Ben Hope
927 m
United Kingdom
- Elevation
- 927 m
- Prominence
- 772 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- May–Aug
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2The standard ascent of Scotland's most northerly Munro: a steep, wet and eroded path from the Strathmore road beside the Allt a' Mhuiseil, through a break in the western crags and up the broad south ridge along the edge of the west face to a boulder-strewn summit plateau. 7.5 km return, 946 m of ascent, 4–6 hours.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 3.7 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +914 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 927 m
- Time Up
- 3h 31m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 17m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Park in the roadside car park on the minor road up Strathmore, about 3 km south of the head of Loch Hope and just north of the Dùn Dornaigil broch, where a sign reads 'Way Up Ben Hope'. The path climbs directly uphill on the south-east bank of the Allt a' Mhuiseil, over rocky ground in places (the OS map wrongly shows it on the other bank). After crossing a side burn it turns east and climbs steeply through a band of crags, the only weakness in the western defences, to an easier-angled, often very wet heathery shelf. The path re-forms, crosses a burn and gains the broad southern ridge, zigzagging through boulders and scree, then follows the edge of the steep western escarpment on eroded grassy slopes. A false summit with a cairn is easily mistaken for the top in mist. A final steepening leads to the small summit plateau with a trig point and wind-shelter cairn among boulders. Beyond, the plateau drops abruptly to the north ridge. Return the same way. A variation follows the escarpment of Leitir Mheuiseil south and descends past the waterfall above Alltnacaillich, with a couple of kilometres of road back to the start.
Start
Ben Hope car park11 m
- No practical public transport to Strathmore; the start is reached by car via Altnaharra or Hope on single-track roads.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Hope car park → Ben Hope | 3.7 | 914 | 0 | 3h 31m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Ben Hope car park11 m
Verge car park by the 'Way Up Ben Hope' sign, OS grid NC 461 476
- Shoulder: Heathery shelf above the crag band265 m
Where the north-ridge variant leaves the main path
- Summit: Ben Hope927 m
Key Passages
- Steep start beside the Allt a' Mhuiseil
- Break through the western crag band
- Eroded slopes along the west-face edge to the false summit
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 85%Overview
Scotland's most northerly Munro (927 m), an isolated wedge of a mountain rising from the moors and lochans of Sutherland, with a huge west-facing cliff and views north over open sea. A short, steep path from Strathmore makes it one of the quicker Munros.
Ben Hope stands alone south-east of Loch Hope in the far north-west of Sutherland, with no higher ground nearer than Ben Klibreck far to the south-east. It is a roughly triangular wedge: a long line of crags and one of the biggest cliff faces in Scotland on the west, lower shoulders to the south and north-east, and a narrow north ridge that falls steeply between walls of crag. The mountain lies within the Ben Hope Site of Special Scientific Interest for its geology, upland habitats and plants.
The standard route from Strathmore, near the Iron Age broch of Dùn Dornaigil, is 7.5 km return with 946 m of ascent: steep, wet and eroded, but not exposed, and usually done in 4–6 hours. Scramblers can take the North Ridge, an airy grade 1 line with a Bad Step that walkers bypass. From the summit the view takes in Loch Eriboll, Arkle and Foinaven, the Pentland Firth and, on a clear day, Orkney.
The far north is remote: single-track roads, few services and changeable Atlantic weather. Approaches from the east cross a wide expanse of pathless moorland and are rarely used.
Climbing Notes
The south flank route needs fitness for a steep 900 m climb and descent on a rough, eroded and often wet path; walking poles help on the way down. In mist, watch for the false summit and keep away from the edge of the west face. In winter, carry an ice axe and crampons.
The North Ridge is for experienced scramblers who can handle exposure and route-finding on pathless ground; the Bad Step is a short rock climb that most parties avoid by a loose gully on the east side. Accommodation is limited to Tongue, Durness and a few places around Altnaharra; fill up with fuel and supplies before heading north.
Season
Best May–Aug- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Winter conditions; very short days
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Winter conditions possible
- Apr
- Snow patches possible high up
- May
- Long days
- Jun
- Very long days this far north; midges low down
- Sep
- Wetter; check for deer-stalking activity on surrounding ground
- Oct
- Short days, first snow possible
- Nov
- Early winter
- Dec
- Winter conditions, very short days
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Scottish Outdoor Access Code applies
- Ben Hope Site of Special Scientific Interest: avoid widening the badly eroded path
- Getting There
Tongue
Inverness Airport (INV)
- Car: A836 from Lairg to Altnaharra, then the single-track road signed 'Hope' north through Strathmore to the car park near Dùn Dornaigil; or from the A838 at Hope at the north end of the loch
- No practical public transport to the trailhead
Hazards
- Weather
- Exposure
- Remoteness