Assynt's interior is a wild landscape of rough and rocky moorland, speckled with crags and hillocks and dotted with hundreds of lochans. Away from the monolithic mountains it is little visited; this superb route gives a good introduction to this wilderness with the benefit of a fine path underfoot.
Clear, constructed path.
None to start.
Little Assynt Field car park.
Park in Little Assynt car park adjacent to the tree nursery, signed from the A837 just west of Loch Assynt. The walk has been constructed as part of the Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape Partnership. Begin the walk on the path into the trees next to the information board, soon leading to a kissing gate. This part of Assynt has been protected from browsing with a deer fence by the Landscape Partnership, and the few remaining old birches have been joined by vigorously regenerating trees in recent years.
The path soon gives fantastic views of the great ridge of Quinag, rising like a gigantic wall across the moors. After some distance a t-junction is reached. The path on the right here links with the Leitir Easaidh all-abilities path, but our route turns left. It soon climbs up to a junction; here a short detour to the left leads to fine viewpoint looking towards Loch na h-Innse Fraoich with Quinag behind.
Back on the main path, a small boggy lochan provides another fine foreground for Quinag. Continue following the path which eventually descends towards Loch an t-Sabhail, fringed with birches and dotted with waterlillies. From another path junction you can detour right to reach a beautiful heather-thatched shelter built on the site of an old mill. Back on the main path once more, continue to another t-junction. The path forks here; a left turn leads more quickly back to the start, whereas our route (taking 'Ken's Path') turns right and leads past the ruins of some old stone summer shielings.
When the path reaches a low pass it turns left =, and climbs over a series of low summits with excellent views over to the beautiful Loch Beannach, its dozen or so islands with thriving woods safe from browsing deer. The last hillock has the best view of all, and has several stone blocks from which to enjoy it.
The path now descends steeply to join another path; this is where the short-cut route from the shielings joins back in. Bear right to continue the walk. The path passes more shielings and climbs to give a view over Lochan Mhic Leoìd with the A837 and Suilven visible beyond.
From here the path bears left and soon leads back to the start.
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