Suilven

Suilven is a steep-sided ridge in the remote Assynt region of Sutherland, Highland. It rises from a wilderness of moorland, bogs and small lochs in the west of Sutherland. The mountain consists of three main summits: Caisteal Liath at the northwest end, Meall Meadhonach in the centre, and Meall Beag at the southeast end. Its name comes from Old Norse, meaning ‘pillar mountain’. Geologically, it is made of Torridonian sandstone resting on Lewisian gneiss. The ice sheet of the last glaciation carved its narrow teardrop shape and steep sides. The mountain is owned by the Assynt Foundation, which bought the Glencanisp and Drumrunie estates in 2005 with help from the National Lottery and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The foundation works to protect the natural and cultural heritage for local people and visitors. Suilven appears in Norman MacCaig’s nature poems and in the 2017 film Edie. It also features in an episode of the Disney+ Star Wars show Ahsoka alongside Stac Pollaidh. The usual route starts near Glencanisp Lodge, a mile from Lochinver, and leads across moorland to Bealach Mòr after about seven miles. The final climb to the pass is steep, with boulder steps marking the way. From the bealach, the summit is broad and grassy but nearly ringed by vertical cliffs. An alternative route from Inverkirkaig passes Kirkaig Falls before reaching the same pass. A third option from Elphin crosses rough ground and requires exposed scrambling between the central and southeastern summits. All routes cover roughly twenty-five kilometres of rough terrain.