Cul Mòr from Knockan Crag
Hillwalking route to Cul Mòr from Knockan Crag. A short climb following a good stalker's path most of the way to the rocky summit.
Route outline
| Corbetts | ||||
| Ascent | 720m (2360ft) | |||
| Distance | 11km (7m) | |||
| Time | 4:00hr | |||
| Start/finish | Knockan Crag, Elphin Grid Ref : NC189094 | |||
| Terrain |
| |||
| Nav |
| |||
| Effort |
| |||
| Scenery |
| |||
A straightforward route up Cul Mòr following for the most part a fine stalkers path. Higher up variations involve encountering rock, steep ground or delightful grass traverses.
Show map
Route description
1. Getting to 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 vehicles are parked).
2. Cul Mor
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 tìme 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 Mòr towers immediately ahead. I took a direct route up the grass-covered eastern shoulder of Cul Mòr 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
from where views are outstanding and vast !Creag nan Calman
3. Return to Knockan Crag
Returning on the footpath to Knockan Crag
The views from Cul Mòr are quite astounding and you're likely to want to stay a while up here if conditions are clear. The western edge 
of Cul Mòr'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.
Route profile »
Maps and GPX downloads »
|
Download GPX of route |
|
Open route in OS Maps |
The map images above link to items on Amazon. A small commission is earned on any map purchased which helps fund the operating costs of this website.
Weather forecasts »
| Regional | MWIS - Northwest Highlands |
| Peak specific | Mountain Forecast.com Met Office YR.no |
| Seasonal | Midge forecast |
Alternative and nearby routes »
Cul Beag and Cul Mòr | |
|
Hillwalking route up Cul Beag and Cul Mòr from Loch Lurgainn. A rough outing through Inverpolly’s lochans and forests linking the two summits. Peaks : 2 Corbetts
Ascent : 1650m (5410ft) Distance : 16km (10m) Time : 6:25hr |
Stac Pollaidh from Loch Lurgainn | |
|
Hillwalking route up Stac Pollaidh from Loch Lurgainn. A short, popular circuit on good paths, with scrambling needed to reach the true top. Peaks : 1 Fiona
Ascent : 575m (1890ft) Distance : 5km (3m) Time : 2hr |
Canisp from Loch Awe | |
|
Hillwalking route to Canisp from Loch Awe. A shorter approach than from Glencanisp Lodge, with few paths, but some fine rock formations along the way. Peaks : 1 Corbett
Ascent : 740m (2430ft) Distance : 13km (8m) Time : 4:30hr |
Ben More Coigach and Sgùrr an Fhidhleir | |
|
From Achiltibuie, a circular route explores Ben More Coigach, Sgùrr an Fhidhleir and nearby tops, with superb views over Coigach and the Summer Isles. Peaks : 2 Fionas
Ascent : 1035m (3400ft) Distance : 15km (9m) Time : 5:30hr |
Suilven circuit | |
|
Hillwalking route up Suilven from Glencanisp and Kirkaig Falls. A superb circuit from Lochinver, combining Suilven’s ridges and the spectacular falls. Peaks : 1 Fiona
Ascent : 1425m (4680ft) Distance : 22km (14m) Time : 7:50hr |
