An Unsung Mountain - Hiking in Coigach - Scotland
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- Опубліковано 16 лип 2024
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Coigach and Assynt in the North-West Highlands, just north of Ullapool, is easily one of the most beautiful regions in Scotland. Characterised by isolated peaks of Torridonian sandstone sitting on a bed of Lewisian gneiss (some of the oldest rock in the world) it's an area where the smallest peaks take centre stage. The munros of Ben More Assynt and Conival are far less beautiful than their more diminutive neighbours: Suilven, Quinaig, Stac Pollaidh and Ben Mor Coigach.
That latter peak is the one I hiked up for this film. But in keeping with the 'smallest is best' theme of this area, it's not the actual summit of Ben Mor Coigach (10:21) at 743m that is the highlight of the hike. That would be its satellite peak of Sgurr an Fhidhleir (Peak of the Fiddler) (03:50) at a mere 705m above sea level. It has to be one of the most under-rated mountains in Scotland. Looking over the abyss from its conical top, where the cliffs drop 400 metres to Lochan Tuath below, is breathtaking and has to be one of the finest views I've seen (and I've seen a few).
Ben Mor Coigach is a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve. You can learn more about it here scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/...
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Remember that hiking and mountain climbing can be dangerous. The videos on my channel are for entertainment only (other than where specified). Always prepare well and be willing to abandon a trip if it becomes dangerous due to weather or unexpected trail conditions. If you are new to hiking and the great outdoors it's always a good idea to go with a guide or a more experienced companion. And remember - give the wildlife some space, leave no trace, go quietly and enjoy it out there!
• A word on DRONES
I know how annoying it can be to hear a drone whizzing about when you are trying to enjoy the peace and solitude of wild places. I'm also aware of the potential to disturb wildlife with them. I always avoid flying the drone when there are other hikers around. It's one of the reasons I tend to hike at less popular times of day and in mid-week and I avoid using the drone if I do see others nearby. I never fly a drone towards wildlife or where birds are likely to be nesting.
• CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:27 The ascent to Sgurr an Fhidhleir
03:50 Summit of Sgurr an Fhidhleir
07:50 Onwards to Ben Mor Coigach
10:21 Summit of Ben Mor Coigach
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As with all your films i've watched this one several times, and, like all the others, this one got to me in all the right ways. I wasn't going to comment, because i don't like repeating myself, but, i can't not comment. You simply...'get' mountains, as they are, and in what they bring to us, and you bring them to us, as they are. You don't glorify them or beef them up, or your time with them. Mountains are quiet and indifferent to the world around them. Being among them is a balm and takes you away from the world that's around us that is very hard to be indifferent to. Your short films bring mountains and everything about them to people in their everyday homes and lives, and for a few minutes connects them to nature, wildness, beauty, and peace. There is nothing like this on mainstream TV.
Ah, thanks so much Steve. I always appreciate your thoughts and I can see that you too "get" the mountains. You're absolutely right, there's no need to "beef" them up. They silently tell the story themselves without any need for embellishment. Really makes me happy that we share the same perspective on the hills.
awe inspiring and magic.
Thank you😊!
Another stunner....your films are proper "mindfulness moments". Thanks Jim😊
Thanks Antony. Pleased to hear you think that. That was my idea for the channel...some mindfulness and peace.
A beautiful film again. With some great shots of ptarmigans.
Thanks Veronique. Yeah, the ptarmigan was a nice bonus at the end of the day. Lovely birds.
Another beauty Jim. Stunning film of a spectacular region, with some iconic mountains.
Thanks Colin. It's such a great area.
Stunning as usual Jim, thank you for essential Sunday night viewing 👍🏻👌🏻👏
Thanks Paul It means a lot to get such lovely feedback 😊
Absolutely stunning. Regards
Thank you! Cheers!
I spent a couple of days in Coigach a few weeks ago, was lucky to have Stac Pollaidh all to myself for a while. A truly breathtaking landscape. Thanks for another beautiful video Jim 👍
Thanks. Great that you got Stac Polliadh to yourself. That's a popular hill but not so much this time of year I guess. There was a couple the day I was on BMC but they were walking the circuit the other way so I only saw them briefly.
Getting emotional watching that mate🙏A stunning part of this wee country we live in,superb mate👏
Thank you. It certainly is stunning up there in the NW. So much to explore.
Absolutely stunning!!!!
Cheers! One of the most spectacular peaks in Scotland and only 705m high.
A very understandable development here from 'silent hiking' to silently standing still - what a sublime vie (and what an extra level of mountain appreciation a well-judged drone flight can give). I enjoyed the ravens and the ptarmigan here, and your skyline traverse against a burnished sky and wind-polished snow at 9.35 onwards.
Thanks Roy. And thank you so much for the "coffee"! Was pleased to get the raven and ptarmigan. Not always to easy to get close enough to film them when you are busy marching through the landscape.
Absolutely superb. Don't you just love that snow that pretends to hold before giving way? Anyway, 6.24 was the shot for me, although that whole sequence was just magic as the drone closed in.
Thanks. Wasn't sure if that long shot at 6.24 would send people to sleep. It goes on a bit 😂 but I felt I needed to include it all to give a sense of scale..
Bravo Jim! Beautiful as always!
Thank you! Cheers!
Incredible footage, makes you want to go there too, very inspiring. ❤
Can highly recommend Assynt and Coigach. Best out of season though as it tends to be very busy in the summer these days.
Absolutely stunning Jim. Well done. Your videos are just out of this world.
Thank you so much 😀
Great video Jim. Fantastic drone footage as per usual in your videos. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! It's such a great place. Lends itself well to good drone shots.
just discovered you're channel Jim ,absolutely fantastic 👌👍 loved this especially as Assynt and Coigach is one the best landscapes in the world in my opinion, thank you for sharing 🏴💚🏴
Couldn't agree more. Assynt and Coigach is definitely up there. Every time I go back I feel like my younger self seeing it for the first time again. Reminds me of parts of northern Norway.
Incredible footage. Loving these videos.
Thanks Sean. Glad to hear it. More to follow!
Yep, totally agree about the views, my 'mostest ever' favourite view is on the road between the Lochs Ra and Oscaig, north east of Achiltibuie, looking east.
And always the words of Norman MacCaig burl around my head ....
'Who possesses this landscape? -
The man who bought it or
I who am possessed by it?'
Another wonderful video, cheers
Thanks Jonny. Love those Norman McCaig lines. Thanks for sharing. I'll have those in my head now every time I'm up a mountain.
Jim once again another incredible video.👍 what a beautiful part of the country and again your drone shots were incredible. Can’t wait to get back up in that area again.
Thanks for the upload.
ATB
Frank
Thanks Frank. That landscape definitely lends itself well to epic drone shots. Feel like the mountains should take all the credit! Wonderful area, Coigach and Assynt. First went there back in the early 90s (Suilven from the bothy). will always be a place I return to again and again.
The drone shots are stunning. Wow!! Beautiful video.
Thanks so much!
Jim. Your videos are soul food. Totally wonderful. Thank you as ever for making these films, without equal on YT.
Wow, thank you! Such kind comments.
Great relaxing video, and nice views Jim, especially to the north over Assynt.
Thanks Andy. Yes, that view to the north is something else.
Fantastic video Jim, you really did The Fiddler justice. 🤩 Glad you got good views. The drone footage makes me realise how much I was perched on the edge of a huge precipice when I climbed it. It’s amazing how small we are in such a vast wilderness. Hoping to head up to Assynt myself to climb more peaks, my favourite area. Thanks for sharing your adventure. 👍
It didn't disappoint! What an amazing view from the Fiddler. Incredible how it just drops away so sharply. I did the route clockwise (I see you did it the other way). Unfortunately I didn't do the narrow ridge of Garbh Choireachan. There was a lot of bland slippy snow on it. Progress was slow and dangerous with light fading so I had to abandon it and nip down the corrie instead. But that's where I saw the ptarmigan so that was nice.
@@Jim_Manthorpe-hiking A wise decision to avoid the ridge, coming off clockwise is incredibly steep. A good excuse to go back, though you probably don’t need one. Looking forward to your next adventure. 👍
That's good to hear. I was worried about the light fading while I inched slowly along that snowy ridge. Wouldn't have been much fun descending off the end of it in the dark! Will definitely go back to do that ridge but maybe when the snow has gone.
Jim brilliantly made as usual one of my favourites hills where sea meets the mountains fantastic views I approached this walk from the road to stac polly it was tough walking to the fiddler across the peat bogs but what a mountain cheeers
I thought about doing that route. Looks like a spectacular approach. Thanks for watching.
Cheers mate
Seen these hills many times driving north of Ullapool , often wondered what the would be like to hike up , they look amazing . just shows you that it doesn't need to always be a Munro or Corbett 👍😂
Amazing when you drive over that hill north of Ullapool and see the mountains for the first time. Definitely worth climbing them. And you're dead right, the Assynt and Coigach hills prove that it's always worth exploring beyond the munros and corbetts.
Another fine film jim, enjoyed that mate 🫡🏔
They drone shots from the summit is actually breathtaking and that's me watching it on my telly.... outstanding mate 💯🏔🫡
I've never actually seen my films on the telly. Good to know it looks okay!
Thanks for watching! Was a great hill. I can recommend it.