Loch Affric

I’m writing this on Sunday 3rd October, sitting in the car in Inverkirkaig, which is the only place I can get an internet connection. We arrived at our fine little cabin in The Assynt yesterday afternoon and are staying for a fortnight. The weather today was pretty wet, so much so that I didn’t dare get my camera out of the dry bag. By the time we got home after a five mile walk, not only were my waterproofs drenched, but my trousers were soaked to the skin. I met a friendly Scot out walking his dog towards the end of the trail and remarked, “I guess this is the sort of weather that folks up here might call dreich”, to which he responded with a wink, “well, it’s only a light shower!”


The photo is of Loch Affric and the mountains beyond. Glen Affric is possibly the best example of ancient Caledonian forest, having seeded itself and grown on since the last ice age. It’s a place of great character and beauty, with its tall Scots pines, birches and rowans.
The hike around the loch is around 12 miles. The weather was pretty good for the first three hours or so, with only the odd shower - the photo shows one of them barreling down the glen towards us. The last hour of the walk in heavy rain seemed rather long and we were glad to get home for a cup of hot tea in front of the woodburning stove.