Ben hope seen from the north
near the end of Loch Hope

I got up and away early today - I was keen to maximise my chances of getting a lift to Ben Hope. After leaving the camp site, I promptly received a lift by someone - but only half way round Loch Eribol. The next lift came 20 minutes later - and was the first vehicle. They got me to the Ben Hope road - desolation road! The road serves two lodges and two houses. This had to be the quietest through road in Scotland! I waited about two hours for a lift - I couldn't be bothered to walk to the foot of the mountain.

The 9am Rush Hour along the north coast road near Loch Eribol!

Foniaven seen from Ben Hope

The south east ridge of ben Hope

Ben klibreck seen from Ben Hope

Once at the foot, I shot up to the summit, dumping my sack half way up. The lower slopes consisted of a steep muddy path among heather and the upper slopes consisted of seemingly endless convex slopes - you didn't know when it would end! The steep west facing escarpment gave very impressive views back down to the roadside.

Ben Loyal seen through the haze from Ben Hope

The top of the cliffs of Ben Hope

The view was hazy lower down but higher up, the air was largely clear of haze and a distinct haze layer could be seen. Heather smoke rising up from the moors could be seen to stop right at the haze boundary. This was a sign that high pressure was in charge. Even so, there was still a lot of high cloud. This made the light flat - not good for photos but with the light winds, it still felt warm.

The top of the north ridge of Ben Hope with Loch Hope extending out northwards

The southern slopes of Ben Hope with Strath More a long way down

Once at the top, I made my way swiftly back down to the road. I passed another group on the way up - the mountain's more popular than the road! Once down at the road I waited and waited for a lift, but not a single car passed me! In the end I camped out by the road - the other group didn't have room in their car. The bird song was rich in the evening and morning - such a nice time to go out camping.

The headwall of Na Glas Coire, Ben Klibreck

I got up super early and was off walking along the road at 7.30am. I figured that no one would be driving up here. Off I walked to Altnaharra. It was to be another warm day. Not a single car passed me in the five hours it took to walk out. This really was a quiet road. I reckon there are some days when public transport (the post bus!) is busier on this road than the private car!

Ben Hope seen from Strath More

Ben Hee seen on the long long long walk out

Not much to say about the walk out ....err.... it was on a road that was ~20km long that twisted out of a strath and on to open desolate moorland. The peace was broken periodically by the fighter planes flying around here. This country seemed to be their playground here.

Ben Hope seen on the approach to the slopes of Ben Klibreck

Ben Loyal seen from the south

A arrived at Altnaharra - the most remote UK village? It probably was. It was certainly quiet and didn't seem to be the most touristy place. The northern slopes of Ben Klibreck looked very steep from this angle - they turned out to be quite easy. I walked out beyond Clebrig Lodge to Klibreck burn to deposit some equipment before heading for Ben Klibreck.

The remains of a full depth avalanche in na Glas Coire

A cross section of the slope that avalanched">

I reached the main ridge via a very shallow corrie (barely discernible on the map). The ascent was steep but easy on the heathrey ground. The views out west were vast but alas I didn't take photos in that direction as I was wanting to save them for higher up - at which point the view became quite cloudy.

Once on the ridge I passed the headwall of Na Glas-coire. There was a snowfield with a distinct gash splitting it in two. There had been a full depth avalanche here. The debris was clearly seen lower down the corrie and what a distance it had travelled - potential camp sites lower down the corrie were very close to the avalanche path.

Creag nan Lochan seen from the summit of Ben Klibreck

The south east view from the summit to Meall an Eoin

I reached the summit and by now the wind was cool but clammy. I was keen to return to the tent. I had finished climbing all the munros north of Ullapool. It was time to go home. After a pleasant night I hitched back to Inverness before taking the coach home. Between leaving and coming back to Inverness, I had spent only £2.15. This had to be the most economical trips that I've so far done.