Our superb start to this year’s Scottish summer has included many great mid-week walks. One of my favourites has been a route to two Fionas, Sgùrr an Fhìdhleir and and Ben Mór Coigach, near Ullapool, on Scotland’s north-west coast.
There are several different ways to walk these summits, including a popular circuit from the end of a singletrack road south of Achiltibuie. This is probably the most straightforward ascent and it follows a path most of the way. The drive to reach the start is quite long, although the bonus is stunning coastal views in good weather.
Instead, with my friend Sophie, we accessed the route from a minor road, west of the A835, just north of Ullapool. There is a fair bit of off-trod hiking to start with but once on the ridge, route finding becomes much easier (this is in good weather).
We decided to walk to both summits, first Sgùrr an Fhìdhleir at 705m elevation and then Ben Mór Coigach at 743m. We also took in a section of magnificent ridge on the western end of Ben Mór Coigach, although a need to be home for a set time meant we could not continue further.
This is a place I am keen to return to, especially to walk more of the ridge.
It’s the location of the these summits, at the southern end of an area called Assynt, in Sutherland, that makes this route so attractive. The views north take in many of my favourite mountains, including:
Far below, many islands are scattered along the Atlantic coast, including the Summer Isles and further afield to Skye and the Outer Hebrides.
Route details: Sgurr an Fhidhleir and Ben Mor Coigach
Distance: 19km
Total height: 1300m