Suilven

The area's, and many would argue Britain's, most distinctive mountain, a remarkable isolated sandstone cathedral which rises abruptly from the beautiful lakes and rough, broken lower hills ("cnoc and lochan") and bog that typify the area.

While it is actually a high, narrow, broken, sheer-sided ridge, from end on it looks like a huge, improbable domed tower. It is remarkable that a mountain that is "only" 731m can have such presence.

The views from its top are exceptionally interesting and beautiful: around it are contorted but lovely cnoc and lochan; further off are other mountains, many like Suilven standing in proud isolation. To the west, sea inlets feel their way in for miles between the low, rugged hills.

It is not an easy climb, as it is remote from any road, so both the approaches, from near Lochinver to the west and near Elphin to the east, are long (9? km from Inverkirkaig, longer from the east) and are also boggy in places. The summit ridge is reasonably easy once you have finished the tough scramble to the saddle in the middle.

8-10 hours.

Find relevant books by using our Amazon search function:

For more information and photos, including detailed practical information and some warnings, see our Assynt Peninsula walk page.