Glen Affric
Glen Affric (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Afraig) is a glen south-west of the village of Cannich in the Highland region of Scotland, some 15 miles (24 km) to the west of Loch Ness. The River Affric runs along its length, passing through Loch Affric and Loch Beinn a' Mheadhoin (Loch Benevean).
It used to be part of the lands of the Clan Chisholm. The Battle of Glen Affric took place in 1721.
The area is a Caledonian Forest Reserve, a National Scenic Area and a National Nature Reserve. Often described as the most beautiful glen in Scotland, it contains one of the largest ancient Caledonian pinewoods in Scotland as well as lochs, moorland and mountains.
Affric Lodge, a mansion built as a hunting lodge, is located on a peninsula in Loch Affric, while a Scottish Youth Hostels Association hostel is further up the glen at Alltbeithe.
The Glen Affric Estate is situated on over 10,000 acres and has its own trout loch.[1][2][3][4]
The glen is part of the Affric/Beauly hydroelectric scheme, constructed by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. Loch Mullardoch, in the neighbouring Glen Cannich, is dammed, and a 5km tunnel carries water to Loch Benevean, which has also been dammed. From there, another tunnel takes water to Fasnakyle power station, near Cannich.
The final track on musician/field recordist Chris Watson's Stepping into the Dark album is entitled "The Forest Path. Meallan Na Ceardaich, Glen Affric, Scotland" and was recorded in Glen Affric.
The mountains of Glen Affric are a popular destination with hikers, climbers and mountain bikers.[5]
References
- ^ Matthews, Spencer. "Confessions of a Chelsea Boy". Macmillan, 1 October, 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- ^ "The Nitty Gritty". The Glen Affric Estate. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
- ^ Turbett, Liam. "David Beckham's Haig Club whisky is exactly what's wrong with the Highlands". The UK Independant - Saturday 25 October 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
The Glen Affric estate itself was purchased in 2008 by the Matthews family, owners of the exclusive Eden Rock hotel in the Caribbean and the parents of Made in Chelsea professional posh boy Spencer Matthews.
- ^ Robbins, Tom. "The Eden Rock, the luxury hotel on the French Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy, has launched an outpost in Scotland". 10 May 2013 - The Financial Times Ltd 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
Glen Affric, a Victorian manor on the shores of Loch Affric... a private home of the Matthews family, the owners of Eden Rock,...
- ^ Rob Humphreys; Donald Reid (12 July 2012). The Great Glen Rough Guides Snapshot Scotland (includes Fort William, Glen Coe, Culloden, Inverness and Loch Ness). Rough Guides. pp. 25–. ISBN 978-1-4093-6581-5.