Assynt is the southernmost region in Sutherland and encompasses a wild and remote area. The southern boundary is defined by the River Kirkaig, Fionn Loch and Loch Veyatie. The Western coastline takes in Loch Inver and the Stoer peninsula, the northern limit of the area is bounded by Loch a Chairn Bhainwith with it's narrow crossing at Kylestrome/Kylesku. To the east the 'official' boundary follows the watershed of Beinn Uidhe, Conival and Breabag, however this omits the summit of Ben More of Assynt and generally the line is extended east to a more logical boundary. We have also included the long sea lochs of Glendhu and Glencoul as these are accessed from Kylesku and Kylestrome.
Road access is dominated by the A837 from the south east, around the north shore of Loch Assynt to Lochinver, the largest village in the region and an active fishing port. In the south the A835 branches off to the south west at Ledmore Junction, passing through Coigach to Ullapool. From Loch Assynt, at Skiag Bridge the A894 heads north, climbing beween Quinag and Glas Bheinn, to the ancient crossing at Kylesku. With such a limited choice of direction the road signs resort to simple North, South, East directions instead of placenames. Even so, we often pass cars sitting at Ledmore Junction studying maps trying to decide which of the two available routes they should follow. These roads are all wide and fast and give easy and convenient access to the mountains.
The only two other roads skirt the western coastline; the minor road from Achnahaird/Achiltilbuie via Inverkirkaig (very narrow) to Lochinver, and the northern loop from Lochinver through Stoer, Drumbeg to Kylesku. And that is about it.
There are also very few low level or cross country paths; a route east to west from Elphin/Ledmore to Lochinver, and a north-south route west of Quinag from Loch Assynt at Tumore to the north coast near Nedd. Both paths will require transport at either end as circular routes are very difficult.