Walk of a Lifetime: Quinag, NW Highlands
Isolated, untouched and located in the great wilderness of Assynt, the three Corbetts that make up Quinag will give you a hill day you’ll never forget.
Climbing Quinag is an expedition of the sublime. this island peak with its dead straight spine and twin corries cloaked in verdant green and glistening quartzite is an unforgettable sight from any direction. to tread its ridges and summits would be a joyful enterprise even if it were located at the edge of a grim urban landscape. the fact that it stands tall as the last great peak of the torridian chain at the heart of assynt, arguably one of europe’s greatest landscapes, lifts this mountain to a whole new dimension. People tend to go misty-eyed when they talk about the North west highlands, and if you ever wondered why then just take yourself to Quinag.
in practical terms, so long as you are used to rough mountain walking you will have no trouble with this far north peak. it does have a rather tough look to it from below, particularly if you focus in on all the sharp-looking rock. however this is an honest mountain, with any tricky areas easy to spot. you’ll find more than enough forgiving passages to bypass any technical sections too. the start on the a894 is advantageously high and although there are a few ups and downs across the summits there are no killer ascents.
NC232273 The large car park beside 1 the a894 near the top of lairig Unapool offers plenty of parking and has the advantage of allowing a high start at 248m. To the west from the car park the sharp escarpment of Spidean còinch delineates a long rocky ridge. This ridge is the line of ascent. The stalkers’ path that leaves the west side of the road is followed for a short distance over the burn until it splits. Take the left branch and follow the cairns west up the gently rising ridge ahead. There is a lot of exposed rock on the ridge and the path is close to the escarpment edge, however there are no technical difficulties and the walking is both pleasant and entertaining. after about 2km you cross a rise and descend into a shallow col, after which the ridge twists north-west. The slopes also steepen as the last bit of climbing up the summit dome of Spidean còinich is tackled.
NC205277 Spidean còinich is the first and 2 lowest of Quinag’s three summits, and is classed as a corbett. For all the way up to its summit the contrasting mix of white quartzite rock and lush green grass tends to be a bit of a distraction. There are plenty of views to be had but it’s only when you make the final rise before the summit that the mind-blowing expanse of assynt opens up to you fully. left to right, in-front and behind, every quadrant is a feast for the eyes, with island mountains set in a sea of glistening lochs and rolling moors. you also get your first full take on Quinag with its main ridge and twin corries set out in all its glory. once you’ve taken stock, the onward route involves a narrow crest and a subsidiary top to traverse. after which a steep winding path descends to the narrow col of Bealach a’ chornaidh. Take note of this col, as the path east from it into the corrie below is your descent route once you’ve gained Quinag’s other two summits.
NC200284 a short, steep climb north leads 3 onto Quinag’s main crest. The crest top is followed directly. you’ll encounter odd rock steps and knobbles along the way but nothing provides any difficulty and they all add to the entertainment value.
4 NC197305 Sàil Gorm is the northern-most outrider of the range. as you stand on its summit you’ll be aware of the huge north-facing precipice below your feet. This prominence makes you feel like you’re stood on the prow a of a great ship, with the great expanse of loch a’ chàirn Bhàin and eddrachillis Bay below you doing nothing to dispel the sensation. From Sàil Gorm’s summit you need to backtrack along the main
crest to the eastern end of the spur that leads out to sàil garbh.
5 NC200290 you don’t need to re-ascend to minor top (point 745m). instead you can follow a lower traverse line to access the shoulder of spot height 703m (NC203289). from the shoulder an easy climb east then north-east leads promptly to the whale-backed summit of sàil garbh.
6 NC209291 sàil garbh is the highest of Quinag’s summits and is adorned with a trig point and an enclosing cairn-comewindbreak. like the other summits it’s blessed with an amazing set of views. from this spot, however, it’s worth concentrating on the crags and corries close at hand. The fascinating geology of the quartzite that gives Quinag its distinct character is laid bare before you amongst the long line of crags. To continue the walk, backtrack along the spur to the shoulder.
NC202289 from the lowest 7 point on the shoulder make a descending traverse south-west to Bealach a’ chornaidh. from the col descend south-east to reach the northern side of lochan Bealach cornaidh. continue south-east past the loch and then join the stalkers’ path, which eventually leads back to the a894 and the car park at the start of the route.
“So long as you are used to rough mountain walking, you’ll have no trouble with this farnorth peak”