Cul Mor from Knockan Crag

The path into Cul Mor, with Suilven ahead

North of Ullapool, the A835 continues north-east through Coigach to Ledmore Junction. On this road around 8km west of Ledmore Junction, is the Knockan Crag Visitor Centre, perched below the crags and over looking Lochan an Ais. A few hundred metres north of the access for the visitor centre there is a lay-by on the west side of the road with room for several cars (depending on how considerately parked).

On Cul Mor's summit looking down Strath Oykel

A fence-line edges the western side of the road and lay-by, and by the northern end of the lay-by there is a gate aside which (at time of writing) stands a sign for Elphin Tea Room. This gate marks the start of a stalker's path heading northwards.

Head down this fine stalker's path and follow it northwards, through another fence and on for 1.5km. The path drops slightly and turns north-west then begins to climb again for around 1km before hitting some stonier ground and light boulderfield.

Gradually the path becomes fainter with occasional small cairns aiding route navigation and the summit of a minor top, Meallan Diomhain is reached.

Cul Mor towers immediately ahead. I took a direct route up the grass-covered eastern shoulder of Cul Mor and although this route was steep, pathless and had some rocky sections, there was some fun to be had scrambling up.

An easier but longer route heads north from Meallan Diomhain, meets a lochan, then turns west to follow a path climbing up the north-eastern shoulder of Cul Mor, and ending up zig-zagging through screes and boulders just below the mountain's summit.

Creag nan Calman

Creag nan Calman

Returning on the footpath to Knockan Crag

The views from Cul Mor are quite astounding and you're likely to want to stay a while up here if conditions are clear. The western edge of Cul Mor's summit plateau overlooks impressive drops and a visit to here and to Creag nan Calman just to the south are both highly recommended.

This detour aside, a return to the roadside by Knockan Crag is a case of re-tracing steps back down the stalker's path.