Quinag: three Corbetts

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Summary

Quinag is a magnificent and complex mountain with three summits attaining Corbett status. The ascent of all three is one of the finest hillwalks in Scotland, with fine peaks, dramatic ridges and stunning views. If the full walk is too much, the ascent of the first peak (with a return the same way) is a short and fairly straightforward hillwalk with rewards out of all proportion to the effort involved. The mountain is under the stewardship of the John Muir Trust.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

Mostly good hill paths. Mountainous terrain with some very steep ground but only a minimal amount of scrambling.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Car park at NC232273. Open in Google Maps.

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Skills page for basic information on the essential skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 14km / 8.75 miles
Time (summer conditions): 7.5 - 8.5 hours
Ascent: 1130m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NC232273

Summits Climbed

Corbett: Spidean Coinich
Corbett: Sail Gorm
Corbett: Sail Gharbh

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (35)

Stage 1

There is a car parking area off the east side of the A894 at NC232273. Begin the walk by heading briefly south along the road until the clear path heads off on the opposite side of the road. This has been repaired by the conservation charity the John Muir Trust who own the mountain; they request that you stick to the excellent built path on the initial approach - avoiding the bogs. The Trust protects wild land and you can support their work by joining at http://www.johnmuirtrust.org/. Quinag already looks impressive from here; with the first summit Spidean Coinich the leftmost of the peaks backing the coire headwall. Follow the path to a prominent cairn where the route forks.

Stage 2

Turn left here, following a natural rocky rib to avoid the boggy ground and reach the foot of the broad east ridge of Spidean Coinich. The ground is stony but the ascent is steady and gives good going, with views opening up southwards over Loch Assynt. At 620m there is a short descent down a gap in a rocky band before the climb resumes, now on a clear path, towards Spidean Coinich, the first of the three Corbetts on the mountain.

Stage 3

The top is marked by two cairns, and by this point the views are sensational, with a great sweep of coastline in view, plus the chameleon-like outline of Suilven and scores of other peaks. Those looking for a fairly easy, short hillwalk could ascend to this point and return the same way.

Stage 4

Otherwise, follow the path which initially descends steeply and then runs along a fine ridge. There is then a sharp, rocky descent to a grassy bealach with a tiny lochan before a climb up to the north top of Spidean Coinich (714m). Here the ridge narrows to a grassy arête which the path runs along before descending - very steeply but with no difficulties - down to the Bealach a Chornaidh at 570m.

Stage 5

Now the route leads up to the peak at the junction of Quinag's ridges - it is unnamed but marked at 745m on OS 1:50k maps. The ascent is steep and initially grassy; the rocky band part way up is ascended by natural sandstone steps. The cairn at the summit - though it does not have Corbett status - offers perhaps the finest views of all. Now descend to the bealach to the northwest, which has a projecting rock ridge on which many walkers have posed for photographs. A curious table-shaped peak rises beyond; use the traverse path across the right flank of this (as it isn't possible to descend from the far end of the table).

Stage 6

There is a scrambly descent at the end of the traverse path to head down to the next bealach beyond. From here the ridge becomes more straightforward on the longer, steadier climb out to Sàil Ghorm, with a dramatic rocky cleft on the left side at one point. The summit cairn is on a grassy, spacious plateau, with especially fine views along the coastline to the north and the quartzite peaks of NW Sutherland. It is worth heading a short distance beyond the cairn for views down to Kylesku bridge.

Stage 7

Retrace your steps along the ridge almost back to the apex peak 745m; a good path bypasses the last part of the reascent up this on the left side to reach the bealach at 703m between it and Sàil Gharbh. From here begin the ascent of the final - and highest - of the three Corbett summits. The going is up sandstone at first, though the ridge turns to quartzite before the summit cairn is reached.

Stage 8

Return to the 703m bealach; a cairn marks the start of a repaired path that descends southwest across the steep flanks of point 745m towards Bealach a Chornaidh; Spidean Coinich looks improbably impressive from here. At one point it descends a more eroded section before a constructed path resumes leading almost to the bealach. Now head down into the coire, following a path that keeps well to the north of Lochan Bealach Cornaidh. Eventually the path improves as it descends the moorland, rejoining the outward route at the cairned junction. Keep ahead to continue back to the start.

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