Breabag Traverse

[BoyVertiginous]

After the last-minute cancellation of a weekend in the Cairngorms with the local hiking group at the beginning of August due to poor weather, the fall-back option, three days in Assynt (not a bad Plan B), felt like a long-time in coming but, when it did, it coincided with some fine weather in the area.

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Set-off from the central belt at 7.30am and, after dumping our gear at Inchnadamph hostel, headed back down the road to the Bone Caves car park on the A837, setting off at approximately 12.15pm on the decent path leading up to the caves. Stopped beneath the caves for a quick refreshment, as hadn’t done so since Aviemore.

Bone Caves


Canisp (from da Bone Caves)


Soon on the go again, it’s not long until we can see the route on to Breabag laid out before us and it’s relatively easy going in what is, after a fairly unsettled month, glorious sunshine (albeit, with a stiff cool breeze). Travelling with the luxury of a light pack, one of the benefits of a hostel stay, we encounter a small group of deer before the final pull up to the summit, which is fairly rapidly gained but, the bulk of the walk remains ahead of us at this stage, following a traverse towards the Northern top of Breabag and down towards Bealach Traligill, where we pick up the path along the river that eventually meets the munro path from Conival and BMA and follow that back to Inchnadamph.

Wow...summit view out West


The views from the summit and the walk out are immense, particularly to the North (with Conival and BMA at close quarters…(did these two at roughly the same time last year in less clear conditions) and around to the West over Glas Bheinn, Quinag (tomorrow’s destination) to Canisp, Suilven, Cul Mor/Beag, Stac Pollaidh, Ben Mor Coigach, Sgurr an Fhidlheir and out to sea and the islands.

Conival & Breabag

I recalled this walk-out feeling like a long one last time but, not today. And, whilst reveling in all of this on the walk out, I slipped (one of the hazards of walking in trail running shoes) and gave my whole right side a nice wetting and mud-covered coating but, even that couldn’t dampen my spirits.

Quinag...tomorrow's challenge


This was a good, short-ish route to kick off our three days of walking in the area and definitely an interesting way to see Breabag in all it’s glory, whose most redeeming features are, arguably, to the North and East. Good to be out in the area again and the biggest bonus was the absence of any of the symptoms of the foregoing injury-plagued 12 months…happy days

[Avocetboy]

That summit view is wonderful. Breabag has never appealed on my previous visits, but I can see its well worth the effort. Did you visit the caves? Is the path as narrow as I recall?

[BoyVertiginous]

That summit view is wonderful. Breabag has never appealed on my previous visits, but I can see its well worth the effort. Did you visit the caves? Is the path as narrow as I recall?

I imagine many folks drive by Breabag in the quest for the "sexier" hills but, definitely worth stopping for, particularly if done as a traverse (from either end) or included in a longer route.

Didn't visit the caves but, stopped below for a refreshment and the path above look a little vertiginous (to me) but, the tourists seemed to be managing it fine.

[jmarkb]

Breabag has never appealed on my previous visits, but I can see its well worth the effort.

Definitely worth a visit, even if it lacks the obvious appeal of some of the nearby hills. As well as the caves, there's some scrambling to be had on the slabs on the W face (best done in the dry!), and the north top is more interesting than the main summit. There is a remarkable parallel sided slot on the E side just north of the col. If you don't want to go to Inchnadamph, a return via slabby ground west of the N top and over Beinn na Cnaimhsaig makes a nice round.

[BlackPanther]

Braebag is indeed a good hill, though not fully appreciated... Maybe because it is hidden away, shadowed by Conival BMA duo and it lacks the odd shape of other Assynt weirdos But I really enjoyed it. We didn't do the full traverse, just a jaunt up and down, because we spent too much time exploring Bone Caves

Great summit view. I'm thinking about re-visiting Braebag in winter conditions.

[BoyVertiginous]

Breabag has never appealed on my previous visits, but I can see its well worth the effort.

Definitely worth a visit, even if it lacks the obvious appeal of some of the nearby hills. As well as the caves, there's some scrambling to be had on the slabs on the W face (best done in the dry!), and the north top is more interesting than the main summit. There is a remarkable parallel sided slot on the E side just north of the col. If you don't want to go to Inchnadamph, a return via slabby ground west of the N top and over Beinn na Cnaimhsaig makes a nice round.

Hi, jmb. That "slot" is remarkable, thought I'd taken a pic but can't locate it. It not far from this odd-looking gateway at the col...

Great summit view. I'm thinking about re-visiting Braebag in winter conditions.

Thanks, BP, imagine it could get interesting in Winter

[heavywhalley]

I did a second traverse this time from Inchnadampth - to the Salmon fishery it is a great walk and the ridge and the wild corries are immense. The views of the "backside" of Conival are immense. As are the huge Corries Ghlas Mor and Beag how many miss this great area just top ticking? .