Dog Falls and Coire Loch, Glen Affric
Highlands
Glen Affric holds one of the largest surviving fragments of the ancient Caledonian pine forest, and Dog Falls, Eas a' Choin in Gaelic, is where the River Affric squeezes through a rocky gorge four miles up the glen from Cannich. With no grazing livestock here, a dog can range the pine needle paths and drink from the river. This 6km circuit links the three waymarked Forestry and Land Scotland trails from the Dog Falls car park. It follows the broad, rocky river downstream to a viewing balcony above the falls, crosses a long wooden footbridge, then climbs through old pine and birch to Coire Loch, a lochan in a bowl of hills known for rare dragonflies. A forest track brings you back, with an optional detour to a viewpoint looking up the glen to the high mountains. There is 254 metres of climbing on clear paths and tracks that are rocky in places.
This dog friendly walk has plenty to keep a dog interested, with the river near the start, the lochan halfway round and soft pine needle paths in between. No livestock grazes the forest, so a dog with good recall can have some freedom on the trails, but roe deer are common and capercaillie live in these woods, so keep your dog close and put the lead on where the path crosses the public road, which it does several times. The gorge is unfenced and the rocks around Coire Loch are steep. The car park has a charge, public toilets and a picnic area.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 6.0 km (3.7 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 2 hr
- Walk Type
- Forest, Waterfall, River
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Low
- Facilities
- Public toilets and picnic area at Dog Falls car park; no cafe on route; shop and hotel in Cannich.
- Parking
- Dog Falls car park, Forestry and Land Scotland, pay to park.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Dog Falls and Coire Loch, Glen Affric, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
The Highlander's Rest - Affric Lodge
Sleeps 4 · 3 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £494 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in HighlandsFrequently Asked Questions
Is Dog Falls and Coire Loch, Glen Affric dog friendly?
Dog Falls and Coire Loch scores 8 out of 10 for dog friendliness, and it's a genuinely rewarding walk for dogs and owners alike. The 6km circuit through ancient Caledonian pine forest offers river access, a lochan to splash in, and soft pine needle paths to roam, all without any grazing livestock to worry about.
Can dogs be off lead at Dog Falls and Coire Loch, Glen Affric?
Dogs with reliable recall can enjoy some freedom on the trails here, as there's no livestock in the forest. That said, roe deer are common and capercaillie — a protected species — live in these woods, so you'll want to keep your dog close in areas where wildlife is likely. Leads are also essential where the path crosses the public road, which it does several times, and it's worth keeping an eye on dogs near the unfenced gorge and the steep rocks around Coire Loch.
What should I know before visiting Dog Falls and Coire Loch, Glen Affric with my dog?
The route is a 6km loop with 254 metres of climbing on paths that are rocky in places, so it's worth having sure-footed dogs in mind. The Dog Falls car park is managed by Forestry and Land Scotland and has a parking charge, public toilets, and a picnic area — handy for a post-walk sit-down. There's no café on the route itself, but Cannich, four miles away, has a shop and hotel if you need supplies.
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