Date: Monday 13th September 2021
Distance: 12.1km
Ascent: 730m
With a week near Ullapool we had a few walks planned. With a reasonable forecast we decided to try a route onto Beinn More Coigach that we’d thought about last year – Blughasary to Speicein Coinnich.
The final ascent of Speicein Coinnich had looked a bit steep, but we thought it should be fine.
There’s a decent parking area at the end of the public road at Blughasary, often used to access Camas Mor and Dun Canna.
There’s also a solid vehicle track which runs raound to Loch Eadar dha Bheinn. We headed up this track. With a little height An Teallach rises into view.
An Teallach:
The dragonfly season is drawing to a close. Common and Highland Darters usually last into early October.
Darter:
The gnarly terrain on the southern flank of Beinn More Coigach is worth a few days of exploration at some point – the track leads to Loch Eadar Dha Bheinn.
Loch Eadar dha Bheinn:
There’s a fairly easy ascent north from the track to the east ridge of Speicein Coinnich.
Heading up to ridge:
The top of the hill does look a little intimidating!
Speicein Coinnich:
There was fine visibility, a rarity after a few months of haze – nice views to Ben More Assynt.
Beinn Mor Assynt and Conival:
The terrain is grand – sandstone tables, the way ahead looks a bit more welcoming from this angle.
Speicein Coinnich:
Once on the east ridge of Speicein Coinnic there are views acoss Coigach and out to sea.
Beinn an Eoin:
Inland the views are more of a jumble across Strath Canaird and on to Seana Bhraigh.
Strath Canaird and beyond:
We had a fine view of 3 Golden Eagles soaring around the top of Speicein Coinnich – 2 adults and a juvenile I think. Watched through the binoculars until they moved on towards Beinn an Eoin.
Continued up the (surprisingly easy) ascent of Speicein Coinnich.
Top of Speicein Coinnich:
Once near the summit there are great views north across Coigach and Assynt.
North to Assynt:
The wall of Beinn More Coigach is a rather fine sight – quite a lump of geology.
Beinn More Coigach:
Beyond Lochan Tuath Beinn an Eoin (and Sgorr Tuath) are really an outlying part of the Beinn More Coigach group.
Lochan Tuath:
We wandered on to the main ridge, having lunch at the NE end of the ridge. Speicein Coinnich is an outlying nubbin – we hadn’t actually diverted to it on previous visits to the group.
Speicein Coinnich:
After a leisurely lunch we decided to reverse route – didn’t feel the need to visit either Graham summit today.
Headed back to Speiciein Coinnich, stopping on the summit to admire the views.
Beinn an Eoin from Speicein Coinnich:
The summit itself is an airy affair.
Top of Speicein Coinnich:
A last look along the ridge before heading downhill.
Along Beinn More Coigach:
Beyond the gnarly ground south of the hill there’s a complex coast, Loch Broom heading a long way inland.
Ardmair and Loch Broom:
Seana Bhraigh and the Beinn Dearg group catch the eye, Creag an Duine’s erosion channels in particular.
Beinn Dearg group:
Back down the steeper part it was an easy amble home. The sandstone would look fantastic with a bit of low sunshine.
Sandstone tables on descent:
Spiky An Teallach was worth a picture before we dropped to the track.
An Teallach:
Nice to have done this ascent, not the astonishing classic that is the ascent from Culnacraig, but still a great walk (and without the 40 minute drive round the hill). I’ll need to work it into a bigger route one of these days.
Busy Doing Nothing 