Assynt: Take A Walk on the Wild Side

At Inchndampf you will find the start of the short hike up to the Bone Caves. Before you begin your ascent look out for springs popping up from underground. It’s a fantastic short loop and taking the right-hand path you’ll head up the steep valley edge to explore the caves up close. The caves are named for the extraordinary number of bones discovered there including bones of bear, reindeer, lynx, arctic fox, wolves and even the skull of a polar bear. Some of these bones date back 45,000 years!

Bone Caves, Photo Credit @ali_macg

We chose to do this low-level walk on a wet weather day – the rain swept in and across the glen just as we arrived at the caves. We were grateful for the cave’s shelter as we pulled on our waterproof gear. No wonder all those animals ended up here in these caves sheltering. But the weather really didn’t spoil a thing and, in fact, helped make an atmospheric snapshot.

• Warm up some amazing local cuisine on a wet weather day – Assynt: Scotland’s Secret Culinary Hotspot
• Check our our most trusted weather websites

The rain packed up and offered us up a cracking day to tackle the distinctive craggy ridge of Stac Polliadh.

Not to be confused with the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye, this lovely coastal walk begins at the car park by Stoer Lighthouse. Before you set off keep your eyes peeled for whales, dolphins and porpoises – they are all regularly spotted around here and a chalkboard notes recent sightings. Our circular route followed the coast down towards the sea stack known as The Old Man of Stoer.

The route is pretty boggy in parts so make sure your boots are waterproof and add some gaitors if you can. As you turn your back to the lighthouse you become aware of the crashing waves into a froth and the salty air tingling your nostrils. There’s nothing like a cliff-top walk to blow away the cobwebs. After watching the waves crash into the 60 metre sea stack we walked towards Stoer Point to take in the views. At the hill crest we paused to look towards Quinag (It has three summits with Corbett status) then  joined the path back down to the lighthouse carpark for a circular route. If at the end of your walk you need a little something to warm you up then head over to the quirky tea van Living The Dream for a hot drink in a proper mug.

• Keep your feet dry with the right footwear for hiking in Scotland
• How to spot Killer Whales (Orcas) in Scotland

There are a couple of different routes into Suilven – one of Assynt’s iconic hills. The long route in takes you past the powerful Kirkaig Falls and there’s a short scramble down to the falls from the path at around 5km.

As you round the bend you’ll see Suilven rising dramatically from the scrubby moor with its distinctive spiny ridge. This route sees you skirting around Fionn Loch. If you return this way then be sure to stop in at Achin’s cafe and bookshop just by the car park. The route via Inverkirkaig is the long way round and a shorter route starts by Glencanisp Lodge.

• The mighty Suilven features in our Top 5 Most Dramatic Walks
• Drive the North Coast 500 and stop for a boat trip to Britain’s highest waterfall Eas a’Chual Aluinn

I hope you enjoyed this little snapshot of Assynt. Join us for a week up in walkers’ paradise and you’ll want to come back for more.