Quinag - Sunday 6 April 2025
Route
A894 - Spidean Coinich - Lochan Ruadh - Bealach a' Chornaidh - Sail Ghorm - Sail Gharbh - Bealach a' Chornaidh - A894
Parking
Small parking area just off the A894 approximately 3 miles north of Ardvreck Castle and 2 miles north of the A837/A894 junction at Skiag Bridge. The Grid Reference is NC 23275 27379. The nearest postcode is IV27 4HL which will take you as far as Inchnadamph which is just south of Ardvreck Castle.
Mileage
9.8 miles
Terrain
Mountainous terrain on mostly good paths. There are some steep sections with minimal scrambling. The total ascent felt like it was much more than just over 4000ft as did the mileage. At only just under 10 miles this is a fantastic but tiring day out.
Weather
Glorious - sunny with only the lightest of breezes. The visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
8hrs
Total Ascent
4121ft (1256m)
Map
OS Explorer 442 - Assynt & Lochinver
It should be noted that the majority of this route is not marked by any footpath on the OS Map however for the most part the paths are there on the ground.
Walkers
Dave & Angie
A894 - Spidean Coinich - Lochan Ruadh - Bealach a' Chornaidh - Sail Ghorm - Sail Gharbh - Bealach a' Chornaidh - A894
Parking
Small parking area just off the A894 approximately 3 miles north of Ardvreck Castle and 2 miles north of the A837/A894 junction at Skiag Bridge. The Grid Reference is NC 23275 27379. The nearest postcode is IV27 4HL which will take you as far as Inchnadamph which is just south of Ardvreck Castle.
Mileage
9.8 miles
Terrain
Mountainous terrain on mostly good paths. There are some steep sections with minimal scrambling. The total ascent felt like it was much more than just over 4000ft as did the mileage. At only just under 10 miles this is a fantastic but tiring day out.
Weather
Glorious - sunny with only the lightest of breezes. The visibility was excellent.
Time Taken
8hrs
Total Ascent
4121ft (1256m)
Map
OS Explorer 442 - Assynt & Lochinver
It should be noted that the majority of this route is not marked by any footpath on the OS Map however for the most part the paths are there on the ground.
Walkers
Dave & Angie
GPX Files
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
Route Map
Looking over Loch Assynt to Ardvreck Castle with Quinag beyond. Two of the three Corbetts we would be visiting today are visible - Spidean Coinich to the left with Sail Gharbh to the right.
A Corbett is the next highest of Scotland’s mountains after the Munros and are also categorised by height. To be classed as a Corbett, a mountain must be over 2,500ft, but less than 3,000ft and have a drop of at least 500ft between each listed hill and any adjacent higher one. They were named after John Rooke Corbett, who was one of the founder-members of The Rucksack Club and their Convener of Rambles, joining the Scottish Mountaineering Club in 1923. In the 1920s Corbett compiled a list of Scottish hills between 2,500 and 3,000ft with a prominence of at least 500ft. There are 222 summits classed as a Corbett.
A Corbett is the next highest of Scotland’s mountains after the Munros and are also categorised by height. To be classed as a Corbett, a mountain must be over 2,500ft, but less than 3,000ft and have a drop of at least 500ft between each listed hill and any adjacent higher one. They were named after John Rooke Corbett, who was one of the founder-members of The Rucksack Club and their Convener of Rambles, joining the Scottish Mountaineering Club in 1923. In the 1920s Corbett compiled a list of Scottish hills between 2,500 and 3,000ft with a prominence of at least 500ft. There are 222 summits classed as a Corbett.
We knew we were in for a long day today therefore we were out the door at whip crack sparrow fart. Prior to starting the walk we fired up Walshy's Kitchen - on the menu today were Bacon & Egg Rolls. The spatula I am holding belonged to the holiday cottage we were staying at and unfortunately once we had finished cooking I managed to weld it to the side of the frying pan. We fessed up and bought them a new one.
Blink and you'll miss it - the parking area on the A894. The mountain to the rear is the Corbett of Glas Bheinn.
Quinag covers 3,699 hectares of the Assynt–Coigach National Scenic Area in Sutherland. The John Muir Trust maintain the mountain path to the summits and works to restore deer populations to levels that the land can sustain.
The correct pronunciation of Quinag is coo-nyag which in Gaelic means ‘milking pail’
The correct pronunciation of Quinag is coo-nyag which in Gaelic means ‘milking pail’
From the parking area the route crosses the A894 on a good path towards a footbridge
At Grid Reference NC 22829 27620 a small cairn is reached and the walker has a choice to make. The route to the left heads clockwise up to Spidean Coinich whilst heading straight on leads to Bealach Chornaidh where an ascent of Sail Gharbh can be made. We would be heading to Spidean Coinich first and would return via Sail Gharbh.
After a short while the path swings around to the west and begins to climb gently along a rocky rib
Looking to Sail Gharbh over an unnamed lochan
The route continues to climb gently up the rocky slopes of Spidean Coinich
Angie makes her way towards me as we look back to the parking area & Glas Bheinn
Ascending Spidean Coinich (Click Play to view)
As the path rises gently the views start to open out back over Loch Assynt
Smiles on our faces all day today - this was a walk we had wanted to do for a while and what a day for it
Continuing on the gradual climb to Spidean Coinich. There are a couple of groups ahead of us however after a while they disappeared from view - after that we only saw one other person all day.
Looking to the 3 Corbetts - Spidean Coinich, Sail Ghorm & Sail Gharbh
Approaching Spidean Coinich (Click Play to view)
Loch Glencoul looking over to Foinaven, Arkle, Ben Hope & Ben Loyal amongst others
Canisp, Cul Mor & Suilven
Nearing the summit the going becomes much more rocky and it is my guess this would be hard work in ice & snow
The route up Spidean Coinich reaches an unnamed peak to the south east which gives impressive views of the actual summit climb
The summit of the unnamed peak has a rough stone shelter should the weather be inclement - no chance of that today. Cul Mor and Suilven are over to the left with Loch Assynt below.
Transiting across the unnamed peak (Click Play to view)
Looking back to the unnamed peak from the ascent to Spidean Coinich
Loch Assynt from Spidean Coinich
A simply glorious view from Spidean Coinich (Click Play to view)
A Spidean Coinich panorama
A summit selfie on the top of Spidean Coinich
One of two large cairns on the summit of Spidean Coinich - the name translates as "Mossy Peak"
All aboard the rollercoaster as we look north west from the summit of Spidean Coinich. The second Corbett, Sail Ghorm is over to the far right some 1.5 miles away. From here this looked a really fun transit with a fair bit of up and down.
The second cairn on the summit of Spidean Coinich
Descending from Spidean Coinich - this is steep but safe enough in the right conditions as long as you take your time
Lochan Bealach Cornaidh below with Sail Gharbh beyond
Looking back to our descent as Angie makes her way carefully down
View from the descent of Spidean Coinich (Click Play to view)
With the first part of the descent cracked the next section was a steady bimble across a small arête
Sail Ghorm distant to the left with Sail Gharbh to the right
A little further along the arête - this was simply glorious walking
Lochan Bealach Cornaidh almost in full view
Transiting along the arête (Click Play to view)
It doesn't get much better than this
Looking back to our descent of Spidean Coinich
Lochan Bealach Cornaidh now in full view - our return path can be seen above the lochan
Time for a breather as we contemplate the two big up and downs coming up soon
A couple of walkers atop Spidean Coinich
From Spidean Coinich the route drops into a col to Lochan Ruadh. Ahead is another steep climb up to the first of three unnamed summits.
Spidean Coinich & Lochan Ruadh from the ascent to the the first unnamed summit
The view to the second unnamed summit with another steep descent followed by a tough climb
A panorama looking to the second unnamed summit and Sail Gharbh. We would be making our descent back down the valley floor later from roughly the centre of shot. At this point in the walk it was difficult to see where the path of that descent actually is!!
Off we go - once more dropping down to climb back up
Loch an Leothaid from the descent into Bealach a' Chornaidh
Arriving at Bealach a' Chornaidh between the first two unnamed summits and ready for another climb
Up we go once more
Looking back to the first unnamed summit from Bealach a' Chornaidh
The view back from the ascent (Click Play to view)
Lochan Bealach Chornaidh below Spidean Coinich with the first unnamed summit in the foreground
The approach along the ridge to Sail Gharbh - we would be wandering along there later
Approaching the top of the second unnamed summit and what a view that is
The cairn at the top of the second unnamed summit looking to Sail Gharbh
Angie on the top of the second unnamed summit
The route to Sail Ghorm which is over to the right - it looked a fair old schlep over there and so it proved. With a long way still to go, Angie decided to sit in the sun and wait here for me whilst I did an out and back to Sail Ghorm.
The col below the third unnamed summit. I decided to drop down the scree and wander along the thin rocky rib over to the left.
Looking back to the second unnamed summit from my descent into the col
The rock formations on this entire walk were just stunning
The rocky rib to the left of the col - this was about as far as I dared go along it
The view from the rocky rib (Click Play to view)
Looking back to the col & Sail Gharbh as I make by way to Sail Ghorm
The Kylesku Bridge with Loch a' Chairn Bhain left and Loch Glendhu to the right
The impressive view to Sail Gharbh with the valley of Bathaich Cuinneige to the left
Looking back along the ridge as I make my way gradually up to Sail Ghorm - the chap heading away was the first person I had seen for a while and we had a brief chat
The approach route to Sail Ghorm
A panorama to Sail Gharbh, Bathaich Cuinneige and my outward route
As I walked to Sail Ghorm I passed a fantastic gully with a view to die for - it reminded me of Great Door on Yewbarrow
The final easy approach to the summit of Sail Ghorm
The summit of Sail Ghorm looking to Sail Gharbh & Spidean Coinich
Sail Ghorm translates as "Blue Heel"
Sail Ghorm translates as "Blue Heel"
The fantastic view from Sail Ghorm (Click Play to view)
A Sail Ghorm panorama
Having retraced my steps I met up with Angie and we made our way to Sail Gharbh
The final approach to the last summit of the day, Sail Gharbh
Fabulous view from Sail Gharbh down Assynt
Sail Ghorm over Bathaich Cuinneige from the approach to Sail Gharbh
Looking back to all the lumps and bumps on Quinag
Spidean Coinich from Sail Gharbh
A panorama of Quinag from Sail Gharbh
The summit of Sail Gharbh which translates as "Rough Heel"
Angie on the summit of Sail Gharbh
Descending from Sail Gharbh - now to find the exit point for our return to the valley floor
And here it is marked by a cairn at Grid Reference NC 20406 28924
Our return route from the cairn is shown above. The path is there on the ground and whilst it looks pretty steep from this viewpoint, the gradient was perfectly manageable in the conditions we had today.
Spidean Coinich from the descent path
Our start point can just about be seen in the centre of shot and after a tough day this was a long walk back
Looking back up at our route of descent - we had come over from the right
Nearing the lochan, the gradient eased and we now had a long walk back to the start
The route passes a large erratic boulder as we near the end of the walk
Almost back now as the road comes into view
Rejoining the outward route at the cairn
What an absolutely fantastic walk and one that is right up there with the best we have done. After a long day there was only one thing for it - Fish & Chips back in Ullapool.
What an absolutely fantastic walk and one that is right up there with the best we have done. After a long day there was only one thing for it - Fish & Chips back in Ullapool.