📌 Coigach, Highland
★★★
This mighty Coigach summit displays its best side to the west: a majestic, grey rock dome rising above Loch Lurgainn. Unfortunately an ascent from this side would be brutally steep: instead, head up from the east where the contours relent. Even this route is a surprisingly tough outing, with lots of pathless ground and long vegetation to contend with even before the start of the main climb – and later on, a false summit thrown into the mix. But the Cùl Beag bog slog renders rich rewards: superb summit views looking north into Assynt and south over Coigach. Is it worth the effort? That might depend on how dry the recent weather’s been!
📷 Chronological photo guide
Summit beyond Lochan Fada 
This path at Druim Donn sadly soon fades to nothing! 
Following rock bands over Creag Dhubh provides the easiest route of ascent 
Cairn – but no path 
Frog on Meall Dearg 
Cùl Mòr from the foot of Meall Dearg 
Cùl Beag from Meall Dearg 
Loch an Doire Dhuibh & Cùl Mòr from Meall Dearg 
Loch an Doire Dhuibh 
Lochan Uaine with Cùl Beag beyond 
View south from the bealach to Ben More Coigach 
Meall Dearg from Cùl Beag 
Summit cairn & Stac Pollaidh 
Suilven (far left) & Cùl Mòr (centre) from the summit 
Looking east from the summit 
West side of Cùl Beag, seen from the roadside near the Stac Pollaidh car park
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on A835 4 mi southwest of Elphin
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NC 184079
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 58.022871,-5.075706
🚌 Extremely infrequent bus stops at Knockan Crag car park (0.5 mi)
🚗 Layby
📝 Key info
▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 730 m | ⌛4-5 hr
Features: △ Cùl Beag (769 m)
⬤ Tough | Fairly good track for first km, then rough path which fizzles out before fence corner. Mostly pathless beyond: tough going with long grass and bog at first, becoming easier (but steeper) higher up. Traces of paths are easier to spot and follow on descent.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – Lochan Fada outflow – cross fence corner at Druim Donn – Meall Dearg – Cùl Beag – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Lizards, frogs and toads on descent; leaping fish in Lochan Fada.
Weather: Mostly sunny for ascent, then clouding over. Feeling humid with temperature in low 20s by the finish.
July 2018
