North West Scotland Holiday Part 4. September 2022

For our last days stay in Culkein we had a more sedate walk along the beautiful beach at Clachtoll. The blue skies and clear waters adding to the sense of peace and quiet. The good weather led to some amazing night skies, another stroke of luck getting to see the Aurora Borealis again from our hut in Culkein. The next day we took the scenic road down the coast to our next campsite at Altandhu, stopping off for a walk along Achnahaird Bay. Heading home on our last day we stopped off at the Corrieshalloch Gorge. Another stunning week in Assynt and the surrounding area led to us planning to stay the following year.

Clachtoll Beach

Culkein Locals

Culkein Aurora

Achnahaird Bay

Beautiful Bay

View of the Summer Isles from above Altandhu

Sunset from the Fuaran Bar

The Summer Isles and the Fisherfield Munros from Achiltibuie

Pano of the Summer Isles

Corrieshalloch Gorge Platform

The Gorge

North West Scotland Holiday Part 3. 02 - 03/09/22

The route to the Trailigill Caves which is the largest Cave system in Scotland starts from the carpark beside the Inchnadamph Hotel, which is also the start of the walk for the Munros Ben More Assynt and Conival. The going is fairly easy on the well made path all the way with a branch to the right for the caves.

Stunning scenery looking back to the Quinag mountain range

Uamh an Tartair, which translates as cave of the roaring is the first of the Trailigill Caves 

Further up the valley to more caves, we didn't venture into this one

Heading back to the carpark across from Loch Assynt

The next day we drove to Inverkirkaig for a walk out to see the Falls of Kirkaig waterfall, which is around 2 miles or so each way along a path, thankfully the weather had been dry otherwise it could have been a boggy trudge.

Norman MacCaig's Poem at the start of the Falls of Kirkaig path

Falls of Kirkaig

We scrambled down the rocky path for a better view, not for the faint hearted

Deep pool

View of Suilven on the way back

River Kirkaig

Assynt evening light

Stunning sunset colours

Culkein landscape

North West Scotland Holiday Part 2. 31/08 - 01/09/22

After leaving Sandwood we drove to our rented pod in Culkein by Stoer. The route takes us over the Kylesku Bridge, which for once wasn't too busy to get a clear photo. After getting settled in the pod, we went over the route plan for our Cul Mor walk the next day. The weather was forecast to be good, and it turned out right. The midges were a pain though, so no hanging about in the carpark meant we were soon on our way. Cul Mor is a mountain of 849m and is classified as a Corbett. We met a retired couple from the borders half way up and got a good blether, the guy was recovering from a broken leg, which didn't seem to slow him down. Once again we had a cracking day in the Scottish mountains.

Kylesku Bridge

Beautiful sunset light over Quinag from our pod

Lesley at the base of Cul Mor

Suilven and Canisp

Stac Pollaidh

Stac Pollaidh through the long lens

Assynt scenery

Cul Mor summit selfie

North West Scotland Holiday Part 1 Sandwood Bay 30/08/22

For the first part of our holiday we drove up to Sandwood Bay for an overnight camp. On the way we stopped for a break alongside Loch Arkle overlooking the mountain of the same name, we are thinking of making plans to hike up at a later date. The walk to the Sandwood Bay is 4 miles along a good track from the carpark at Blairmore, it's a good stretch of the legs after the long drive, especially with the tent etc in the big backpack. The first view of the bay when you walk down into the sands is stunning, especially with clear blue skies. We trudged along the beach looking for a sheltered spot to pitch the tent, as the forecast was for high winds. Our home for the night was set up and the kettle was boiled for our tea. Soon it was time to head down to the waters edge to watch the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean, beautiful colours made it even more special. Once the sun disappeared over the horizon, we headed back to the tent for a wee dram and a good nights sleep.

The mountain Arkle with it's white Cambrian quartzite glistening in the sunshine

John Muir Trust Sandwood Bay information

No Cape Wrath trip for us this time

The path to Sandwood leading us through the moor

The Cape Wrath headland coming into view

Sandwood Loch

Our piece of heaven called Sandwood Bay before us

Hard going walking in the sand with the big packs

Am Buachaille stack behind us, time to look for a camping spot

Plenty rocks around to keep the tent in place in the high winds due later

Water for our tea filtered from Sandwood Loch

Sun setting over the bay

Am Buachaille and Am Balg in the distance

Winds getting up

Beautiful colours of the setting sun

Cape Wrath Lighthouse shining in the distance

Bedtime with a couple of drams

Beach breakfast in the sunshine