Assynt's interior is a wild landscape of rough and rocky moorland, speckled with crags and hillocks and dotted with hundreds of lochans. Away from the monolithic mountains it is little visited; this route gives a good introduction to this wilderness.
Summary
The route is waymarked by posts but crosses very boggy rough moorland.
Terrain
NC153251
Grid ref
4.5km/2.75 miles
Distance
Grade
Little Assynt Field car park
Start
Maps
GPS Waypoints
View in 3D
Public transport
1. Park in Little Assynt Field car park which is signed from the A837 just west of Loch Assynt. The walk has been waymarked by the Culag Community Woodlands Trust who own both the Little Assynt estate and the Culag Woods in Lochinver. Begin the walk along the surfaced path heading through the kissing gate. A line of posts across the moorland to the left is the route of return, giving an idea of the rough terrain to be encountered on this walk. At first, though, simply continue along the surfaced path. This part of Assynt has been protected from browsing with a deer fence, and the old birches have been joined by newly regenerating trees.
2. The path soon gives fantastic views of the great ridge of Quinag, rising like a gigantic wall across the moors. At a fork, the branch to the right is just for a viewpoint. Continue ahead until reaching a right angle in the surfaced path. This heads right here to link up with the Leitir Easaidh all-abilities path, but our route continues straight ahead on a faint boggy trod. It is marked by wooden posts, the top sections of which are painted white. There are views across Loch na h-Innse Fraoich to the right.
3. The waymarkers lead a winding route up and over the moors, soon giving views over a small boggy loch. Continue following the posts, which eventually lead to the larger Loch an t-Sabhail, zig-zagging down to reach the shore, fringed with birches. There are the scant ruins of an old mill just along the outflow. Continue following the marker posts to reach the ruins of old stone shielings. The path forks here; a left turn leads more quickly back to the start, whereas our route passes just to the right of the stone walls towards the marker posts ahead.
4. When the path reaches a low pass it turns left. It is a very faint route (known as Ken's Path) through the heather at this point, and is marked by sticks painted white as it climbs over a series of low summits with excellent views over to the beautiful Loch Beannach, its dozen or so islands with thriving woods safe from browsing deer. The last hillock has the best view of all, and has several wooden stools from which to enjoy it.
5. The path now descends steeply to join another path. You can make a detour to visit the shores of Loch Beannach by turning right with the markers here; otherwise the route continues following the posts to the left. Soon another junction is reached, this time with the short-cut route from the shielings – bear right. At the next junction, the 'Fisherman's Path' goes off to the right – ignore this and continue on the main route ahead. The path passes more shielings and climbs to give a view over Lochan Mhic Leoid with the A837 and Suilven visible beyond. From here the path bears left and soon leads back to the start.
Have you found an error or is any information wrong or missing?
Please let us know by using the error report form.
Route profile
