Lying in a remote area in the west of Sutherland, it rises from a wilderness landscape of moorland, bogs and lochans known as Inverpolly National Nature Reserve.

Prior research described Suilven and many other mountains in Northwest Scotland as nunataks, but cosmogenic isotope dating of mountaintop erratics has since disproved this hypothesis.

The flow of ice created the distinctive narrow teardrop plan, while carving and scouring the vertical sides of the mountain.

The Assynt Foundation aims to create local employment and safeguard the natural and cultural heritage for the benefit of the community and future generations, and for the enjoyment of the wider public.

The most common route of ascent starts from the end of a public road that leads to Glencanisp Lodge, about 1.5 kilometres (1 mi) from Lochinver to the west of the summit.