Nach langjähriger Erfahrung als Wander-Guide im wilden Nordwesten Schottlands haben sich die folgenden Wanderungen als meine Top 4 Wege bzw. Bergbesteigungen herausgestellt.
Quinag
Quinag ist ein 808 m hoher Gebirgszug in Sutherland, der nur 40 Autominuten nördlich von Ullapool liegt.
Es handelt sich nicht um einen einzelnen Berg, sondern um eine dramatische Gipfelkette, die auf Schottisch-Gälisch Sàil Gharbh, Sàil Ghorm und Spidean Coinich heißt.
Der Quinag ist insofern ungewöhnlich, als er dem normalen Wanderer nicht weniger als drei einzelne Gipfel über 2.500 Fuß (Corbetts) bietet – eine Tour zu allen Gipfeln ist ein ziemlich großes Unterfangen. Das bedeutet, dass dies kein einfacher Tagesausflug ist, wenn man alle drei in Angriff nimmt. Aus diesem Grund nehmen wir nur zwei in unsere Tagesroute auf, um sie für die meisten erreichbar zu machen.
Ihre Anstrengung wird mit atemberaubenden Ausblicken auf Loch Assynt im Süden, Conival und Ben More Assynt im Südosten und Loch a’Chàirn Bhàin belohnt.
Details zur Wanderung: 12 km – Aufstieg 800 m, Abstieg 800 m – Gehzeit 5 – 6 h
Taken from the ridge of Quinag.
Ben More Assynt und Conival
Ben More Assynt und Conival sind die einzigen Munros in Assynt (Berge über 3000 Fuß/915 Meter).
Es handelt sich um zwei felsige Berge, die durch einen feinen Bergrücken miteinander verbunden sind und zusammen einen anspruchsvollen, aber lohnenden Tagesausflug über unwegsames Gelände bieten.
Von den Gipfeln aus eröffnen sich fantastische Ausblicke auf eine abgelegene und bemerkenswerte Landschaft in einem geologisch faszinierenden Gebiet des nordwestlichen Hochlands. Der Ben More Assynt, übersetzt “Großer Berg von Assynt”, ist mit einer Höhe von 998 Metern der höchste Punkt in Sutherland.
Diese Berge haben Kultcharakter und sind ein Muss für Munro-Fans und Liebhaber wilder Gebiete. Ein wunderbarer und unvergesslicher Tagesausflug in einer atemberaubenden Gegend von natürlicher Schönheit.
Details zur Wanderung: 17,25 km – Aufstieg 1075 m, Abstieg 1075 – Gehzeit 8,5 – 9,5 h
Suilven
Dies ist eine inspirierende Art, diesen herrlichen Berg zu besteigen.
Suilven ist zwar nur 731 Meter hoch, aber seine bemerkenswerte Silhouette macht ihn zu einem der bekanntesten und am leichtesten zu identifizierenden Berge Schottlands.
Seine Lage im Herzen der Cnoc-and-Loch-Landschaft von Assynt und die herrliche Aussicht machen ihn zu einem der schönsten Gipfel Großbritanniens.
Der Rückweg erfolgt auf der gleichen Route, die wir hinaufgewandert sind.
Details zur Wanderung: 19,5 km – Aufstieg 750 m, Abstieg 750 m – Gehzeit 7 – 8 h
Suilven seen from the path to Glencanisp Lodge
Cul Mor
Assynt im äußersten Nordwesten Schottlands ist im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes atemberaubend. Die Landschaft ist so außergewöhnlich, dass man meinen könnte, man sei auf einen anderen Planeten gereist.
Der felsige Gipfel des Cul Mor, einer der höchsten Gipfel in Assynt, bietet nicht nur wunderschöne Ausblicke, sondern auch einen Einblick in die Geschichte der Entstehung der umliegenden Landschaft. Cul Mor, was so viel wie “großer Rücken” bedeutet, erhebt sich von Knockan Crag im Osten und überblickt Loch Sionascaig und den benachbarten Gipfel Stac Pollaidh im Westen.
Trotz seiner größeren Höhe ist er weniger bekannt als seine beiden anderen Nachbarn, Suilven und Stac Pollaidh, aber da er höher liegt, hat man von hier aus einen herrlichen Blick auf diese und andere Nachbarn sowie einen weiten, atemberaubenden Blick bis zu den Summer Isles.
Details zur Wanderung: 13 km – Aufstieg 670 m, Abstieg 670 m – Gehzeit 5 h–5,5 h
We are delighted to be offering our iconic Highlights of Gran Canaria guided walking trip commencing 4th March for 7 nights.
We are offering a 10% discount on our online price.
This means this trip is now available for £764. (Single supplements apply)
Price includes:
pick up/ drop off at Gran Canaria airport in comfortable 9 seater van,
7 nights in good quality local accommodation in a quaint fishing village and mountain villages,
6 fully guided day walks,
all vehicle transfers within tour included, interpretation centre and museum entrance fees, and two fantastic group dinners are included too!
Flights from the UK are very reasonably priced at the moment and we are happy to help with any extra accommodation needed before or after the tour. Contact us direct at: info@mckenziemountaineering.com
All Walking trips and Day Walks are bookable for 2022
We haven’t been posting much here recently. The summer has been amazing and most of it we have been out and about guiding folk all around Ullapool and the North-West of Scotland.
We thank every single person who booked with us in 2021, especially all the returning guests. We all need this in times likes this.
Then we got surprisingly a job offer to return to the Canaries for guiding walking trips after a 2 years abstinence. COVID stopped us from regularly heading out in Autumn and Spring.
Now after being here 8 weeks working here we are slowly shifting our focus back to our beloved Scotland and home village Ullapool.
All walks are now bookable from the 1st of April until the 15th of October 2022. Our approach this time is different and every walk can be booked every day. We now have a guide pool in place and can offer more walks per day if needed.
Each walk needs a minimum of at least 4 guests to make it viable.
Should a walk not have the minimum amount of guests a few days before we will offer you either to pay a supplement to guarantee the walk or we refund you in full if this is the preferred option.
Opportunities are endless when it comes to walking and if you don’t find what you like to do please get in touch. We endeavour to find a suitable walk for you or you may have an idea yourself.
We are looking forward to welcoming you to our wee corner of the North-West in Scotland in 2022.
From April 2021 (depending on COVID-19 Rules at the time) we are delighted to offer 1 Day Walking Adventures “Walks around Ullapool” (within 45 minutes drive maximum) on a monthly basis.
We will mix each week with difficulty levels from easy to hard and will outline the week regularly on our Blog, Facebook and Instagram pages in advance.
All groups will be run with a maximum of 1:7 Guide to client ratio.
More walks will follow and we add them every week. Here you can read more about each walk and book straight online 24/7.
Walk details: 3.2 miles, 11 km – Ascent 515 m, Descent 515 m- Walking time 3 – 4 h, Ride details: 9 miles, 14.5 km – Ascent 115 m, Descent 115 m – Cycling time 1.5 h
Walk details: 3.2 miles, 11 km – Ascent 515 m, Descent 515 m- Walking time 3 – 4 h, Ride details: 9 miles, 14.5 km – Ascent 115 m, Descent 115 m – Cycling time 1.5 h
6.5 miles, 10 km – Ascent 750 m, Descent 750 m – Walking time 4.5 – 5 h
Level 3+
2021 – Walks around Ullapool
All McKenzie Mountaineering – Guided Walking Adventure walks and courses are limited to 7 places, to give you a great experience and to minimise our impact on the environment.
In this blog “Walking in Ullapool and surroundings” we describe 5 shorter walks. Each of them is a maximum of 20 minutes drive or starts within the village.
Along the River Broom
A delightful river walk, starting from the T-junction and bridge towards Loggie. You can make this walk as long or as short as you like.
A great time to do this walk is in the springtime when the bluebells begin to bloom, but any other time of year offers a serene and relaxing setting.
Inverbroom estate has done a fantastic job with bridges, stairs and signs for the various pools within the river. There are so many choices for a lovely dip into the refreshing (cold) water.
Corrie waiting patiently
Ben in deep thoughts in a very tranquil scenery
The beauty of walking Ullapool Hill or Meall Mòr
This short but relatively strenuous walk from Ullapool gives great views over the village and across Loch Broom in one direction, and in the other direction, towards the surrounding hills and high mountains which offers a totally different experience.
Although short, it is rocky and muddy underfoot in places boots are highly recommended.
There are plenty of benches to stop at and enjoy the view out to sea and towards the Summer Isles on the paths towards and up and down Meall Mòr.
View towards the Golf course and Morefield.
Loch Broom as it best.
Lael Forest Circuit
If you are just looking to go for a stroll with some gorgeous views over Beinn Dearg in the far distance, this walk has it all in just under two hours.
You start at the Walkers car park for Beinn Dearg and make use of the forest tracks and two old connection tracks (now a path) to do a loop within the woods.
View over to Beinn Dearg
Ullapool Community Trust, locally organised Lael Forest Walk Group
Walking through the history of Geology at Knockan Crags
This trail brings the geology of the Moine Thrust to life as the path climbs past the exposed rocks and up onto the top of the Knockan Crag.
From here there are spectacular views over Assynt towards Cul Mor, Cul Beag and Ben More Coigach. The trail includes sculptures and poetry and places to sit and enjoy the views.
A fairly easy trail to follow, if you go clockwise there is a steep but short ascent to the top of Knockan Crags. From there on the path is meandering nicely above the Crags all the way back to the car park.
Horne and Peach discussing their findings.
Rosie walking along the top of Knockan Crags
Dùn Canna Fort and Camas Mòr/Camas Beag beach
A delightful coastal walk to Dun Canna, a large Iron Age fort situated on a promontory at the foot of Ben More Coigach. There are beautiful views west to the Summer Isles and east along Strath Canaird.
The cliffs protecting the fort and overlooking two pebble beaches are stunning and a great place to explore for a family walk. This can be a day’s outing – enjoying the walk, inspecting the fort, picnicking, bathing and beachcombing.
The path, which follows the River Canaird, is easy to follow but can be sometimes a bit more hands-on and muddy in places. Depending on how much rain has been the days before.
Nevertheless, it is a great fun outing with only 1.5 miles (maximum 1h) to walk each way.
For more information about walking in Ullapool or what the area around Ullapool can offer, please send us an email.
We would love for you to read our blog about Ullapool and the surrounding sights and hope that it gives a brief outline of what a wonderful area we live in and the abundance of walking available, but we ask that all people who are considering visiting our wee community please do not do so until government guidelines state it is permitted to travel.
The Scottish government will update when it is deemed safe to do so with social distancing measures put in place and when local business are likely to be slowly reopening. Many thanks for your patience and understanding and we hope to welcome you back to our special wee corner of the North West soon. (22/06/2020)
Ullapool – What to see and do!
Where is Ullapool in Scotland
Situated in the North West of Scotland, just a stone’s throw from some incredible mountain walks, is the picturesque and characterful village of Ullapool.
This delightful village that we are lucky enough to call home, has around 1500 inhabitants and is a very popular stop-off point for people visiting the highlands and driving on the NC500. It is becoming more usual for visitors to spend more than one day in the village as it’s a great base for exploring the wonderful surroundings.
Fishing has played a hugely important role in the history of the village over centuries, herring being the main catch in the early days. It is worthwhile to spend a bit of time in the museum in the village to learn more about the fascinating history of this sometimes turbulent industry.
These days you can enjoy locally caught fish and seafood in one of the many bars/restaurants dotted around the village.
Ullapool lies just 60 miles north of Inverness and takes around 1hour 20 minutes by car. It can also be reached via bus from Inverness, with regular trains and buses serving Inverness from several towns across the country.
The drive is wonderfully scenic and there are plenty of stunning places to stop off on route for photos or short walks to stretch the legs.
Walks near Ullapool
Rogie Falls is a popular beauty spot and you can enjoy a short circuit walk here through the forest to visit the dramatic falls which can be seen from a suspension bridge.
A little further north from Rogie Falls you will find a lovely walk called the Silverbridge circuit which reveals two beautiful old stone bridges and lovely woodland. A true delight!
Further north still with a slight detour off the main road is Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature reserve, one of the most spectacular gorges in the UK at 1.5km long, 60 metres deep and 10 metres wide. It’s home to some unusual species of insect and flowers and plants. There are short walks that take in the suspension bridge and a fantastic viewpoint.
Around 7 miles south of Ullapool you will find Lael Forest garden. There are beautiful walks through the woodland here with over 200 species of trees, some of which are from all over the world and with signboards identifying the trees along the paths.
Ullapool nestles seductively into the shores of Loch Broom, a sea loch that flows into the Atlantic ocean.
A ferry runs from the terminal in the village over to the Outer Hebrides, the most North Westerly islands in the UK, and indeed when the ferry pulls into the harbour with its locals and tourists alike, the houses along the shorefront appear tiny in comparison.
Where to eat and drink
Within the village, you will find several friendly bars and restaurants serving good local produce with seafood being a speciality.
The Seafood Shack, a catering trailer with attractive outside seating area and always cheery staff has won several awards in recent years for its delicious fresh seafood cooked in innovative ways served with excellent accompaniments at competitive prices.
Langustines in the Seafood Shack
Other eating establishments include the Ceilidh Place, a lovely friendly good sized bar and restaurant offering a great menu with daily specials and oozing character inside and out. It even has an eclectic bookshop inside where you can browse the great literature whilst waiting on your dinner! It also has a music venue across the road with regular gigs from up and coming and well-established bands.
The Seaforth Bar and restaurant has a substantial and varied menu with something for everyone including an excellent choice of burgers, sharing platters and a good selection of fish dishes. It also hosts occasional music events.
The Arch Inn which is home to some regular live music including the wonderful Ruairidh Maclean, a renowned young musician known for his outstanding accordion-playing incorporating traditional music with a modern twist. This friendly pub/restaurant also serves excellent food in its adjoining restaurant.
Other places to eat and drink include the Royal Hotel waterfront bar with its Italian themed simple menu and a vast range of malt whiskeys and super friendly staff. The Argyle Hotel and bar is very popular with the locals and has a great wee pub menu as well as lots of live music nights each week.
The Frigate on the shore serves up some great food and drinks in comfortable surroundings and the Ferry Boat inn – known to locals as the FBI has wonderful views of the fishing boats in the harbour and boasts a cosy atmosphere and a super wee menu in its bar and adjoining restaurant.
We also have not one but two excellent ‘Chippys’ where you can buy fish and chips and a large choice of other hot takeaway food.
What can you do and local walks in Ullapool
Ullapool is also proud to be home to several festivals including a yearly guitar festival, a beer festival and a book festival to name but a few, as well as having several interesting and quirky shops and art galleries.
There are two fantastic bookshops and a wonderful social enterprise shop where you will find beautifully made and scented candles of all shapes and sizes.
There are some lovely local walks in and around the village including Ullapool hill which sits at 258 metres high and offers many Enjoyable tails around it and to its summit.
You are treated to some fantastic viewpoints on the many paths including superb views back down to the village and of the surrounding mountains and far out to the summer isles.
View over to the Summer Isles and Loch Broom
There are endless mountain climbs and walks to choose from In the surrounding area for the more adventurous including the iconic Suilven, recently featured in the film Edie, as well as Stac Pollaidh with its craggy distinctive outline and so many more Interesting Hills offering outstanding views.
For the Munro enthusiast (list of Scottish mountains over 3000 feet) there are numerous to choose from just a few miles driving distances in either direction of the village including Ben Dearg and it’s surrounding tops allowing a strenuous traverse of four Munros in one very long adventurous day!
Not to forget the challenging and mighty An Teallach with It’s two Munro tops joined by a scrambly and exposed ridge. The options of hillwalking adventures are endless and there really is something for all abilities!
Summit view of Beinn Enaiglair
A visit to Ullapool and the North West is simply not to be missed on any trip to Scotland and truly has something for everyone, especially those looking for a wonderful experience in the outdoors amidst some of the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere in the UK.
Please feel free to send us any questions you may have about the area.
Finally we hope to meet you someday
We also offer a variety of guided walking trips if you prefer to explore with the experience and knowledge of a friendly qualified mountain guide. These trips include accommodation but we can also do day trips and longer trips that can be tailor-made to suit your needs, with or without accommodation included. Feel free to drop us an email or give us a call to discuss.
Shapely mountains, sparkling lochans, geological wonders and stunning coastlines make a visit to Assynt in the north west of Scotland a must do for anyone who appreciates remarkable scenery that’s unlike any other landscape you are likely to come across in the country.
The ascent of mountains such as Suilven, Stac Pollaidh and Cul Mor whilst not the largest in Scotland offer a challenge in their ruggedness and with views so immense and mouth dropping, ensure that the memories will stay with you for a lifetime.
Suilven is one of Scotland’s best known mountains, and although only standing at 723 metres high it’s bulk and position as it rises from the lunar like surrounding landscape of moors and lochans, gives the impression of a much larger hill. Indeed, the steep sided ridge at 2km long has three summits, Caisteal Liath, Meall Mheadhonach and Meall Beag.
Stac Pollaidh
Stac Pollaidh from a distance is a remarkable vision with it’s ridge line of pinnacles and gullies that fool you into thinking there is no possible walkers route up this popular hill! The ascent is reached via a path that sneaks gradually around the back off the mountain and climbs via steep but easy rocky steps to the eastern ridge and summit.
A lesser known peak in the area is Cul Mor, a twin summited mountain which is the highest in Northern Wester Ross at 849 meters.
It undoubtedly has some of the best 360 degrees views anywhere in Assynt, with the archipelago of the summer isles pushing into the Atlantic ocean, and the outline of mountains such as Stac Pollaidh, Suilven and Coigach to name but a few, as well as endless tiny lochans dotting the moorland. Simply spectacular!
Knockan Crags Trail
A short distance from Cul Mor lies Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, part of the North West Highlands Geopark. It’s home to an interpretation centre that offers a great insight into the unique and fascinating geology of the area.
As well as being hugely informative and interesting for adults, it’s a great place to introduce kids to geological history with it being interactive, clearly explained and user friendly.
There are also three delightful way – marked trails at the Nature reserve, with sculptures and points of interest that bring the geological history to life.
From its Geology to it’s beaches, Assynt never fails to impress and Achmelvich beach and Clachtoll beach are regarded as two of the most unspoilt in the area with their pristine soft white sands and tempting turquoise sea. From these delightful beaches, you can enjoy some lovely walking routes offering snippets of interesting history of ancient brochs and even a hermits castle!
Clachtoll Beach
All in all, the wonders of Assynt are truly inspiring. I’ve named just a few! There is so much more to explore and discover that will make you want to come back again and again.
You will find yourself immersed into its diversity and uniqueness and come away with wonderful memories of this beautiful corner of Scotland.
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