Hills & Mountains
Ben Wyvis to Ben Hope
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Ben Wyvis
BEN WYVIS (1046m)
Monday 5 August 2002
Monday 5 August 2002
I climbed this solitary Munro during a week-long holiday at Carrbridge. I set off before first light to make an early start and parked near Garbat on the Garve to Ullapool road. The great hulking mass of Ben Wyvis comprises of the main summit Glas Leathad Mor and two subsidiary tops, An Cabar and Tom a`Choinnich. Little Wyvis (764m) (above), a Corbett, lies to the south of its `big brother` but receives far less attention from walkers.
The lower slopes of the western approach are featureless and heavily forested but there are a pair of impressive corries on the east side which unfortunately remained obscured by cloud during my visit.
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Looking back to the cairn on the mountain`s main top.
To the west though was fairly clear and I could see An Teallach in the distance. The tip of snow-capped Beinn Dearg towered above the blanket of cloud to the north.
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The surface of the wide ridge mainly consists of wind-clipped grass and moss which makes for pleasant walking. Alpine plants, some of them relatively rare, thrive on the slopes and many of the quartz rocks were covered in lichen. I basically had the hill to myself, only meeting a few other walkers as I made my way back down.
Ben More Coigach
Stac Polly
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Ben Hope
Monday 9 June 1997: After a morning visit to Handa Island, I took the opportunity to climb Ben Hope, Scotland`s most northerly Munro, that afternoon. I was camping and stopped at the Mace store in Durness to stock up on bevy - prices were per can and I thought them a total rip-off!
It was 4pm by the time I set off from the car but a good path makes for mainly easy going. After the initial climb there`s a steep plod over scree at the southern end of the mountain but it soon levels off, after which it`s a pleasant stroll to the top. As I made my way up, I met the last of the day`s walkers descending. Falling victim to increasingly heavy showers, I reached the summit within 90 minutes. The only sign of life (apart from myself) at the cairn was a pair of Snow Buntings hopping about behind the dry-stone shelter that surrounds the trig point. I waited for 10-15 minutes to see if the views would open up and sure enough gaps appeared enabling me to snatch a few photos before the rain returned with a vengeance. There was even a burst of hail - a complete contrast to the Mediterranean skies in the morning.
I was drenched by the time I got back to the car but as I changed into dry gear, the sun, and the midges came out. I set up the tent, ready for an ascent of nearby Ben Klibreck the following morning and made a dent in my recently purchased supplies. It was still light enough to read without a torch by the time I went to sleep at 11pm.
It was 4pm by the time I set off from the car but a good path makes for mainly easy going. After the initial climb there`s a steep plod over scree at the southern end of the mountain but it soon levels off, after which it`s a pleasant stroll to the top. As I made my way up, I met the last of the day`s walkers descending. Falling victim to increasingly heavy showers, I reached the summit within 90 minutes. The only sign of life (apart from myself) at the cairn was a pair of Snow Buntings hopping about behind the dry-stone shelter that surrounds the trig point. I waited for 10-15 minutes to see if the views would open up and sure enough gaps appeared enabling me to snatch a few photos before the rain returned with a vengeance. There was even a burst of hail - a complete contrast to the Mediterranean skies in the morning.
I was drenched by the time I got back to the car but as I changed into dry gear, the sun, and the midges came out. I set up the tent, ready for an ascent of nearby Ben Klibreck the following morning and made a dent in my recently purchased supplies. It was still light enough to read without a torch by the time I went to sleep at 11pm.