and is reached from the Glen Cannich road. It's a fine mountain with a surprisingly rocky summit given the rounded lower slopes.

Glen Strathfarrar has the problem of a locked gate at the bottom of the glen. Opening times are restricted although it may be possible to phone ahead and arrange to be let in. The Glen Strathfarrar munros are all worth doing but, as time may be limited due to access, the summits to the west of and including Sgurr a' Choire Ghlais are the shapeliest ones to traverse. They have deep north-facing corries and also have very wild views out across Loch Monar to the Glen Carron peaks.

Let's not forget Strath Conon. This is often neglected because of there being no Munros to climb, but there a few peaks that are worthy climbs in desolate terrain including Meallan nan Uan. As the author hasn't been there, he can't comment further on the area.

Accommodation


Glen Affric backpackers, Cannich, Tel:- 01456 415263:- £?? per person per night

Cannich Youth Hostel, £?? per person per night.

The two hostels mentioned are back to back to each other. With the current prices as they are, the editor's choice is for the Independent Hostel. The saving can be put to good use in the pub afterwards!

Travel
Scottish Citylink operate once every two hour daytime services from Inverness to Fort William. These stop at Drumnadrochit where it is possible to hitchhike the twelve miles to Cannich. Another bus service operates four times a day on week days direct from Inverness to Cannich via Drumnadrochit. Details are not known about this one.

Check out this Map

- Photographs by Ananda Berry, Phil Endecott and Tim Harrison

Trip Reports

 * Cannich Trip Report December 2001