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Suilven via Glencanisp Lodge

Start/Finish

Walkers' car park about a mile up the road to Glencanisp Lodge from Lochinver. This road starts about 100 m north of the road to Inverkirkaig. There is parking for about 10 cars but it soon fills up on busy days so arrive early otherwise you will have to walk from Lochinver adding to your day!

Distance/Time

20 km.     About 6 – 7 hours.

Peaks

Suilven, 731 m, NC 153 183.     OS map 15: Loch Assynt.

Introduction

Suilven is one of the classic mountains of Scotland with its very distinctive shape. It looks formidable from most directions but it poses few problems for the walker in good weather. Views are excellent with Quinag and Canisp to the north and Cul Mor, Cul Beag, Ben Mor Coigach, Beinn an Eoin and Stac Pollaidh to the south although many will be drawn to the many small lochans which fill much of the landscape. On the down side, it is a long walk in but well worth it. It is about 2 hours each way to the foot of the mountain. The crest is narrow and has some exposure and may be unnerving in strong winds. There are a few short rocky steps which hardly count as scrambling.

Route

(1) Continue from the car park to Glencanisp Lodge and follow the signs around the lodge and take the track signed for Suilven. After about 6 km, cross the bridge over the river then follow the track for about 600 m to where a distinctive new path forks off right by a small cairn. The new path is a big improvement on its boggy predecessor. The path is still being developed but goes some way towards the foot of Suilven crossing what used to be the most boggy part of the approach. Follow the path to cross the short stream between two lochans just below the mountain after which it heads for a shallow grassy gully which it zig-zags up, steeply in places, to reach the narrow crest. Turn right, W, and follow the very obvious path up the crest until the medium cairn is reached which is the summit of Suilven, 731 m.

(2) Retrace the outward route.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 29^th June, 2017, and about 20 and 30 years earlier.

(b) Competent scramblers should also be able to reach the middle summit of Meall Mheadhonach but no details are given as it was last climbed about 20 years ago. The eastern top of Meall Bheag is a much more difficult proposition though with harder scrambling, greater exposure and good route finding skills needed.