Suilven Path

Suilven is one of the most dramatic and iconic hills of Assynt. Recreational access to the summit of Suilven was having an adverse effect on vegetation and soils along the established access routes. Small sections of the path deteriorated over the last few years and this process would only have  continued if the path were not consolidated and protected.

This project aimed to upgrade the main approach path to Suilven and repair the erosion caused by recreational access on Suilven itself. The project created a more durable and sustainable path protecting the landscape from erosion and ensuring visitor’s experiences aren’t adversely affected by an eroded and deteriorating path.

The path has been repaired to an appropriate condition in keeping with the wild, rugged landscape of Assynt and creates a more sustainable path line, helping to ensure walkers enjoy their experiences on Suilven and that the area continues to be considered a desirable and highly regarded destination for hill walking. The project also demonstrates how major path restoration work in a wild landscape can be undertaken sensitively and appropriately and not create an overly engineered path out of keeping with the environment.

We have created a series of videos showing some of the path restoration workers in action. We hope you enjoy them, and that they help to give you an idea of the challenges, and achievement of creating a path like this in such a wild environment.