Ben Hope. August 2015

PLEASE NOTE: The GPX trace on this route is for use as a guide only, its accuracy may change depending on the scale of map you are using. Use in combination with judgement and a paper map. We have taken all reasonable steps to ensure these walks are safe and correctly described. However things do change and all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk. The publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions or for any injuries or accidents that occur whilst following this walk. Trail magazine, Copyright Bauer Media Limited.


Distance 8km (5 miles)

Total ascent 926m

Time 4 hours

Start/Finish NC461476

Terrain paths and open hillside; some sections follow cliff edges

NC461476 Ben Hope deserves its fame as the most northerly Munro. While it looks to have a blocky wedge shape from a distance, that huge outline breaks up as you draw closer to become a hill full of texture, contours and features. The western face is scarred with gullies whose vertical tears accentuate the height of the plateau beyond and the summit itself tops an impenetrable-looking ridge, which does have a scrambling route along it if approached from the north. That’s an easy enough route until near the top, when a ‘bad step’ might make you think twice – so we’re taking the regular route, which gives us a fine tour of the hill (and if you’ve got clear weather views you won’t forget). Start by the roadside where there’s space for several cars and climb the eroded path by the burn, which takes you quickly up to the accessible gap in the craggy western face of Ben Hope. Climb the path through steeper ground and onto the grassy slopes at the foot of the ridge.

NC471483 The grassy terrain soon becomes studded with rocks as you climb, and although the ascent is a simple walk uphill it’s got views that thrill you all the way. The crags drop steeply to your left, with big bites out of the steep face making it swoop in and out in rocky waves. The views beyond take your eyes to the back of Foinaven – and a more rugged prospect for a day out than its broken outline is hard to imagine. Climb onwards onto increasingly rocky terrain and reach the trig pillar on the stony summit. 

NC477501 At the summit the views expand dramatically and now the ocean lies in front of you. In every direction something draws your eye: Ben Loyal’s angry outline lurks nearby to the east, and the land all around is studded by lochs and lochans. It’s wild and it’s beautiful, so this is a summit to linger on, to sit on a sunny day and just be there. I sat here for an hour once and was still seeing something new when I left. Walk past the summit to where the ground slips away and narrows into the north ridge with its scramble to the top. It shows a different aspect of Ben Hope and maybe gives you some ideas for your next trip here, but for now we’re taking the secenic route home. Descend on the sweeping edge of the eastern boulder slopes; it’s rocky and feels more remote with less obvious signs of footsteps having been here, and offers a closer look at the wild land between you and Ben Loyal.

NC485493 The rocky south-east top is another great spot to pause. There are plenty of big rocks to sit on, and enjoy the space and solitude with the last of the day’s big views. From here sweep across the easy-angled and rocky terrain towards the gaps on the crags you climbed through earlier then follow the outward part of our route to the road.