JWCW2014 wrote:We’re away up to Assynt for a week with the kids. Whilst my son (8) and I have plans to do Suilven (he’s a keen bagger now and tackled some longer days but chose this after being impressed by a video on YouTube kids.)
My daughter who is 5 is keen to climb a mountain rather than a hill (her brother has been winding her up about only having completed hills!) - she’s managed quite a few walks of around 5-6 miles with up to around 2500 feet of ascent. She’s also fine over boggy ground or pathless sections (and oddly prefers the former).
Does anyone have a good recommendation for the above? I’ve had a look at a few of the hills up there but not having climbed them before unsure about how challenging the terrain would be in each case and don’t want to suffer from ‘looks fine on the map’ and then march them up to march them back down again after abandoning!
As long as she'd be satisfied with reaching the ridge rather than the (scrambling) true summit, Stac Pollaidh is a proper adventure for kids. I first did it aged 6, my brother was 4. The main track that goes round the back is steep with rocky steps at times, but its a good track. The eastern top is probably achievable, a simple short scramble from the col.
Track
Summit view with eastern summit on right.
I know an under 4 year old who's been to the bealach on Suilven, but we did get to the bottom by canoe! The long walk in is more of a problem than the hill.
Ben, on left, 3 years and 364 days old.