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The far north-west · Region

Wester Ross and Assynt

Torridon sandstone and the mountains that stand alone.

The north-west mainland, where the road follows the sea lochs and the hills stand up out of the moor one by one. It pairs naturally with the Outer Hebrides by the Ullapool ferry.

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The dome of Suilven in Assynt rising out of a bank of morning mist
Suilven, Assynt

Wester Ross and Assynt

Hills that stand alone.

Wester Ross runs from Applecross to Ullapool: the Torridon hills, Loch Maree, the gardens at Inverewe. North of Ullapool is Assynt, where sandstone peaks like Suilven sit on a base of gneiss and look like nothing else in Britain.

This is the stretch of coast the North Coast 500 drives through in a day. We spend three or four nights on it instead, and use it as the mainland end of a Hebridean trip.

Common questions

Wester Ross and Assynt, answered.

Read the full guide ↓

Is this the North Coast 500?

Partly. We don’t plan the NC500 as a route; we use a few of its best places slowly.

Routes

Routes through Wester Ross and Assynt.

All routes
The pale curve of Luskentyre beach on Harris, turquoise shallows and a few white crofts under dark hills
Luskentyre, Isle of Harris

11–13 nights · Outer Hebrides · Wester Ross

The Long Island

Four ferries · Three causeways · One drive north

  • The long crossing from Oban to Castlebay, on Barra
  • North through Eriskay, South Uist and Benbecula by causeway
  • Four nights on Harris, with a St Kilda day held in reserve
  • Lewis and Calanais, then the ferry to Ullapool and Assynt

Suggested11–13 nightsTailored to your dates · no package price

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Where to stay

Stays in Wester Ross and Assynt.

Placeholders: the kind of place we would suggest, until our specialists confirm the houses and hotels we use.

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Illustration

Inn

[PLACEHOLDER] An inn on the Assynt coast

Seafood and a view of Suilven.

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Illustration

Hotel

[PLACEHOLDER] A lodge in Torridon

At the head of the loch, below the hills.

Daylight by month, StornowayJAN 7 h 09 min, FEB 9 h 24 min, MAR 11 h 45 min, APR 14 h 23 min, MAY 16 h 44 min, JUN 18 h 12 min, JUL 17 h 34 min, AUG 15 h 24 min, SEP 12 h 52 min, OCT 10 h 21 min, NOV 7 h 54 min, DEC 6 h 27 minJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECLongest day18 h 12 minStornoway

Best time to visit

The Wester Ross and Assynt year.

May, June and September. October for colour and stags roaring. Daylight shown for Stornoway, the nearest Light calendar station; the best months are in bold.

  • MidgesJun · Jul · AugWorst on still evenings on the west coastverify
  • Red stag seasonJul · Aug · Sep · OctHighland and island estates. Never part of our trips unless askedverify
  • Aurora likely on clear dark nightsJan · Feb · Mar · Oct · Nov · DecShetland, Orkney, Lewis, north-facing coastsverify

Month by month on the Light calendar

Wester Ross and Assynt

Your guide to Wester Ross and Assynt.

The geology

Assynt is where geologists first worked out the Moine Thrust, the great fault that pushed older rock over younger. A day with a geologist explains the whole landscape.

Applecross

The road over the Bealach na Bà climbs from sea level to over six hundred metres. The other road, round the coast, is longer and kinder.

Getting there

Stornoway, Lewis Ullapool CalMac
Inverness Ullapool Road

About an hour and a half from Inverness to Ullapool by road. Routes and operatorsverify pending a specialist check.

Photographs

Wester Ross and Assynt, in pictures.

A corrie lochan below the steep sandstone walls of the Torridon hills
Torridon, Wester Ross
The road winding through Glen Torridon below rust-coloured hills and heavy cloud
Torridon, Wester Ross

Speak to a specialist

Plan your trip to Wester Ross and Assynt.

Tell us when, who’s coming, and what you’re hoping for. One person plans it and looks after you.

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