The Hills of Coigach

Stac Pollaidh

Following the challenging week on Skye I journeyed north to Ullapool and spent a week showing Melanie the wonderful hills of Coigach.  This is a trip of which I never tire and I rarely return without seeing something special; this latest foray proved to be no exception!

Ben Mor Coigach Across Ardmair Bay

Apart from the stunning hills, an amazing coastline and some sublime west coast sunsets, we were treated to regular views of red-throated divers from the accommodation, some bullfinches beside the roadside and best of all, an otter in the bay!

West Coast Sunset

Cul Mor

This shapely and slightly complex mountain offers a relatively high start and an excellent stalker’s path to tempt you up into its hidden recesses.  It is the highest of the Coigach hills and a Corbett to boot, and it’s location helps provide wonderful views in all directions.  It is well worth the modest effort required to climb it.

Cul Mor

We started opposite the Knockan Crag visitor’s centre and headed up the obvious path across the open moorland.  Soon after rounding an obvious bend, the path becomes less distinct as it crosses some wetter ground before climbing the easy slopes of Meallan Diomhain.  The flat summit of this quartzite mound can be passed to its north where the quartzite gives way to Torridonian sandstone and a broad ridge leads to the steep NE ridge of the mountain.

Coire Gorm

Pausing only to admire the view across to Suilven and the impressive Coire Gorm, we then returned to the quartzite as we climbed the final 200m of boulder field before emerging on the fine summit of Cul Mor (849m; big back).

Sron Gharbh

Blessed with clear weather, the whole of the mountain was visible as were all the surrounding peaks of Assynt & Coigach.  It was too nice a day for a straight descent so we ventured out along Sron Gharbh - the NW ridge of Cul Mor - where we took lunch overlooking the impressive ‘knockan and lochan’ landscape of the Inverpolly National Nature Reserve spread out in all its glory below our lofty perch.

Suilven From Sron Gharbh

We returned via the bealach between Cul Mor and its subsidiary top, Creag nan Calman and descended E again avoiding the summit of Meallan Diomhain (this time to the S) before intercepting the stalker’s path and following it back to the car.  As always, a fine mountain day!

Ben Mor Coigach

Ben Mor Coigach

Today, we drove the long and winding single-track road that leads W from Drumrunie to give Melanie a close-up view of the Summer Isles and Achiltibuie.  We parked at the road’s end at Culnacraig and took the path that climbs (steeply at first) up on to the broad shoulder that runs SW from Sgurr an Fhidhleir.

 

Sgurr an Fhidhleir & a Distant Stac Pollaidh

Having passed immediately below today’s summit, we zig-zagged our way up the grassy slopes that flank the mountain’s N side and were soon admiring the view from our summit cairn:  Ben Mor Coigach (743m; big hill of Coigach).

Garbh Choireachan

Following a brief wander over to the mountain’s main ridge for a view S towards a distant Ullapool and along the ridge to Garbh Choireachan, we descended the inbound route and were back at the car long before the promised rain arrived.

Stac Pollaidh

Stac Pollaidh rom Cul Beag

On a blustery day with the threat of heavy showers, Melanie was quite content with a half-day’s circumnavigation of this ever-delightful sandstone cone.  We took the excellent path up and around the hill’s E side, briefly visiting the summit ridge for an airy, if breezy view of the surrounding hills.  Then it was on in an anti-clockwise direction all the way around the hill and back to the car.  Stac Pollaidh (612m; steep rock at the pool).

Cul Beag

Cul Beag

Our last day turned out to be cloudy and wet so we settled for a quick, no frills, up-and-down plod up Cul Mor’s little brother.  We parked close to Spot Height 84m on the Achiltibuie road and launched ourselves up the rough, wet ground before the steeper summit slopes appeared out of the gloom to lead us to the cloud-enshrouded summit.  No views, so no photos - from this day anyway!  Cul Beag (769m; little back).

The Hills of Coigach

We returned the same way finally emerging from the clouds only when well down the mountain!

 Check out my plans for this coming year at: http://www.hillways.co.uk/uk/