Creag na h-Iolaire, Assynt.

Creag na h_Iolaire

Creag na h-Iolaire, Assynt. Region A5.

Height – 357 metres. Map – OS Landranger – 15.

Climbed - 10 March 2011. Time taken – 1.75 hours.

Distance – 4 kilometres. Ascent – 275 metres.

Trip Report Details:

Another windy day in Assynt saw me scanning the map for another HuMP and discovering this 357 metre high hill to the west of the Quinag.

We drove east along the north shore of Loch Assynt to the house at Tumore where we found a parking space on the opposite, south, side of the road, and west of the dwelling. Directly opposite, a gate in the deer fence gave access to the path, signposted Glenlearaig 6.5 kilometres.

The path, which was initially wet and boggy, ran through an overgrown area but began to improve once through the second gate. We followed the path as it crossed the foot of the south-east side of Creag na h-Iolaire to the small lochan at Bealach Leireag with views of fresh snow cover on the Quinag.

From the bealach it was a steady climb of the east ridge of Creag na h_Iolaire, avoiding a few crags, to reach the summit area where we had views of the Assynt Hills and out to Loch Inver, Eddrachillis Bay and The Minch. Unfortunately the earlier brightness had been replaced by some cloud. There were a couple of areas of rock that could have been the highest point but I settled for the most northerly one.

The return was down the rough south ridge where we disturbed a large herd of deer and joined the path before the deer fence with a short wet and boggy walk back to the car.

Photos taken on walk.

Sidhean Mor, Assynt.

Sidhean Mor

Sidhean Mor, Assynt. Region A5.

Height – 161 metres. Map – OS Landranger 15.

Climbed - 7 March 2011. Time taken – 2.5 hours.

Distance – 7.5 kilometres. Ascent – 345 metres.

Trip Report Details:

We were visiting the Assynt area in the North West Highlands of Scotland but the gale and storm force winds were preventing us climbing our planned hills. With no improvement in the conditions we decided to visit the Old Man of Stoer and climb the nearby HUMP, Sidhean Mor. Well when I say visit I mean view it from the headland as it is separated from the mainland by the sea.

The car was left in the car park beside the Stoer Head Lighthouse and we followed the signed route north above the steep cliffs. It was a bright morning but very windy with good views back to the lighthouse. The sea was raging with the waves crashing against the cliffs.

A grassy gully, where sheep were sheltering, was crossed and beyond there were several trails to follow, mainly animal tracks. On reaching the projecting rock, Cirean Geardail, we had our first view of the Old Man of Stoer. On a small grassy area at the end of Cirean Geardail sheep were lying down but they didn’t look very safe, especially from the strong winds.

We descended quite steeply until we were opposite the Old Man but it was too windy to get close to the edge. The obligatory photograph was taken before continuing to the Point of Stoer where a small fence was crossed. Here there were views of the Sutherland coast, Handa Island and back to the Old Man.

To make an alternative return route we walked south over some rough ground to reach the summit of Sidhean Mor, marked by a trig point. From here we could make out the outline of Ben Stack, Arkle and Foinaven.

Afterwards we descended along the south-west ridge following a path. It later joined the access track to the telecommunication mast so we used this track to return to the car. Near the end we had to take a slight diversion to avoid cattle.

Photos taken on walk.