Canisp from Loch Awe

Canisp from the bridge over the River Loanan

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 passes Loch Awe and at its northern end there is a layby on the opposite side of the road from a small quarry. This layby is used primarily by fishermen, so perhaps better to continue onwards for a further '450yds' to park in a layby just north of the loch.

Path in to Canisp

Leaving the roadside, follow a wet path through deer grass aiming for the northern shore of Loch Awe. The path reaches a small wooden bridge over the River Loanan.

Cross the bridge and follow a vague path north-west over soggy ground. After walking over a weird patch of white stones, the path meets with the course of the Allt Mhic Mhurchaidh Gheir - this was completely dry on my most recent visit with grass established along the river bed.

The path then begins to climb and reaches a small bump at c300m, before turning northwards for a bit to lose a little height. The path turns north-west again and meets with a weird quartzite pavement of a watercourse (dried on my visits). The pavement lasts for around 500m, beyond which the path disappears into rocks and heather - look ahead and you should see some cairns to aid route finding.

Further on, the route hits boulderfield after boulderfield and its a case of persisting until around c650m, where terrain becomes easier and more grass-covered and gradually a path begins to form.

Following this path to around c700m, it comes away from the crest and to an abrupt end at a superb viewpoint to Suilven. From here, look on your right and you should be able to see a faint path through rocky ground which leads back onto onto the crest of Canisp's south-east shoulder.

Suilven from the summit of Canisp

Suilven from the summit of Canisp

Breabag from the quartzite pavement

To return, basically retrace your steps !

On my most recent visit, to ease the impact on my joints, after descending to the viewpoint to Suilven , I deviated slightly from my uphill route by by descending on grass following the course of a burn. This headed east for around 500m and kept slightly to the north of the crest of Canisp's south-east shoulder. I met with my uphill route again by the cairns just before the quartzite pavement.