Through the development of a North West Highlands Geopark business plan, community consultation and a workshop focused on developing an interpretation strategy for Coigach and Assynt, it was noted that although interpretation and information on walking routes and landscape is a key part of visitor experience, digitisation into an app would create a central hub and improve access to this…
Black throated divers are synonymous with the Assynt and Coigach areas. Black throated divers are classified in the UK as an Amber List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review, and as a Priority Species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The area’s lochs are breeding grounds for these rare and special birds and offer the opportunity to study…
The centre for the community owned Glencanisp Estate is the Glencanisp Lodge area which contains the office for Assynt Foundation, a Community Arts building, a pole barn, a local pottery and a walled garden. This area also marks the start of the path to Suilven, a walk and hill climb which takes on average 9 hours to complete. There is…
Culag Community Woodland Trust Ltd (CCWT) owns and manages on behalf of the community two areas of land in Assynt for amenity use: Culag Woods – a 40 hectare mixed woodland in Lochinver, and; Little Assynt – a 1,200 hectare estate approximately 5 miles east of Lochinver. Both contain a variety of paths which have been worked on at various…
Quinag’s paths are exposed to some of the most extreme weather that the Assynt area experiences throughout the year. The paths are also extremely popular with both local and visiting hill walkers, and have predominantly evolved over time due to recreational access. They are currently in mixed condition as a result of this access and the harsh climate. The erosion…
The Polbain Coastal Path will be a new path built to complete the circular recreational route around the crofting village of Polbain, connecting the existing Polbain Peat Track and Waymarked Hill Path. The aim is to make more accessible the rich cultural and natural heritage of the Coigach coast from Polbain to Big Dornie by building a new path that…
The Acheninver Path has been used by walkers to access the youth hostel for at least the last 100 years. It links to a network of local paths forming a circular route that includes the core path between Achduart and Culnacraig and onwards from Culnacraig round Ben More Coigach to Strath Cannaird. To the north the path links to a…
The Postie’s Path is a spectacular coastal walking route linking the communities of Coigach and Ullapool. It was the main land-based communication route to Coigach until the early 1900s used by postmen carrying royal mail to and from Ullapool. Today it is much loved and used by locals and visitors alike. The path is mainly a mountain route passing through…
Suilven is one of the most dramatic and iconic hills of Assynt. Recreational access to the summit of Suilven is having an adverse effect on vegetation and soils along the established access routes. Small sections of the path have deteriorated over the last few years and this process will only continue if the path is not consolidated and protected. This…
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