Introduction
Between Ullapool and Lochinver lie some of the best peaks beneath 3000ft. The best summits by popular opinion are Stac Polly, Ben More Coigach and Suilven. There are many other summits including Cul More and Beag, Canisp, Ben More Assynt and Convival and of course Canisp.

Inverpolly magic

On the west ridge of Coigach

Stac Polly and Ben More Coigach
Stac Polly is a classic miniature peak with a narrow rocky crest and good scrambling in places. This is only 613m high - not even as high as Kinder Scout! But because of ease of accessibility, it attracts many people and can be done in a morning or afternoon. A classic miniature range that I've climbed is Coigach. This includes the summit of Ben More Coigach as well as the spectacular summit known as "The Fiddler".

Stac Polly seen from Ben More Coigach

The Coigach Range seen from the road

Stac Polly

The Fiddler seen from Beinn an Eoin

Ben More Coigach is most esaily climbed from the east. Immediately beneath the final rise, two options present themselves as a way up. I'd recommend the narrow est ridge. It's not hard but there is a short spectacular section where the path sees a huge drop down both sides. The south side drops all the way down to sea level. The actual summit is a broad sandy plataeu and as a great narrow west ridge. Some rock steps are encountered but are dead easy and not very exposed. At the end of this ridge, you're right over the sea!

Ben an Eion seen from Coigach

The west ridge in early morning sunshine

The Fiddler is a sharp point north of Ben More Coigach and has vertical 200m faces on three sides. It looks darn fine - especially when seen from Ben an Eion from the north.

The top of the west ridge of Coigach

Cul Beag seen from the south

Stac Polly seen from the west

The west ridge of Cul Mor

Cul More and Cul Beag
These summits don't have narrow summit ridges like Coigach, Polly and Suilven. Instead, they stand out as fortresses. The easy ways on to these peaks is from the east but this really isn't exciteing. There are some steep sections to the tops of each summit but it's not a problem. The approaches from the west and south are better and also require big river crossings though big cliffs get in the way.

Canisp seen from Cul Mor

Loch Assynt seen from Convival

Suilven seen from Cul Mor

Suilven & Canisp
These two summits lie further north in the Assynt region. While Canisp is pretty easy to climb, the same cannot be said of Suilven.

Approaching suilven from the east

Canisp seen from the east

Suilven is likened to that of an upturned hull and has almost perfect relectional symmetry along its ridge. The ascent to the ridge is via the Bealach Mor which has a steep well worn track up the north side and a track from the south. The steepness is quite intimidating seen from a distance but not a problem.

The ridge looks striking but actually is quite broad on top from the bealach to the main summit. There is no scrambling - just a few small rocksteps and a good path. Heading west from the bealach to the lower tops is narrower. One peak on the ridge is said to require pock climbing!

Canisp climbed from the west ridge poses no problems. This ridge looks nice from a distance but actually is very broad and grassy. A stalkers track eases the approach from the south west to this ridge. Eastern approaches from the road are more bouldery and cover broader slopes.

Approaches to these summits are via stalkers tracks. The track from Elphin is quite rocky and undulating. The easiest is from Lochinver along a good track. The northern approach is along an overgrown and, in places, faint path.

Aproaching Convival on the north ridge

Ben More Assynt seen from the north ridge of Convival

The Approach to Convival

Ben More Assynt and Conival
These two munros lie out to the east of Inchnadamph. The two summits here are pretty rocky / stony and from about 800m upwards, there is little or no vegetation. They reminded me of Norwegian mountains to some extent in their utter Barrenness. They both have impressive rocky architecture on their respective south ridges.

The approach to the mountains is normally done from Inchnadamph lodge along a good path that deteriorates as you start the steeper ascent up to the higher ground from around 300m. Once higher up, a small band of rock provides an easy scramble to gain access to a shallow high corrie. From here, easy access to Conival's northwest is attained. This ridge is easy. The ridge linking Conival with Ben More assynt is a lot more rocky, but rarely narrow. It does however afford good views down into Garbh Coire to the south.

Looking south from Convival

South top of Ben More Assynt

The Western Cliffs of Brebag

Brebag
You can also climb Brebag to the south of Convival. It's more of the plateau than a ridge but the main attraction lies in the smooth slabs lining Coirean Ban best seen from below.

Convival and its south ridge

Brebag seen from Convival

Beinn an Fhurain seen from Convival