Camping in Cannich

Cannich sits at the meeting point of Glen Affric and Glen Cannich, making it one of the best-placed bases in the Highlands for campers heading into genuinely remote country. Scotland's approach to camping is notably more permissive than England and Wales: under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, wild camping is generally allowed on most unenclosed land, including much of the terrain around Glen Affric and Glen Cannich, provided campers follow the code's principles — camp well away from roads and buildings, keep groups small, stay no more than two or three nights in one spot, and leave no trace. A seasonal camping management byelaw does apply to parts of Loch Lomond, but it has no bearing on the Cannich area, so backcountry pitches beside Glen Affric's lochs remain a realistic option for experienced campers with the right kit.

For those who'd rather not carry a full pack into the hills, Cannich village has a long-established caravan and camping park offering pitches for tents, campervans and touring caravans, along with camping pods, just a short walk from the village shop. It makes a comfortable, sociable base for day trips into both glens without sacrificing easy access to supplies. A handful of glamping cabins and static caravans in and around the village extend the options for anyone wanting fixed accommodation with a similar outdoor feel.

Terrain around Cannich is properly Highland: steep, often pathless ground above the treeline, fast-changing weather, and long approaches into the wilder reaches of Glen Cannich and Loch Mullardoch. Anyone venturing beyond the maintained trails should be competent with map and compass and prepared for conditions to change quickly, even in summer. The most comfortable camping window runs from late spring to early autumn, when trails are clear and days are long, though this overlaps with the Highland midge season — repellent and a head net are essential kit from late May into September, particularly near the glen's many lochs and rivers. Autumn brings drier air and spectacular colour in the birchwoods, often with fewer midges, making it a favourite time for experienced wild campers.