My wife and I, my son and his girlfriend had the opportunity to visit Inverness in mid-June (2017). My son and his girlfriend (both in their mid-30s) had been challenging me to take the roughly 10 mile tour around Loch Affric, about 25 miles from Inverness. After 2 days of visiting clan-related places that my Mackintosh grandmother had told me about in my youth. The hike runs from the parking lot at the eastern edge of Loch Affric around the northern side of the lake and back around the south side of the lake to the parking lot. Eventually, feeling the pride of my 74 years, I agreed.
The weather when we arrived was partly cloudy, with some rain. Then it cleared up a few miles later and didn't start raining again until we were about a half-hour from the parking lot on our return leg. The hike is relatively flat most all of the way and the trail varies from fairly smooth to rocky to muddy. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. The only difficulty I encountered was forging a small stream near the top of the lake. It was only about 30 feet wide and about 2 feet deep at its widest point. The kids found two alternate rock-hopping routes across and were dry as a bone when they landed on the other side. I didn't trust my balance and simply walked across (through) the stream at the widest point. My hiking shoes and lower part of my pants were soaked when I reached the other side. I can suggest some "water proof" boots and an extra pair of socks (both of which I did not have), plus fast drying hiking pants (which I did have). I had packed a rain coat, but never pulled it out of my tiny and light day pack. Other than that I wore only a pair of long hiking pants and fast drying hiking shirt, plus a very light weight down sweater and a light wool T-shirt and some designer skivies. The temperature that day ranged from about the mid-high teens (Deg C), very warm for the area. We ate some sandwiches, there, and headed off again. Along the way back around the loch, we found a newly constructed 2 story cabin that is used by a volunteer group that is replanting this and other deforested regions in the Highlands with native species and we stopped to chat. We were encouraged to come back later in the summer and plant trees, however, I have done this as a teen and it is backbreaking work, something not conducive to my back any more. We reached the camp ground about 4 hours from the time we started, pretty good time. They could have done it in less.
It's an easy walk, even for an old-timer, it's just a bit long, but the scenery is so gorgeous I am now sure I will do it again. Don't chicken out! I have spent a lot of time in the Cascades and the Rockies and have never seen such natural beauty as I did, there. Next year, we are planning to go back and hike from the start of Glen Affric on to Glenelg, where one crosses over to the Isle of Skye. I think it's about 25 miles - at most a two day walk with some elevation changes.
Relive your youth! If you have any questions about this hike, ask away. I mainly am writing this out of the enthusiasm engendered by our experience.