Discover Cannich: Nature, History and Shinty

From Cannich Village, the minor road to Glen Affric is signposted; the River Affric is about 10 miles (16 km) from Cannich along this road. The section of the Affric Kintail Way from Cannich Village to the River Affric is 12.1 miles (19.5 km) long. Both figures refer to the River Affric, but only the 12.1 miles describe the length of the stage; the approximately 10 miles is the distance along the road. These are different measures to bear in mind when planning.

Getting there and practical information

Buses run from Inverness to Cannich throughout the year. Check the timetable for your travel date before setting off. The bus connection describes travel from Inverness; the signposting points towards Glen Affric from Cannich. Before Cannich, a minor road also branches off and is signposted to Tomich.

Cannich has places to eat and a shop; there are no cafés or shops in Glen Affric itself. If you plan to spend time in Glen Affric, take this difference into account when planning meals and shopping. A long return journey can be broken into shorter sections; Balnain, Shenval and Corrimony Junction are convenient bus stops for getting on and off the Drumnadrochit-to-Cannich service.

Nature and cycling route

Glen Affric National Nature Reserve and Loch Beinn a Mheadhain are close to Cannich. A cycling route follows the road from Cannich to Loch Mullardoch Dam and back. This offers different connections with nature: the nearby reserve and loch, as well as a cycling route with a named destination and return journey. If you want to include nature and exercise in your travel plans, these details provide both nearby points of interest and a specific route.

Corrimony Chambered Cairn

Near Cannich is Corrimony Chambered Cairn, a Clava-type passage grave. A ring of eleven stones surrounds the cairn. Four of these stones are modern additions; two were re-erected more recently. The cairn is of national importance because of its potential to enhance understanding of prehistoric ritual beliefs and burial practices.

For those interested in history, Corrimony combines a specific classification as a passage grave with questions about ritual and burial. The passage-grave type describes its form; its national importance draws attention to the possible insights it offers into prehistoric beliefs and burial practices. The details about the stones add to this cultural-historical perspective by describing the ring’s composition and later changes to individual stones.

Shinty in Cannich

Strathglass Shinty Club plays its home games in the village of Cannich and is also known as Comunn Camanachd Straghlais. A landmark shinty match on 12 February 1887 established the sport’s official rules. The club gives shinty a specific connection to the village; the 1887 match is a separate landmark in the sport’s history. The club’s home ground and a milestone in the history of the rules thus offer distinct ways to explore the sport.

Discover more destinations: Ullapool, Kyle Of Lochalsh, Dalchreichart, Dundreggan, Castletown, Bowermadden, Cromarty, Tain

Go to the main travel overview: Highland.