Munro · Far North
Ben Hope
Ben Hope (927m) is a prominent mountain in the remote mountains of Sutherland and Caithness in Scotland's far north. With 772m of prominence it stands well apart from its neighbours, a genuinely isolated summit that demands a dedicated day. The summit, marked by a trig point, gives views of the northern coastline, Cape Wrath and an extraordinary sense of space and emptiness. The nearest town is Ullapool in Highland.
Gaelic: “mountain, peak” · Pronunciation: ben
Quick facts
- Height
- 927m/ 3041ft
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 816 m
- Time
- 4.6 hrs
- Difficulty
- 5 / 5Expert
- Grid ref
- NC477501
- Parking
- NC488402
- Nearest city
- Ullapool
Download GPX route file
Standard route · 16km
Standard route
The standard route is a longer walk with a gradual approach covering approximately 16km with 816m of total ascent — a full day on the hill. Lower slopes cross vast Flow Country peatland and lonely moorland. Higher up, the terrain changes to ancient Lewisian gneiss and sandstone, often dramatically sculpted. Very few maintained paths — long approaches across open moorland are the norm. The summit is marked by a trig point.
Terrain
Above 700m the ground is fully exposed to weather from all directions. Very few maintained paths — long approaches across open moorland are the norm. The hill's high prominence means the approach involves significant re-ascent — there are no easy shortcuts from neighbouring peaks.
In winter
In winter, Ben Hope is a serious proposition. Extreme exposure to Atlantic and Arctic weather systems. Very short daylight hours from November to February, but rewarding clear days with dramatic low-angle light. At this latitude, daylight hours drop below seven in December — start early and carry a headtorch.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 28m
- Edinburgh6h 31m
OS maps: OS Landranger 9
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:40
- Sunset
- 20:53
- Civil dawn
- 04:54
- Civil dusk
- 21:39
NOAA Solar Calculator · 25 April 2026