Glen Affric

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).

History

Glen Affric was part of the Clan Chisholm lands from the 15th to the mid 19th centuries. The lands included regions that would become the Glen Affric deer park and the Guisachan Estate - including the village of Tomich.^[1][2] In 1579, Thomas Chisholm, Laird of Strathglass, was imprisoned for being a Catholic.^[3] By 1854, Dudley Marjoribanks, later Lord Tweedmouth, had acquired the lairdship of Glen Affric and Guisachan,^[4][5][6] and had built an entire village in the region; Tomich. He also built himself a grand hunting lodge - part of The Glen Affric Estate - and put the golden retrievers that he had bred at nearby kennels to good use at his shooting parties.^[7][8] The Duke and Duchess of York were reported (The Graphic, 25 September 1897) to have visited Guisachan Estate in Strathglass, including the Glen Affric Lodge and deer park; the Duchess, (later Queen Mary), driving around the estate with Lady Tweedmouth in 1897.^[9]

Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth inherited the lairdship of Glen Affric and Guisachan but the Clan Marjoribanks' ownership ended with Edward’s son, Dudley Churchill Marjoribanks, who became 3rd Lord Tweedmouth in 1909. He and his wife had two daughters, but no male heir. For the next 27 years, the estate was owned by Lord Portsmouth’s family. The entire property, then consisting of 22,000 acres, had been sold by 1936 to a Mr. Hunter, who resold the Glen Affric deer forest to the west and a large area of grazing land to the Forestry Commission.^[10][11]

A Lady Islington acquired the Guisachan Estate in 1939 but let the property go to ruin. In 1962 the estate (considerably reduced in size to 150 acres) was bought by a descendant of the Frasers of Gortuleg. The Guisachan Estate was sold again in 1966 and was then in the hands of Donald Fraser, who in 1990 wrote a booklet, "A History of Guisachan".^[8][12][13]

The Scotland Forestry Commission had bought much of the glen in 1951, and today the remainder consists of a number of sporting estates, including the Glen Affric Estate with its 10,000 acres^[13] and associated deer park.^{[2][10][14][15]}

The Battle of Glen Affric took place in 1721.

Nature

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, the mansion built as a hunting lodge by Lord Tweedmouth, is located on a peninsula in Loch Affric, while a Scottish Youth Hostels Association hostel is further up the glen at remote Allt Beithe.

The Glen Affric Estate, including Affric Lodge, is situated on over 10,000 acres and has its own trout loch.^[16][17][18]

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 mountains of Glen Affric are a popular destination with hikers, climbers and mountain bikers.^[19]

References

External links

• Glen Affric National Nature Reserve
• Trees and wild land values in West Glen Affric: a personal view
• Glen Affric Youth Hostel
• Photos of Glen Affric
• Glen Affric walks - free guide

Coordinates: 57°14′09″N 5°09′12″W / 57.23596°N 5.15327°W / 57.23596; -5.15327