The Sutherland Trail
If anyone tells me the north-west of Scotland has a poor climate then I simply won’t believe them. Last year my wife and I walked the Cape Wrath Trail in glorious weather and I’ve just returned from two more fantastic weeks in Sutherland.
During the past week I’ve been filming for a television programme I’m working on for the BBC but the first week was spent walking a route that might become known as the Sutherland Trail.
The route runs for 70-odd miles between Lochinver and Tongue and is mostly on trails and tracks with a little bit of off-trail walking and a few miles on minor tarmac roads. It potentially takes in hills like Suilven, Canisp, Ben More Assynt, Arkle and Foinaven, Ben Hope and Ben Loyal but the route can be walked as a long distance trail without the summits.
We left Lochinver a couple of weeks ago in beautiful sunshine, camped below Suilven, continued through the hills towards Elphin but cut across the east shoulder of Canisp and followed the river to Inchnadamph. On our second day the temperature hit 30 degrees!!!
We then climbed over the high shoulder of the Corbett Glas Bheinn and followed wonderful stalkers’ paths to the virtually dry Eas a Coul Aliunn, supposedly the longest waterfall in the UK. We then dropped down to Kylescu and stayed at the wonderful Kylescu Hotel.
Next day we wandered over the high route of the Reay Estate to Achfary, made our way to the bothy at Lone and climbed over another high bealach to Gleann Mhor below Ben Hope. Our last day followed an old peat road, the Moine Path, over the north shoulder of Ben Hope to the road just south of Tongue, close to Ben Loyal.
The route took us just over 5 days and was magnificent. I’ll get some images of it onto the Gallery in the next few days.
The images on this post are (above); crossing the high ground between Kylestrome and Achfary and (bottom) Arkle.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Interested in your Sutherland Trail. Is this an official long distance trail and if so where can I get info on it?
August 18th, 2008 at 8:49 am
No Roger, it isn’t an “official” trail but one that we’ve been developing for a television programme due to be broadcast at Christmas. There will also be a book on the route, probably next year.
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Sorry- can’ t wait I ve just taken delivery of my TGO and i ve got leave booked from 20- October- Ishould be attacking my remaining 130 Munros or thereabouts but the pull of this m,ay be too much. I have climbed Hope and Klibreck before but saw nothing of Suilven and others because of bad weather. Tongue recalls walking back from the hotel tothe youth hostel in daylight durinmg the hour before midnight . I,m thinking of willd camping with a tarp - a la Ray Mears to save weight,
If any spontaneously crazy 40 or 50 something fit woman north or south of the border fancies a crazy few days - I am 56 but still running /walking /biking / please email me on ricorose@gmail.com If no replies I will contiunue with plan 1 - solo
October 7th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Any idea if “Sutherland: The Empty Lands?” is likely to get an airing on BBC south of the border, I’d love to see it? We walked from Muiseal to the top of Loch Meadie via the Moine path, then back to Altnacaillich over the moors, this June. It would be great to see that wilderness on telly to bring it all back. It was hard going but you knew you’d achieved something at the end of it.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Hi Neil,
Sorry for the delay in replying. I’ve been in Sutherland filming the last section for the programme. Initially the show will be broadcast on BBC Scotland and Sky Channel 990 sometime over Christmas, possibly Boxing Day, and I hope it will be networked by the BBC later.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Just completed the excellent route 20-24th Oct with a similarly 60 something accomplice. Didn’t see Richard Rose anywhere (or was that his tarp we saw flying overhead). Tussling with the elements was interesting and solving the logistics challenging. I’m sure this will be an appealing route and hopefully of great economic benefit to the area. Have fun folks.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Looking forward to seeing this. It’s “my” part of the world. And, in my view, one of the best hidden gems in the UK. Will the book include the easier routes? Any ideas yet of a screening date?
November 14th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Thank you for the induction of the walk. It is a walk I will definitely plan to do in 2009 and I can’t wait to see the TV program about it. Just ordered the copy of TGO you mentioned to see more info about it. Please post when the program is showing as I would like to record it.
As you say the area up there is fantastic and the weather is usually great - been there last in September to walk from Kirvaig beach to Kinlochbervie and had fantastic weather. Climbed Suilven, Cul Mor and Ben Hope so far and only can recommend it to anyone.