Boggy, soggy, squelchy, stony and foggy Canisp with Kids

[WalkingWithKids]

Hill no. 135 - Corbett no. 23

Canisp from the east with Kids (9, 12 y/o)

Canisp from A837.

What a terrible hike! Well, to be honest, it was much worse then I expected . The first 1.5 km was unexpectedly soggy and boggy from my point of view and I do not get the impression that it rained much more in the last few days before the hike. After 1.5 km the terrain was a bit drier, but very stony, which was difficult for the children to walk on. And then... again very soggy grassy ground in a shallow gully. When we reached the summit of Canisp it was foggy most of the time, with only a narrow view appearing in the fog for a few minutes. But never mind, it also had its bright sides, e.g. ptarmigans .

Stats:
Total distance - 13.2 km
Total time - 9h00m
Walking time - 4h26m
Altitude gain - 692 m

Map of our route:

20220918-Canisp-from-the-east-Track.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Elevation profile of our route:

Parking area just north of Loch Awe on A837:

The start of the path is at the southern end of the parking area:

The fun starts a few meters from the car park - the bog:

Footbridge over the outflow of Loch Awe:

Another bog . Fortunately, we managed to cross it without an accident:

Ford across the burn Allt Mhic Mhur chaidh Ghèir:

The easiest way was to run across it :

Finally after 1.5 km, beyond the Allt Mhic Mhur chaidh Ghèir burn, the ground was a bit drier, however the path disappeared . We continued in the direction where, according to the map, a path could be:

After a few hundred meters we found a path by the Allt Mhic Mhur chaidh Ghèir burn and continued along it:

The path brought us to large slabs on which another burn flowed. We continued along the slabs:

From the end of the slabs the path was less distinct, but there are a few cairns that helped us to navigate further:

Looking back:

Ptarmigans :

Further up we continued towards a shallow gully between two shoulders of Canisp and then to a saddle at an altitude of about 750 m. We followed a deer path most of the way:

There is a path from the saddle almost to the top:

The summit of Canisp was covered in fog. Fortunately, the fog cleared for a few minutes in the direction of Quinag and we were able quickly take some photos.

Conni on the top, looking north - Loch Assynt, Quinag corbetts:

A break in the fog at the summit shelter :

From the summit, we returned to the saddle and then continued down another way, along the southern shoulder - red arrow (the green arrow comes from the gully):

The path along the southern shoulder was worse than the path along the gully. It was more stony, but...:

Full of wildlife! A frog:

Ptarmigans! How many do you see :

I have three . Great camouflage :

Young frog:

Newt:

When we were already down the shoulder, we returned roughly the same way.

Jump over the Allt Mhic Mhur chaidh Ghèir burn:

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From my experience I think this is the good way up Canisp (red dotted line):

[weaselmaster]

Yes, the approach from the East is pants. Much better to come in from Glencanisp Lodge.

[jmarkb]

Canisp's greatest asset is its views, especially of Suilven, so if you don't get these it can feel a bit of of a trudge across rough terrain! Keeping left towards the edge is best for views: photographers may with to visit a cairn at NC221169 for this shot:



It is also a straightforward ascent in winter, when snow buries the rocks. Some of the initial bogs can be avoided by keeping close to the burn near the start: after crossing the bridge ignore the obvious ATV track and bear left instead. An alternative in either ascent or descent is to stick to the N side of the Allt Mhic Mhurchaidh Ghèir and make for the lochan at its head (this is also useful if the burn is in full spate and uncrossable, which happened to me once). There is little in the way of a path, but the going is less stony than the direct route.

[Dunni]

What a bunch of tough kids you have! Well done to them! Gives me hope into the younger generation.

[Anne C]

You did really well in getting to the top at all with the young folks on such a day! I did Canisp years ago when my son was about 8 and found it really hard going underfoot. Flat slabs are often great for walking on but I recall really awkward, difficult , stony ground mostly.
Ptarmigan are a treat though!

[WalkingWithKids]

...Keeping left towards the edge is best for views: photographers may with to visit a cairn at NC221169...
Some of the initial bogs can be avoided by keeping close to the burn near the start: after crossing the bridge ignore the obvious ATV track and bear left instead. An alternative in either ascent or descent is to stick to the N side of the Allt Mhic Mhurchaidh Ghèir and make for the lochan at its head (this is also useful if the burn is in full spate and uncrossable, which happened to me once). There is little in the way of a path, but the going is less stony than the direct route.

Thanks for all the information. Great photo! I believe there must be great views from Canisp. One day, we will return there .

What a bunch of tough kids you have! Well done to them! Gives me hope into the younger generation.

Thanks. From hill to hill they are getting tougher and tougher.

You did really well in getting to the top at all with the young folks on such a day! I did Canisp years ago when my son was about 8 and found it really hard going underfoot. Flat slabs are often great for walking on but I recall really awkward, difficult , stony ground mostly.
Ptarmigan are a treat though!

Thanks. It was really hard going underfoot for the kids. And they do not appreciate great views that we did not get to see . At least we saw some wildlife.
Ptarmigans were fantastic. It was the first time we had seen them so close .