walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

The Fiddler & big brother Coigach

The Fiddler & big brother Coigach


Postby denfinella » Sat Aug 18, 2018 11:57 am

Route description: Ben Mór Coigach and Sgùrr an Fhìdhleir

Fionas included on this walk: Ben Mór Coigach, Sgùrr an Fhidhleir

Date walked: 24/07/2018

Time taken: 5 hours

Distance: 10 km

Ascent: 870m

4 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Tuesday's weather forecast was looking promising, so we decided on a big day out around Coigach - but not just hill walking. Achnahaird Bay was on the list, but low tide wasn't until the middle of the day so we did the short stroll to Rhue Lighthouse in the morning. Photos at the end of this report. After Achnahaird Bay (and several other roadside photo stops) we headed for the car park at the foot of Ben More Coigach.


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



The ridge, well seen from Rhue Lighthouse earlier, looked enticing as we walked down the road into Culnacraig:

1.jpg


Onto a path behind the cottages - a more obvious branch on the left is the return route from Sgurr an Fhidleir. Continuing ahead, the path ascends the slope diagonally then fizzles out before the Allt nan Coisiche. Pathless for the next kilometre or so:

2.jpg


The gully carved by the burn looked impressive as we climbed the shoulder to the right hand side of it:

3.jpg


Over the shoulder and the ridge could be seen in all its glory:

4.jpg


Grand views back to the Summer Isles from the foot of the ridge:

5.jpg


At first the way onto the ridge isn't clear, but find the way up between small crags and the path is soon found. The going is never difficult - no hands needed - and the route stays either on the crest or on the left side of it. From the top, fantastic views open up along Loch Broom towards Ullapool:

6.jpg


Ridge views:

7.jpg


8.jpg


9.jpg


The ridge felt longer than we expected, with lots of minor pinnacles and crests. Eventually the next one in line was the summit of Ben More Coigach itself:

10.jpg


Last view back from the ridge:

11.jpg


Views inland towards Strath Canaird:

12.jpg


The summit is broad and less interesting than the rest of the ridge, but it's a great viewpoint for it:

13.jpg


As for the view north towards Assynt... wow!

14.jpg


15.jpg


The next peak, Sgurr an Fhidleir, is on the left in the photo above. There's a fairly big descent and reascent to reach it (they're both Grahams), but the going is very easy on gentle, often grassy ground:

16.jpg


17.jpg


The wind picked up on the summit - it was blowing straight up the burn to the west. With a sheer drop on the sheltered side there was nowhere at all to have a bite to eat! So instead we had to be content with some of the most amazing views we've ever set eyes on. It was a photo similar to this one (looking north from this summit) which first made me excited about walking in Scotland:

19.jpg


18.jpg


Cliffs to the northwest:

20.jpg


Looking back to Ben More Coigach:

21.jpg


East:

22.jpg


In complete contrast to most of the rest of the walk, the descent is mostly on a good and gentle path (probably a bit boggy in wetter summers) down a wide shoulder between two burns:

23.jpg


Soon back at Culnacraig in under 5 hours since leaving. One last view back:

24.jpg


A wonderful afternoon's walk amongst some truly extraordinary mountains.

<< previous day: Scoraig
>> next day: Littlemill Esker Trail
Last edited by denfinella on Sun Aug 19, 2018 12:27 pm, edited 4 times in total.
User avatar
denfinella
Wanderer
 
Posts: 1394
Munros:88   Corbetts:40
Fionas:37   Donalds:24
Sub 2000:72   Hewitts:14
Wainwrights:6   Islands:46
Joined: Mar 19, 2012
Location: Edinburgh

Re: The Fiddler & big brother Coigach

Postby denfinella » Sat Aug 18, 2018 12:18 pm

Pics from the rest of the day:

Rhue lighthouse:

1.jpg


2.jpg


3.jpg


Achnahaird Bay:

4.jpg


5.jpg


Summer Isles from above Altandhu:

6.jpg


Stac Pollaidh:

7.jpg


Cul Beag:

8.jpg
User avatar
denfinella
Wanderer
 
Posts: 1394
Munros:88   Corbetts:40
Fionas:37   Donalds:24
Sub 2000:72   Hewitts:14
Wainwrights:6   Islands:46
Joined: Mar 19, 2012
Location: Edinburgh

4 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Download, Graeme D, jamesb1966, rockrat67 and 60 guests