📌 Strath More, Highland
★★★★
Ben Hope is Scotland’s northernmost Munro, overlooking a vast, sparsely populated wilderness backed by glittering sea lochs. Being the furthest hill from the cities, it not infrequently becomes the summit on which Munro baggers “compleat” their full round. Fortunately for those less experienced who might like to accompany them for their compleation, the hill is a relatively straightforward one for its height; no Munro should be taken lightly however – we experienced fresh snow on our late May trip. There is a rough path nearly all the way up, with a series of spectacular waterfalls accompanying the lower half of the climb. Further up, the landscape becomes increasingly bare and tundra-like, culminating in a stony plateau which could require careful navigation in poor visibility. For the very best views, continue a short way beyond the summit to where the flat ground drops away either side of the knife-edged north ridge (then return by the route of ascent).
📷 Chronological photo guide
One of several waterfalls on the Allt a’ Mhuiseil 
Top of the first steep section 
View back over Strath More 
Summit in view 
Leitir Mhuiseil 
Ascending the southern slopes 
Looking back from the middle part of the ascent 
Late May snow showers 
Sail Romascaig to the east 
Loch Hope 
Lochans around Cashel Dhu 
Dusting of snow 
View north over Loch Hope to Loch Eriboll 
Looking west towards Foinaven 
Upper slopes 
Approach to the summit 
Summit cairn & trig point 
View east to Loch a’ Ghobha-Dhuibh from the summit 
View northeast to the Kyle of Tongue from the summit 
Northern vista from just north of the summit
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Muiseal, minor road 8 mi south of Hope
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NC 462477
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 58.390328,-4.632704
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 8 km / 5 mi | ▲ 930 m | ⌛ 4-5 hr
Features: △ Ben Hope (927, Munro)
⬤ Tough | Path throughout until final stony approach to summit. Steep lower down with some boggy patches.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – ascend south bank of Allt a’ Mhuiseil – Ben Hope via south side – detour to north edge of summit plateau – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: A pair of ring ouzels, ptarmigan tracks, buzzards, cuckoo by the Allt a’ Mhuiseil. Lots of hairy caterpillars!
Weather: Hail & snow showers after overnight snow nearly to sea level, melting as the day progressed. Patchy fog on summit, winds mostly light.
May 2021
