Map
Open this stop on the map.
Open this stop on the map
Lochinver · Nature
Culag Woods
Culag Woods is a flexible Lochinver woodland stop for families who want play areas, picnic breaks and an easy-to-shorten walk after time in the car. Some paths are steep or slippery, so keep a short visit separate from plans for the full circuit.
- Best for
- Preschoolers and primary-age children
- Cost
- Check access and parking charges
- Weather
- Outdoors; dry weather or light rain
- Visit length
- Short stop or a longer two-mile circuit
Our family take
Choose Culag Woods when children need a woodland wander with places to play and stop for a picnic after a long Assynt drive. You can turn back when younger legs have had enough; a full circuit needs more time and confidence on rough paths.
- Best for. Preschoolers and primary-age children who enjoy woodland exploring, informal play and picnic stops, plus families building a Lochinver or Clachtoll day.
- With a buggy. The full circuit includes steep rocky steps. If you need a surfaced route suitable for wheels, compare Little Assynt instead.
- Baby changing. Lochinver’s public toilets have no baby changing. Bring changing supplies and arrange a suitable stop if you need one.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Start points
- Choose the main northern car park, Woodside at the south end, or walk in from Lochinver and the harbour.
- Paths and prams
- Some routes have narrow gravel paths and steep rocky steps. Do not plan the full circuit with a buggy; check any shorter route with the Trust if step-free access is essential.
- Toilets and changing
- Use the public toilets in Lochinver before the walk. Highland Council lists disabled access, but no baby changing.
- Food and picnics
- Bring food and drinks for the picnic tables, or use cafés and restaurants in Lochinver.
- Access and parking costs
- Check local information for any access or parking charges.
- Maps and notices
- Maps and noticeboards are at both car parks and the central shelter. Check the boards before choosing your route.
ParkingBuggy limitsPacked lunch spaceWoodland play featuresMapped pathsInformation Shelter
7 October 2026
Check current path information (official)A little more detail
Make it work for your family
A short visit or the full walk?
For a short stop, start at one of the car parks and leave time for the play areas and picnic tables. Children can look for leaf-marker posts and wind-bent shoreline trees as you go; there is no need to complete a circuit.
The Trust’s walking leaflet describes a two-mile circular route from Woodside, allowing one to two hours. That is the longer walk, with narrow gravel paths and steep rocky steps, so allow extra time for children and breaks.
Culag Woods walking leaflet (published 2017) · Checked 2026-10-07
Prams and rougher paths
The viewpoint climb and Billy’s Path include steps in the walking leaflet. A short woodland visit can be easier to manage than the whole route, but an easy-looking entrance does not tell you whether the rest will suit a buggy or wheelchair.
If your child cannot manage rough or slippery ground, bring a carrier if that works for you. Ask the Trust about a particular shorter route before relying on step-free access. Little Assynt’s surfaced paths are the nearby comparison.
Where to start
The main car park is at the north end; Woodside is at the south. You can also walk in from Lochinver, using the village pavements, or join Billy’s Path beyond the lifeboat and coastguard buildings in the harbour.
Check the map at your chosen entrance before setting off. The harbour entrance joins a route with rougher ground and steps, so it is not a shortcut to assume is suitable for wheels.
Before you go
Wear grippy footwear and keep the walk short in wet weather: paths can become slippery under wet leaves. After storms or prolonged rain, check the entrance noticeboards for local information and be ready to turn back.
The map shelter is useful for choosing a route, but the visit is outdoors. If children need an indoor break, plan one elsewhere rather than counting on the woodland for a wet-weather outing.
Fit it into an Assynt day
Pair Culag with Lochinver itself for food and a toilet stop. Little Assynt is the easier-path comparison, while Clachtoll gives you beach and Iron Age history on a separate fair-weather outing.
Plan the rest of your day
Save this stop
Add it to your trip plan or save it for later.