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I set off yesterday morning to ascend Ben Mor Coigach and Sgurr an Fhidhleir.
I hoped to get good views from these hills, the actual views surpassed all expectations.
I parked in a small road-side car park, a short distance from the road-end at Culnacraig. I then walked to the road-end and beyond to the end of the land-rover track. From the end of the land-rover track, I made my way cross-country to reach the Allt nan Coisiche below the start of the gorge.
Garbh Choireachan of Ben More Coigach from roadside parking:
Culnacraig:
I crossed the Allt nan Coisiche to find a path which ascended steeply, alongside the Allt nan Coisiche gorge.
Crossing the Allt nan Coisiche:
As I made my way up alongside the gorge, I saw the Calmac ferry sailing in towards Ullapool. The view across to Beinn Ghobhlach and An Teallach was nice.
Looking across to Beinn Ghobhlach and An Teallach:
Ascending alongside the Allt nan Coisiche:
On reaching a height of circa 300m, the gradient eased-off. I couldn't see an obvious route up Garbh Choireachan, so I just picked a way up through the grit/scree.
Heading for Garbh Choireachan:
Lovely views across to the Summer Isles during this ascent.
The Summer Isles:
Beinn nan Caorach and Sgurr an Fhidhleir:
The ascent of the grit/scree was very steep, but not difficult.
Ascending steep grit/scree:
It didn't take long to reach the ridge. I was seriously impressed with the ridge of Ben Mor Coigach - one of the nicest ridges I have walked/scrambled along with some of the greatest views.
First view from ridge of Ben Mor Coigach:
View from ridge:
Summer Isles from ridge:
I made my way along the ridge ascending some scrambly bits and using some of the by-pass paths. It is possible to scramble as much, or as little, of the ridge as you want, as there are by-pass paths that avoid much, if not all, of the difficulties.
Ascending the ridge towards Garbh Choireachan:
View towards Ardmair and Ullapool:
As I progressed along the ridge towards Garbh Choireachan, the view towards the Assynt hills got better and better.
Stac Pollaidh and Suilven coming into view:
Stac Pollaidh (zoomed):
Ascending the ridge towards Garbh Choireachan:
I visited both cairns on Garbh Choireachan and then continued along the ridge towards Ben Mor Coigach.
Looking back along the ridge from Garbh Choireachan:
Looking towards Ben Mor Coigach from Garbh Choireachan:
I have included a few photos from the ridge. You do need to take care while walking along admiring the views, as there is a sheer drop to the right for much of the way. However, the by-pass paths mostly stick to the left where the drop isn't so sheer.
Looking back along the ridge:
Looking towards the summit of Ben Mor Coigach:
Looking towards the summit of Ben Mor Coigach:
As I approached the low point between Garbh Choireachan and Ben Mor Coigach, the view towards Assynt was simply breath-taking. This must be one of the best viewpoints in Scotland.
Fantastic view of Coigach and Assynt hills:
Looking back along the ridge:
After ascending another minor top of the ridge, I then made my way across grassy ground to reach the summit of Ben Mor Coigach. Again, what a viewpoint!
View from summit of Ben Mor Coigach:
View from summit of Ben Mor Coigach:
From the summit of Ben Mor Coigach, I picked out an easy line of descent towards the col between Ben Mor Coigach and Sgurr an Fhidhleir.
Descending towards Sgurr an Fhidhleir:
The view from the col was also pretty-good.
Stac Pollaidh sandwiched between Sgurr an Fhidhleir and Beinn an Eoin:
The ascent of Sgurr an Fhidhleir was an easy walk of just over 150m ascent.
Approaching the summit of Sgurr an Fhidhleir:
After visiting the summit cairn, I had a look over the prow of Sgurr an Fhidhleir. There is not only a sheer drop to the front but also to the left and right. A very impressive peak!
View from the airy prow of Sgurr an Fhidhleir:
Ben Mor Coigach from the summit of Sgurr an Fhidhleir:
The descent from Sgurr an Fhidhleir back to the car was very straight-forward – mostly a grassy walk. A couple of hundred metres below the summit, I reached a path which I followed out to the road-end at Culnacraig. This path is a bit eroded in its final section.
Looking back to Sgurr an Fhidhleir from descent:
Descending towards the road-end at Culnacraig:
For a minimal 4Hrs 15Mins of effort, the rewarding views from these hills is outstanding.
I now have a new favourite Assynt/Coigach hill.
Quinag has been demoted to No. 2, Ben Mor Coigach is now No. 1.
