Assynt Canoe High Tops Expedition

Time for us to try for this classic wild canoe ‘n’ hike expedition.  We really love the Assynt hills and the water courses in the area make canoeing to them an interesting and exciting prospect. We’ll ascend Suilven and traverse Cul Mor and camp wild in the hinterland. Everything we’ll need for the trip can be carried in the boats with us. There is a little bit of hauling kit between the lochs so travelling light is definitely the best option.

Plans have to be flexible (weather / midges / muscles), so the trip might have to be modified – even adapted to a walking trip if the forecast winds are too strong to paddle – but what follows is the ideal itinerary.

Day one - Drive Falkirk to Elphin. Get on the water by the fisheries station, paddle Loch Veyatie to the Fionn Loch and set up camp south of mighty Suilven. If we have time, we’ll ascend Suilven in the evening (6.5km with 800 metres of ascent).

Day two –Pack up camp, then paddle down Fionn Loch towards the Kirkaig. We might divert on foot to the Falls for a look if there’s any water. Our first portage of the day is southwest to Loch a’ Ghille - which we paddle down, then another portage to Loch Sionascaig. This loch is paddling heaven! We’ll make for Eilean Mor for a look around and then head over to Sgeirean Dubha and set up camp for the next two nights.

Day three – Another paddle will take us south to where we can begin our walk up Cul Mor (7.8km with 830 metres of ascent). It’s rough ground to Bod a’ Mhail ridge, which is our ascent route. Then on to Cul Mor via Sron Gharbh. We circuit Coire Gorm and then descend this to get back to the boats. We then need to paddle back to our island camp.

Day four – Pack up and ship out. We’ll explore more of Loch Sionascaig heading northwest, eventually coming to Loch na Dail. This will involve another couple of short portages. Logistics mean an instructor will need to cycle back to Elphin for the transport. Expect a late return to Falkirk.

Trip suitability –If folk haven’t paddled a canoe before don’t worry, you’ll get plenty of practise on this trip! We plan on pairing up teams on each boat. If it’s choppy we might even raft up pairs of boats. We even have options to sail our canoes if conditions are right. Coaching will be done as and when we need to. It could be quite a tough trip if the weather isn’t ideal so having a good level of fitness is required – hill fitness plus plus. We’ll send out a kit list when the time comes.