Scottish Bothy Walks - 28 best bothy adventures

WALK 3
SUILVEN & SUILEAG BOTHY
FROM GLENCANISP LODGE
One of the finest mountain walks in Scotland,
with exceptional views from the summit dome
over Assynt’s other-worldly landscape of rugged
peaks and ribbon lochs.
It is easy to be seduced by any of Assynt’s distinctive
sandstone peaks, but your gaze is irresistibly drawn to the
striking monolith of Suilven (Sula Bheinn, Pillar Mountain).
I always look forward to seeing the iconic sugarloaf profile on
any journey north from Ullapool, tracing and retracing the lines
of the summit ridge as it finally comes into view. The peak’s
magnetic hold has inspired much writing, poetry and song,
most notably by celebrated Scottish bard Norman MacCaig
whose poem ‘Climbing Suilven’ neatly encapsulates both the
toil of ascent and thrill of summit views. Battle-scarred by
successive waves of glaciation, the hills here are unique in
Scotland, enshrined within Scotland’s first Geopark, which was
given UNESCO status in 2006. They lie above an ancient bed of
Lewisian gneiss, formed over 3 billion years ago and comprising
some of the oldest rocks in the world.
Although guarded by formidable, intimidating buttresses,
scaling the dome of Suilven’s western summit, Caisteal Liath, is
far easier than it might appear. The ascent to Bealach Mòr, the
low point of the mountain’s saddle, avoids the major ramparts;
although steep, it is relatively short and not exposed. There
are a couple of challenges to negotiate on the final ridge,
but nothing untoward. In contrast, Meall Meadhonach, the
mountain’s eastern turret, is a far more challenging proposition,
requiring competent scrambling skills and best avoided unless
you are a confident climber.
INFORMATION
MAPS: LR 15 Loch Assynt,
Lochinver & Kylesku, Explorer
442 Assynt & Lochinver.
START/END GRID REF:
NC108220 Car park 500m
before Glencanisp Lodge on
the road from Lochinver.
DISTANCE: 19km/12 miles
TIME: 6–8 hours. (3-5 hours
from the bothy).
SUMMITS: Caisteal Liath
(Corbett), 731m
TOTAL ASCENT: 836m
NAVIGATION: Easy
TERRAIN: Straightforward.
Track and well-defined path.
Short exposed section on
summit ridge.
DIFFICULTY: Straightforward.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Scottish
Citylink service 961/Stagecoach
Highland service 61 Inverness-
Ullapool. Ullapool to Lochinver:
service 809 George Rapson
Travel (01463 242649), service
815 Ewen’s of Ullapool (01854
612966).
SPECIAL NOTES: The bothy is
open all year round. Loch
fishing by permit only. No
dogs. For all enquiries contact
the Assynt Foundation (01571
844122).
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