Hills: Ben Mor Coigach and Sgurr an Fhidhleir
Date: Saturday 6th August 2011
Company: Just myself
Time: 4Hrs 15Mins

I set off yesterday morning to ascend Ben Mor Coigach and Sgurr an Fhidhleir. I hoped to get good views from these hills, the actual views surpassed all expectations.

Click here to see a map of the route undertaken

I parked in a small road-side car park, a short distance from the road-end at Culnacraig. I then walked to the road-end and beyond to the end of the land-rover track. From the end of the land-rover track, I made my way cross-country to reach the Allt nan Coisiche below the start of the gorge.

Garbh Choireachan of Ben More Coigach from roadside parking:


Culnacraig:


I crossed the Allt nan Coisiche to find a path which ascended steeply alongside the Allt nan Coisiche gorge.

Crossing the Allt nan Coisiche:


As I made my way up alongside to the gorge, I saw the Calmac ferry sailing in towards Ullapool. The view across to Beinn Ghobhlach and An Teallach was nice.

Looking across to Beinn Ghobhlach and An Teallach:


Ascending alongside the Allt nan Coisiche:


On reaching a height of circa 300m, the gradient eased-off. I couldn't see an obvious route up Garbh Choireachan, so I just picked a way up through the grit/scree.

Heading for Garbh Choireachan:


Lovely views across to the Summer Isles during this ascent.

The Summer Isles:


Beinn nan Caorach and Sgurr an Fhidhleir:


The ascent of the grit/scree was very steep but not difficult.

Ascending steep grit/scree:


It didn't take long to reach the ridge. I was impressed with the ridge of Ben Mor Coigach; one of the nicest ridges I have walked/scrambled along, with some of the greatest views.

First view from ridge of Ben Mor Coigach:


View from ridge:


Summer Isles from ridge:


I made my way along the ridge ascending some scrambly bits and using some of the by-pass paths. It is possible to scramble as much, or as little, of the ridge as you want as there are by-pass paths that avoid much, if not all, of the difficulties.

Ascending the ridge towards Garbh Choireachan:


View towards Ardmair and Ullapool:


As I progressed along the ridge towards Garbh Choireachan, the view towards the Assynt hills just got better and better.

Stac Pollaidh and Suilven coming into view:


Stac Pollaidh (zoom):


Ascending the ridge towards Garbh Choireachan:


I visited both cairns on Garbh Choireachan and then continued along the ridge towards Ben Mor Coigach.

Looking back along the ridge from Garbh Choireachan:


Looking towards Ben Mor Coigach from Garbh Choireachan:


I have included a few photos from the ridge. You do need to take care while walking along admiring the views, as there is a sheer drop to the right for much of the way. However, the by-pass paths mostly stick to the left where the drop isn't so sheer.

Looking back along the ridge:


Looking towards the summit of Ben Mor Coigach:


Looking towards the summit of Ben Mor Coigach:


As I approached the low point between Garbh Choireachan and Ben Mor Coigach, the view towards Assynt was simply breath-taking. This must be one of the finest viewpoints in Scotland.

Fantastic view of Coigach and Assynt hills:


Looking back along the ridge:


After ascending another minor top of the ridge, I made my way across grassy ground to reach the summit of Ben Mor Coigach. Again, what a viewpoint!

View from summit of Ben Mor Coigach:


View from summit of Ben Mor Coigach:


From the summit of Ben Mor Coigach, I picked out an easy line of descent towards the col between Ben Mor Coigach and Sgurr an Fhidhleir.

Descending towards Sgurr an Fhidhleir:


The view from the col was also pretty-good.

Stac Pollaidh sandwiched between Sgurr an Fhidhleir and Beinn an Eoin:


The ascent of Sgurr an Fhidhleir was an easy walk of just over 150m ascent.

Approaching the summit of Sgurr an Fhidhleir:


After visiting the summit cairn, I had a look over the prow of Sgurr an Fhidhleir. There is not only a sheer drop to the front but also to the left and right. A seriously impressive peak!

View from the airy prow of Sgurr an Fhidhleir:


Ben Mor Coigach from the summit of Sgurr an Fhidhleir:


The descent from Sgurr an Fhidhleir back to the car was very straight-forward; mostly a grassy walk. A couple of hundred metres below the summit, I reached a path which I followed out to the road-end at Culnacraig. This path is a bit eroded in its final section.

Looking back to Sgurr an Fhidhleir from descent:


Descending towards the road-end at Culnacraig:


For a minimal 4Hrs 15Mins of effort, the rewarding views from these hills are outstanding. I now have a new favourite Assynt/Coigach hill. Quinag has been demoted to No. 2, Ben Mor Coigach is No. 1.