Assynt Coigach

The A835 continues north out from Ullapool and curves around the right of Assynt Coigach.

This is a wild and beautiful stretch of Scotland, dominated by a handful of imposing mountains thrusting out alone from the cragged landscape: Cul Beag, Stac Pollaidh, Cul Moor, and Suilven.

Simply put, this is a breathtaking place and absolutely worth visiting, whatever the weather. When I think of Scotland, this is what I was looking for.

You can see for yourself by some of the pictures below:

A general view into Assynt Coigach:

Cul Beag:

A distant then close-up view Stac Pollaidh (looking like something you’d expect in Arizona, not Scotland):

The road on the pictures is a single-track road first on the left after Ullapool.

It leads past a series of villages: Achnahaird, Altandhu, Polbain, Achiltibuie, and Polglass - curving around a major promontory, before forking to end at Achduart and Culnacraig.

It’s not a fast road, and in places it’s a bit hair-raising, especially when oncoming traffic comes zooming up over a blind summit.

But there are plenty of views to be had, especially of the Summer Isles, a series of small craggy islands north out from Ullapool - Tanera More, Tanera Beg, Horse Island, etc.

And from the village of Polglass, I stood on the hill the village is built on, and in the distant Atlantic horizon saw my first glimpse of the Western Isles, aka the Outer Hebrides - The Isle of Lewis, and some of Harris - possibly Skye as well, though it was hard to be sure.

And if the kids get a bit restless, there’s a nice secluded beach accessible via a detour through Achnahaird.