Breabag and the Bone Caves

In the north-west highlands, the A835 travels northwards of Ullapool to meet with the A837 at Ledmore Junction.

A couple of miles north of the junction, the road climbs and passes Loch Awe then begins to drop as it heads for Inchnadamph. A couple of kilometres north of the loch there is a parking area for the 'bone caves', and at my last visit, there was a small snack-van here selling coffee and sandwiches.

There are two parking areas - nearer the roadside there is room for around 10 vehicles and this is free, by the snack bar is privately owned and there is (at time of writing) a charge of £2, or £10 for overnight.

From the car-park, head through a gate, pass the coffee-shack and old remains of a fish farm and follow a well-defined path. The path turns and passes a lovely little waterfall with the skyline of Breabag coming into view.

For the next 2km the path makes a route through grass and ferns to the base of the 'bone caves', on the way crossing the spring Fuaran Allt nan Uamh and coming to a junction by a small cairn.

Assuming a visit to the 'bone caves' is to be made on the return, keep to the path on the northern bank of the Allt nan Uamh for another 1km or so. Cross the burn (wooden bridge) and then climb slightly to an indicator post in a small corrie. The 'bone caves' path swings north-west, but instead leave it and continue south on a very faint path through grass.

At a convienient point, turn left (east) and climb slightly with Breabag's skyline coming back into view. Hike generally eastwards, aiming to the north of slabs that can be seen ahead. There's a fair amount of plodding over heather and grass divits to reach higher ground, though occasional deer trods can be found to ease effort.

After passing the slabs, keep to grass-covered rising ground, gradually turning southwards as Breabag's summit crest is neared. Only the final 100m approach to Breabag's summit is on boulderfield. There's a small cairn on the summit with a bigger circular cairn slightly to the south. Superb views all round, including a terrific view of the Conival - Ben More Assynt crest.

Return is by the same route.

Once the indicator post met earlier is reached, an interesting detour can be made to the 'bone caves' before dropping to the Allt nan Uamh by the path junction and retracing steps back to the roadside.