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The River Affric racing white over grey rocks below the footbridge at Dog Falls, pines along the bank.
Inverness

Dog Falls

Rapids and dark pools in a rocky gorge in Glen Affric, the start of three waymarked trails through ancient pinewood to Coire Loch and a viewpoint.

Welcome

About four miles up Glen Affric from Cannich, the River Affric runs through a rocky gorge in white rapids and still, dark pools.

This is Dog Falls, the first car park in the glen and the start of three waymarked trails through ancient Caledonian pinewood, where gnarled old granny pines grow among silver birch and lichen-covered oaks.

The Dog Falls Trail follows the river downstream to the falls, and the Coire Loch Trail climbs to a lochan covered in water lilies in summer, with dragonflies darting over it. The Viewpoint Trail looks over Loch Beinn a' Mheadhain to the mountains beyond. Walkhighlands joins all three into one round of 6 km, which takes 1½ to 2½ hours. There are public toilets and a picnic area at the car park, so you can make a morning of it.

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The Daily for 2 November, from Scotland with love. Cloud shadows cross a sunlit mountain above a loch, rust-coloured moorland stretching below
Not farBeauly PrioryThe ruined abbey church of a priory founded about 1230 for French Valliscaulian monks, in a wooded, riverside setting in Beauly.19 milesSee itBeauly Priory
Before you go

Parking is charged, and the glen road is single track.

The trails cross the public road, so take care at the crossings.

Where
About four miles up Glen Affric from Cannich, the first car park in the glen. IV4 7LN is the postcode for the centre of Cannich village; follow the single-track glen road from there.
Parking
£2 for up to 1 hour, £3 for up to 3 hours, £5 all day, £12 all day for a minibus or coach. One ticket is valid across all four Glen Affric sites, and Blue Badge holders park free. Pay by coins, card or RingGo.
Getting there
Buses run from Inverness to Cannich and Tomich throughout the year. Walkhighlands lists no public transport to the start, and the single-track road is not suitable for coaches.
Trails
Three waymarked trails start at the car park: the Dog Falls Trail, 2 miles (3.2 km), allow 1¼ hours; the Viewpoint Trail, 1¾ miles (2.9 km), allow 1 hour; and the Coire Loch Trail, 2¾ miles (4.5 km), allow 1½ hours. Going just to the falls and back takes about ½ hour.
The round
Walkhighlands joins the three trails into one round of 6 km (3.75 miles), 1½ to 2½ hours, with 254 m of ascent, on clear waymarked paths and tracks that are rocky in places.
Underfoot
Forestry and Land Scotland describes uneven gravel paths with rocky sections, exposed tree roots, stone steps and long steep slopes of about 500 m, a narrow bridge and road crossings. On the Dog Falls Trail it suggests walking anti-clockwise for a less steep climb. Stay on the waymarked trail near Coire Loch, where Walkhighlands notes steep rocks.
Toilets
Public toilets at the car park all year.
Food
A picnic area is at the car park. There are no cafés or shops in Glen Affric; places to eat are in Cannich and Tomich, with a shop in Cannich.
Phone signal
Little mobile phone reception in the glen.

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Where it is

At the first car park up Glen Affric, about four miles west of Cannich.

Close byGlen Affric.
  1. Man with rucksack sits on tree stump beside a still lochGlen AffricA National Nature Reserve west of Cannich, with ancient Caledonian pinewood, lochs and four Forestry and Land Scotland sites on a single-track road.1 mile 1 min by road
  2. Scots pine stands above woodland with snow-capped mountains behindGlen Affric National Nature ReserveFrom Beauly the road carries you west through Cannich and into Glen Affric, often called one of the most beautiful glens in Scotland.1 mile 1 min by road
  3. Guisachan House from the air: the roofless grey stone mansion with its two tall chimneys and empty windows, fenced off in long grass, with parkland trees and forested hills beyond.Guisachan HouseThe ruin of a Victorian mansion in open parkland on the old Guisachan estate, south-west of Cannich.2 miles as the crow flies
  4. Over Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin in Glen Affric, its pine-covered islands and the mountains blue beyond on a bright summer day.Loch Beinn a' MheadhoinA long loch in the Glen Affric National Nature Reserve, about eight miles up the glen road from Cannich.4 miles as the crow flies
  5. Waterfall cutting through autumn forest, viewed from above with a footbridge crossing itPlodda FallsA waterfall of more than forty metres in a forest of Douglas firs above Tomich, with a viewing platform over the top and two waymarked trails.7 miles 26 min by road
  6. Standing stones and cairn at Balnuaran of Clava, framed by tree leavesCorrimony Chambered CairnA 4,000-year-old passage grave in Glen Urquhart, ringed by standing stones and remarkably well preserved, with much of its passage roof still in place.9 miles 12 min by road
Directions
Salad plate, pint and menu on a pub table with tulipsRestaurantsThe Tomich Hotel1.3 miles as the crow flies
The RSPB's weathered wooden sign for Loch Comhnard at Corrimony, the loch beyond among young birches and moorland under a blue sky, with wind turbines on a far hill.WalksRSPB Corrimony6.1 miles
Glen Affric Estate, Inverness-shireCannichGlen Affric EstateSleeps 24 · 8.0 miles
Tringa's long turf-roofed log walls on the hill, foxgloves in flower in the grass below.StruyTringa at Eagle BraeSleeps 2 · 9.4 miles
Sylvia in sunshine: a log cabin with a pale gable and oak door, whisky barrels along its gravel yard and a birch beside.StruySylvia at Eagle BraeSleeps 2 · 9.4 miles
Strix on its green slope in summer, the turf roof and deck among birch and oak, the hill behind.StruyStrix at Eagle BraeSleeps 2 · 9.4 miles
Parus on its slope at dusk above bluebells in the grass, its gable windows lit.StruyParus at Eagle BraeSleeps 2 · 9.4 miles
Cinclus on its slope among spring birches, the hills of the glen behind under a blue sky.StruyCinclus at Eagle BraeSleeps 4 · 9.4 miles
Certhia on its ridge: a two-storey log cabin of great notched logs under a turf roof, steps up to the door.StruyCerthia at Eagle BraeSleeps 4 · 9.4 miles

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near the falls, and when each is next free.

Glen Affric Estate, Inverness-shireGlen Affric Estate
  • Sleeps 24
  • In Cannich
  • 7 miles from Dog Falls
Check datesLog cabin porch with lantern-lit door, snow falling on the wooden walkwayEagle Brae
  • To stay
  • In Struy
  • 9 miles from Dog Falls
Check datesFrom above, Aquila's turf-roofed log cabin and wrap-around deck on the edge of the ridge, the glen stretching away in autumn colour.Aquila at Eagle Brae
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Struy
  • 9 miles from Dog Falls
Check datesButeo, a long turf-roofed log cabin on level ground, a log picnic table in the grass before it and the hill behind.Buteo at Eagle Brae
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Struy
  • 9 miles from Dog Falls
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in InvernessAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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