A 44 Mile Solo Backpacking Adventure in Scotland | Hiking the Glen Affric Kintail Way

In April of 2024, Otto and I thru-hiked one of the newer long-distance trails in Scotland, the Affric Kintail Way. Come join us for part 1 of this 44 mile backpacking adventure through one of Scotland's most beautiful glens.
We walked through icy winds and heavy rain, but also enjoyed a bit of sunshine as we slowly hiked into Glen Affric and had a very special accommodation…..
Route:
Drumnadrochit-Cannich
Cannich-River Affric
Lots of love and happy hiking,
Elli and Otto 🐕‍🦺
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Time stamps:
00:00 Intro
00:17 Starting the Affric Kintail Way: Day 1
04:52 A special Accommodation
07:46 Day 2
12:55 Wildcamping struggles
17:08 Loneliness?!

[@rowancrafts]

I love to see Otto tucked up in his sleeping bag. Thanks for taking me along.

[@ellihikes]

Thank you for following along 🥰

[@ianpadley3334]

Your adventures with Otto never fail to make me smile. But you’ve had such bad luck for a Scottish April this year, as a resident here I would always say it’s the best month for hiking, but this the worst spring I can remember. Hope it clears up for you…and me, second time on the WHW in a couple of weeks. Can’t wait to see how you get on in Glen Affric!

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much for following along and for leaving these kind words! That really means a lot :) Interesting to hear that it's not just my impression but that it was indeed a very wet month of April. I've been hiking in Scotland a few times in April over the last years and it was always really great weatherwise..... Which is why I wanted to come back in April this year too, but very different this year 😂 But Scotland is just stunning - even in the rain :)

[@Daytona2]

Great to see Otto's better 😊 Great cabin. Simple and warm. Thanks for sharing, Elli 🙏

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much :) honestly, the cabin felt like heaven 🤣🥰

[@garbysalvador1401]

Hello Ellie and Otto. Never thought of using my hiking boots as a cup holder. What a fantastic idea!!! No more balancing my hot coffee in uneven grass from now on 😊.

[@ellihikes]

Hahahaha, right?!?!?! I randomly discovered that at some point :) Very useful 😂 Thank you so much for following along :)

[@ervinslens]

Your content simply keeps getting better and better! Bravo my friend

[@ellihikes]

Thank you 🤗🤗

[@paulkim1384]

Glad to see that Otto is in good spirits regardless of weather so that's brilliant!! After all, it's Scotland and rain, wind and cold air is the usual stuff in April. Cheers and happy trails, pk

[@ellihikes]

Thank you :) Otto really doesn’t seem to be bothered at all 😂 I was very lucky in April last year and in 2022 with so many sunny days in a row…. but yes - that was probably a bit out of the norm….

[@nickwinter991]

I'm just catching up with your videos after being on holiday - quite a few to look at and I'm looking forward to them! The GAKW does seem very quiet, although it was April. Probably busier in the summer. Pity you had poor weather, I'm sure it would look better with some sun, but your video - as always - showed it how it was. Even in the cold and wet, it still looked good!

[@mattsmyname77]

Wonderful Elli, it’s quite funny watching videos of the trail after doing it a couple of times. You feel like you want to shout at the screen saying stop there!! Camp there!!. But it all obviously worked out for you and the knowing the best is to come. Well done and thanks for filming

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much for following along :) Hahaha, yes that's so true - always a risk to walk past a nice spot thinking there will be something better 😂

[@mattsmyname77]

@@ellihikes Thank you Ellie for the interaction. Loving your trails and lovely to get your feedback. Just booked a flight for a French alps hike as I believe Scotland maybe midgy. Wish me luck and keep filming 🤗

[@cheekuenbird38]

As usual, you and Otto always bring joy to me ❤Otto is so cute 😍 Yes the weather is not very good. I had a holiday in Isle of Arran a week. The weather was raining and sunny. Thank you for sharing another fantastic episode ❤

[@ellihikes]

That's so kind, thank you so much for following along :) It's been a wet month of April almost everywhere in Scotland it seems like :/ .... So much different than last year when I was so lucky in April in Scotland :)

[@boxiedog]

My wife & I did the walk from Cannich last month. That part was difficult to find a spot & a long slog after leaving home at 5am. Like you, we were at the end of our tether when we came across a perfect pitch by the 1st bridge before the end of the loch.

[@m1klgordon]

You've had such bad weather this spring, Elli. But I greatly appreciate and enjoy all of your vlogs. Slange to you and Otto!

[@ellihikes]

hahaha, yes i was a bit out of luck compared to last year 😅 but this wasn’t even the worst yet 😂🙈 thank you so much for following along :)

[@martinforrester8249]

Looking forward to following you on your adventures Elli. You have a lovely, engaging personality.

[@ellihikes]

Aww, that's very kind! Thank you so much for the feedback, I really appreciate you following along :)

[@RegEdmunds]

I camped at the Horton in Ribblesdale campsite a couple of days ago, I presume you camped there last year? If you did, you may remember the old gentleman who owns the site. He's 88 and in hospital at the moment, so his family are looking after the site. I met two other hikers, and we went to the pub for the evening, and both of them subscribe to your channel. We all raised our glasses to both you and Otto.

[@ellihikes]

Yes, I stayed there and remember the site owner!! Hope he’s doing better again soon :) that’s so kind, thank you so much - that means a lot :) you’re on the PW at the moment?

[@RegEdmunds]

@@ellihikes No, just a few days wandering around, I walked off to the west of the Pennine Way, I've never been there before, and It was very good, lots of limestone areas.

[@jameskelly2559]

I love these videos- so inspiring and at the same time, soothing and relaxing. I like your accent. Otto is wonderful company- and very fit. Do you know how old he is? Which breed is here please? Keep up the good work!

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much for following along and your kind words! That really means a lot :) He is approx. 7 years old and he was a stray dog in Croatia. Our vet thinks he probably is a Jack Russell-Dachshund mix (and probably a couple of other breeds in him ;))

[@ShanOutdoors]

Looks like a wonderful trail! Oh man, it is SO NICE to have a warm cabin after chilly and wet Scottish weather! Yay!

[@ellihikes]

Hahaha yes, that's so true! It's really stunning, I can totally recommend it :)

[@heartjourneys4896]

Otto has such main character energy 😂

[@ellihikes]

😅 hahaha, that's so true :)

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

Hello Elie and Otto. Rule number one if you find a good spot STOP lol So nice to see how happy Otto is, he looks like he was having a great time. Another great adventure with some amazing views 👍 Can't wait for part 2 ✌️😋

[@ellihikes]

Hahaha, yes - always a risk to walk past a nice spot thinking there will be something better 😂 Thank you so much for following along, your comments always make me smile :)

[@CapmanBe]

Run Otto run 😊 merci pour la ballade 🙏🇧🇪

[@ellihikes]

thank you for following along :)

[@mikePNW]

Glad you're back on the trail, hope the weather is a bit nicer on this one. Good that little Otto is feeling better! Really love this channel 😊

[@ellihikes]

Aww, that's so kind! Thank you so so much for following along and always leaving kind words and encouragement! That really means a lot :)

[@benny_vanlife]

After being inspired by your videos I hiked Bude to Crackington Haven yesterday, and I'm basically dead today lol, you made it look way too easy, and little Otto 🥹

[@ellihikes]

hahahaha, I don’t think I did 😅😂 that’s such a tough section, the worst in my opinion….

[@alangauld6079]

You've done the hard work on the "boring" section, from here on in it gets better and better! I did it in winter (From W to E) with snow on the ground and the mountains were just awesome.

[@ellihikes]

So true, the trail just gets better and better after Cannich. I loved the hike, the area is beautiful 😍

[@emz_adventure]

Hi eli. New to your channel. I did the AKW on 25th April over 2.5days isn't it a beautiful trail. Really enjoyed your journey. Thanks for sharing ❤

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much for following along :) It really is a beautiful area and a stunning hike, I hope you've had a bit more luck with the weather :)

[@stephenvicary9243]

Another impressive video Elli 👍🏻 Don’t envy the soggy Scottish weather you and Otto have had to cope with 🌧️💨 I use to hike/backpack in Denmark, Norway and Sweden many moons ago. Being in your own takes some getting use to and isn’t for everyone. Just short hike for me at the moment with only my dog for company, which is great fun but she doesn’t half make a mess if doing a sneaky wild camp 🏕️ Looking forward to the next stage of the trail 👍🏻

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much for sharing, Stephen :) Yes, it was quite tough in April this year! Usually, I like being on my own - but it's been a bit harder this time (just a lot with the weather, the cold, not seeing anyone,....). I really appreciate you following along 😇

[@chrishiking8818]

Hi Elli and Otto, looks an interesting trail. Glad to hear Otto's paw is much better and he's taking the lead as always. Hows your new gear coming along? As always lovely seeing you big smiles and bright eyes shining with excitement being outdoors. Take care both 🌷

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much, Chris! Yes, I would definitely recommend the trail - the area is stunning and well worth a visit :) So far, I'm very happy with my new pack - it's so comfortable! And I think I'm never hiking without my tiny Flextail pump again - this thing has been a gamechanger :)

[@nigelshort8669]

Enjoying, the new section is big improvements. I did this 2016 video on KZbin and had the long road section onto cannach.

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much for following along :) Yes, the new section is great and you can really see the work that went into creating it. Really happy that I could avoid the road walking, especially with Otto :)

[@WanderFreeWithBarb]

I honestly find wild camping so stressful. The pod looked amazing though!

[@ellihikes]

It's sometimes difficult to find something (or to remember to stop when there's something nice), but I found that it gets easier and easier the more you do it :)

[@100Noddy]

💜

[@ToneMcStone]

I did this 3 weeks ago, we lucked out on the weather. I agree that Cannich camp site is awesome! I think we stayed at the place by the stream you mentioned, it was a bit stony and hard to peg. If or when I do it again I would start from Cannich

[@ellihikes]

Glad to hear that you had better weather to enjoy the views :) The little spot by the river looked quite promising, but I wanted to finish some editing and the stream was so loud 😂 I loved the campsite in Cannich, such a cool vibe :)

[@hinaihikesnbikes]

I had the same issue looking for a camping spot… I had to keep going to the youth hostel and found the both behind was open 👍 a long day😅

[@ellihikes]

The area is so beautiful, but yes - very exposed in high winds and hard to find something sheltered once you're past the first loch :)

[@davidwolfe9722]

I wish you wouldn't say "yeah" at the end of every sentence. It's extremely annoying - Jurgen Klopp does it as well, it must be a German thing.🤔

[@ellihikes]

Thanks for the feedback! I'm obviously aware of it. But it's not something that I do intentionally. I don't think it's necessarily a German thing, it's rather a well-known phenomenon in linguistics. Filler words (e.g. yeah, umm, so, basically, right, well,...) are often used to create continuity while the speaker thinks about what to say next, trying to find the right words (which is probably normal when talking in a foreign language ;)) or to put emphasis on something. Recording videos 'on the spot' that are not scripted, in a foreign language, trying to convey my thoughts and feelings so that viewers can be a part while also trying to find the right words and not mess up the grammar too badly while it's dumping rain on you is - believe it or not - quite a task 😉 It's hard to always think of everything.... Lucky for you, there are so many channels with the perfect English that will hopefully not annoy you that much 😉✌️

[@davidwolfe9722]

@@ellihikes Thanks for the unexpected reply Ellie, obviously it doesn't annoy me all that much since I still watch your videos, but that's a good idea of yours to start saying "umm" at the end of every sentence for a bit of variety. To be fair not only is your English better than my German, but your English is also better than my English. Best wishes to you and Otto.👍👍👍🙂