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Holidays

Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt

Scotland
2 reviews
Walk & Trek
Guided Group
MODERATE MODERATE

Wilderness walking in the UK’s first UNESCO Geopark, spectacular Assynt and Coigach

Trip Code: WAC
Holiday Grades
          

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

 1 - 3 LEISURELY
1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays
4 - 6 MODERATE
4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays
7 - 9 CHALLENGING
7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays
10 - 12 TOUGH
10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Wilderness Walking - Wilds of Assynt

Highlights
  • Enjoy expertly guided hikes up Suilven and Stac Pollaidh, two of Scotland’s most iconic mountains.
  • Explore some of the best coastal walking in Scotland including the Old Man of Stoer.
  • Take a private cruise and look for marine wildlife around the Summer Isles.
  • Price includes all meals, accommodation in guesthouses, transfers, private cruise and expert guide

At a Glance
  • Group Size 2 to 8
  • 7 days walking
  • Join In Inverness

Accommodation & Meals
  • All meals included
  • 6 nights Guesthouse
  • All meals included
  • 6 nights Guesthouse
Overview

As the UK’s first UNESCO Geopark, the beauty of the land north of Ullapool in Scotland’s North West Highlands cannot be exaggerated. It’s a land that’s home to iconic and distinctive mountains such as Suilven and Stac Pollaidh which rise proudly from the loch-strewn moorland. The coastline is just as spectacular, strewn with the shining white sandy beaches that Scotland is famous for interspersed with steep cliffs and sea-stacks. On this holiday we hike a mixture of hill, glen and coastal walks and take a day to cruise the tiny Summer Isles, enjoying every aspect that this landscape of outstanding natural beauty offers.

Is this holiday for you?

This holiday is suitable for fit and experienced hikers. We walk at a good pace and you can expect to be out for 6-8 hours a day. You will not always be on a path and the terrain underfoot can often be rough and boggy, including boulder fields and mountain tops, you will need to be confident hiking on uneven ground. Some of the daily walks will involve a mountain ascent of over 3000ft / 900m high. …

This holiday is suitable for fit and experienced hikers. We walk at a good pace and you can expect to be out for 6-8 hours a day. You will not always be on a path and the terrain underfoot can often be rough and boggy, including boulder fields and mountain tops, you will need to be confident hiking on uneven ground. Some of the daily walks will involve a mountain ascent of over 3000ft / 900m high. Daily distances will be typically up to 16km but may be longer occasionally. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary. The weather in Scotland can be unpredictable and at times can make activities more challenging. Please do bear this in mind when thinking about what trip to join. If our guides feel that you are not able to complete a scheduled hike they may ask you not to join in that day.

Why KE?

On our Scottish holidays we pride ourselves on the quality of our meals, the excellence of our local expert guides, and our attention to organisational detail, meaning that you can have a world-class experience in some of the world’s most majestic scenery.

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Itinerary

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After meeting in Inverness, we travel to the North-West Highlands, stopping on the way for a short walk that will take us past the impressive Rogie Falls where we can watch the cascade. Continuing on we follow a circular route that takes us through the forest to a high clearing with gorgeous views.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

D

Ascent

230 M

Time

4 hrs walking

Distance

8 KM

This distinctive mountain dominates the skyline and offers superb vistas from its lofty summit. We follow a good trail for the initial ascent before climbing quite steeply to the cairn which marks the high point to enjoy wide-reaching views across both mountains and sea.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D

Ascent

730 M

Time

6 hrs walking

Distance

14 KM

Our day starts with a relaxing cruise through the Summer Isles, a beautiful archipelago with striking rock features. We’ll stop for lunch at the wonderful Achnahaird Beach before making an afternoon ascent of Stac Pollaidh which is one of the best ‘little mountains’ in Scotland. It stands just 613m high and the hike will only take around 3 hours but the summit vista is pure wilderness and is an unforgettable view.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D

Ascent

440 M

Time

3 hrs walking

Distance

4 KM

After a couple of fairly relaxing days, you should be ready for the challenge of hiking up Suilven. Although just 731m high, this is a remote mountain and the approach walk to the foot of the mountain takes around 2 hours. A steep climb lifts you onto its wide summit plateau where you will be rewarded by one of the most sensational views you will ever see. A long but fantastic day’s walking.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D

Ascent

910 M

Time

7 - 8 hrs walking

Distance

22 KM

Today will be an easier day, after the exertions of climbing Suilven. The Old Man of Stoer is a sea-stack and provides a superb half-day coastal walk. We’ll follow this with a visit to Achmelvich Beach, on a sunny day, you could be fooled into thinking this is the Caribbean as you walk on the white sand or paddle in turquoise waters. Dinner tonight is a lovely meal on a sailing boat. A very special meal in a spectacular location, and the perfect way to end the day. For the 1 August & 29 September departure only: Please note that the yacht is not included on this day as it is not available at this time of year. Dinner at an alternative location will still be included.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D

Ascent

150 M

Time

4 hrs walking

Distance

8 KM

This rarely climbed hill is one of Scotland’s best kept hill-walking secrets. Although just 743m high, our sea level start means that you will hike up every metre! The rocky ridges which link its tops are scree covered which can be tough going but the views from the summit out to the Summer Isles are simply glorious.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D

Ascent

800 M

Time

6 - 7 hrs walking

Distance

15 KM

On our final day, we will head south from Ullapool back towards Inverness. There are many options for walks and your guide will select a route which allows us to arrive back in Inverness for 1600 hours and the trip end.

Meals

B L

Ascent

750 M

Time

6 - 7 hrs walking

Distance

15 KM

After meeting in Inverness, we travel to the North-West Highlands, stopping on the way for a short walk that will take us past the impressive Rogie Falls where we can watch the cascade. Continuing on we follow a circular route that takes us through the forest to a high clearing with gorgeous views.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

D

Ascent

230 M

Time

4 hrs walking

Distance

8 KM

This distinctive mountain dominates the skyline and offers superb vistas from its lofty summit. We follow a good trail for the initial ascent before climbing quite steeply to the cairn which marks the high point to enjoy wide-reaching views across both mountains and sea.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D

Ascent

730 M

Time

6 hrs walking

Distance

14 KM

Our day starts with a relaxing cruise through the Summer Isles, a beautiful archipelago with striking rock features. We’ll stop for lunch at the wonderful Achnahaird Beach before making an afternoon ascent of Stac Pollaidh which is one of the best ‘little mountains’ in Scotland. It stands just 613m high and the hike will only take around 3 hours but the summit vista is pure wilderness and is an unforgettable view.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D

Ascent

440 M

Time

3 hrs walking

Distance

4 KM

After a couple of fairly relaxing days, you should be ready for the challenge of hiking up Suilven. Although just 731m high, this is a remote mountain and the approach walk to the foot of the mountain takes around 2 hours. A steep climb lifts you onto its wide summit plateau where you will be rewarded by one of the most sensational views you will ever see. A long but fantastic day’s walking.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D

Ascent

910 M

Time

7 - 8 hrs walking

Distance

22 KM

Today will be an easier day, after the exertions of climbing Suilven. The Old Man of Stoer is a sea-stack and provides a superb half-day coastal walk. We’ll follow this with a visit to Achmelvich Beach, on a sunny day, you could be fooled into thinking this is the Caribbean as you walk on the white sand or paddle in turquoise waters. Dinner tonight is a lovely meal on a sailing boat. A very special meal in a spectacular location, and the perfect way to end the day. For the 1 August & 29 September departure only: Please note that the yacht is not included on this day as it is not available at this time of year. Dinner at an alternative location will still be included.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D

Ascent

150 M

Time

4 hrs walking

Distance

8 KM

This rarely climbed hill is one of Scotland’s best kept hill-walking secrets. Although just 743m high, our sea level start means that you will hike up every metre! The rocky ridges which link its tops are scree covered which can be tough going but the views from the summit out to the Summer Isles are simply glorious.

Accommodation

Guesthouse

Meals

B L D

Ascent

800 M

Time

6 - 7 hrs walking

Distance

15 KM

On our final day, we will head south from Ullapool back towards Inverness. There are many options for walks and your guide will select a route which allows us to arrive back in Inverness for 1600 hours and the trip end.

Meals

B L

Ascent

750 M

Time

6 - 7 hrs walking

Distance

15 KM
Download Trip Notes
The Route
Point Point
Peaks Peaks

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

  • A professional English-speaking guide
  • All transfers involved in the itinerary
  • All accommodation as described
  • All meals
  • A boat trip through the Summer Isles (not included on the October departure)

  • Travel Insurance
  • Visa fees (if applicable)
  • Airport transfers
  • Drinks
  • Miscellaneous personal expenses

This holiday is operated in association with Wilderness Scotland, and they sell their own customers directly on to this trip also. KE acts as an agent for Wilderness Scotland and by booking this holiday you are entering into an agreement directly with Wilderness Scotland under the terms of their booking conditions.

On Day 1 your guide will meet you at the centre of Inverness Railway Station by the fixed seating area at 10:30am.

On Day 7 you will be returned to Inverness Railway Station for 4:00pm

All meals from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 7 are included.

Water from the taps is perfectly drinkable on this holiday - please use this to fill your personal bottles for your daily activities. We do not encourage the purchase of single use plastic bottles.

Evening meals will be taken either in Ullapool, which offers a good choice of restaurants to suit every taste, or perhaps in a different location depending on where the group have been walking on a particular day. On this trip we generally eat dinner as a group however if you would like to make alternative arrangements you are free to do so. Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations.

This walking holiday enjoys accommodation in a 4-star guest house located just outside Ullapool. The guest house enjoys stunning views across Loch Broom is conveniently located close to the hills which we will be exploring. Accommodation is a choice of double or twin rooms, which are en-suite with a shower.

The group will be led by an experienced and qualified leader.

There is no weight limit for your luggage on this holiday, however you will need to be able to lift and move your own luggage easily.  

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

The unit of currency in the UK is Sterling.

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates direct from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct.  Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

This holiday is part of our Explore International range. Participants on these trips can book through KE or through one of our international partners. This helps us to gather together sufficient numbers of like-minded adventurers to get your holiday up and running quickly. Led by an English-speaking guide, the cosmopolitan nature of these groups can be an important part of the experience!

The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum.

You should bring the following items:

  • Hiking boots (trail shoes are not suitable)

  • Socks

  • Trekking trousers

  • Waterproof overtrousers

  • Underwear

  • Baselayer shirts (1 short sleeve, 1 long sleeve)

  • Fleece jacket or warm jumper

  • Waterproof jacket

  • Thermal gloves

  • Warm and waterproof gloves or mittens

  • Sunhat

  • Warm hat

  • Sunglasses

  • Daypack 25 – 35 litres should be sufficient

  • Headtorch and spare batteries

  • Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)

  • Water bottles 1 litre (x2) (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)

  • Washbag and toiletries

  • Antibacterial hand wash

  • Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, tick tweezers, antihistamines, re-hydration salts

The following items are optional:

  • Travel shoes / Trainers

  • Gaiters

  • Spare laces

  • Shorts

  • Shirts (e.g. T-shirts)

  • Thermal baselayer - leggings

  • Thermos flask

  • Trekking poles 

  • Insect repellant

  • Camera

  • Travel clothes

  • Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage)

  • Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)

  • Midge net
  • Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)
  • Reuseable lunch box and water bottles (to avoid plastic waste)

Cotswold Outdoor Red PantonMany of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 12.5% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers.
>> Find out more

Reviews

5 out of 5 from 2 reviews

The Wilds of Assynt - Stunning, Amazing, Top class ★★★★★

The Assynt may not have the Munros of other parts of the Highlands but it does have the iconic mountains of Suilven and Stac Pollaidh. Definitely a case of seeing these mountains and saying out loud "I'm going to climb THAT?" Our guide, Mark, led us safely up and down these and other mountains. The scenery and the views are memorable. This was definitely one of my all time favourite holidays. We were fortunate with the weather but I think that even in less glorious conditions it w ould still be memorable. The accommodation in Ardvreck House was fantastic with wonderful hosts Aiden and Neil. The evening meals at various restaurants were all really good. Great all round.
By Robert from Orpington | 06 May 2022

Brilliant walking holiday in a fantastic area of Scotland ★★★★★

Really enjoyable holiday in a beautiful area. The accommodation was excellent and breakfasts were really good where we were looked after very well. The scenery, the morning cruise round The Summer Isles and the walking were fantastic as were our group members. Our two guides, Ken and Graham were absolutely brilliant, very informative and looked after the needs of the group very well. They went the extra mile driving us to super places to eat each evening and equally as important they were good f un.
By Norman from Skipton | 05 August 2021

Traveller Reviews
5 out of 5 from 2 reviews

The Wilds of Assynt - Stunning, Amazing, Top class
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Assynt may not have the Munros of other parts of the Highlands but it does have the iconic mountains of Suilven and Stac Pollaidh. Definitely a case of seeing these mountains and saying out loud "I'm going to climb THAT?" Our guide, Mark, led us safely up and down these and other mountains. The scenery and the views are memorable. This was definitely one of my all time favourite holidays. We were fortunate with the weather but I think that even in less glorious conditions it w ould still be memorable. The accommodation in Ardvreck House was fantastic with wonderful hosts Aiden and Neil. The evening meals at various restaurants were all really good. Great all round.
By Robert from Orpington | 06 May 2022

Brilliant walking holiday in a fantastic area of Scotland
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Really enjoyable holiday in a beautiful area. The accommodation was excellent and breakfasts were really good where we were looked after very well. The scenery, the morning cruise round The Summer Isles and the walking were fantastic as were our group members. Our two guides, Ken and Graham were absolutely brilliant, very informative and looked after the needs of the group very well. They went the extra mile driving us to super places to eat each evening and equally as important they were good f un.
By Norman from Skipton | 05 August 2021

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