What difficulty is Ben Hope?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Ben Hope comes in at 5/5 — very challenging. Expect roughly 16km and 816m of ascent on the usual route — 6-9 hours for most parties. Terrain: A signed footpath threads the lower crag band on a steep grass ramp; above this the ground eases onto stony tundra and short turf.

How prominent is Ben Hope?

Ben Hope has 772m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.

Where should I park to climb Ben Hope?

Standard parking is at NC462477 near Ullapool. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.

When should I climb Ben Hope?

The standard good-weather months for Ben Hope are May, June, July, August, September. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.

Can I bring my dog up Ben Hope?

On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.

By Gary

Photo: sylvia duckworth / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Munro · Far North

Ben Hope

Ben Hope (927m) is the most northerly Munro, rising in splendid isolation above Strath More in Sutherland. Its long west face presents a near-continuous line of sandstone crags while the south ridge offers a straightforward walk-in route. Climbers know it as the natural finish or start to a Munro round, and on a clear day the summit reveals Cape Wrath, Foinaven and the empty Flow Country to the east. The trig point sits a few metres back from a sheer eastern drop.

Quick facts

Height: 927m/ 3041ft
Prominence: 772 m
Distance: ~16 km
Ascent: ~816 m
Time: 6–9 hrs
Difficulty: 5 / 5Expert
Grid ref: NC477501
Parking: NC462477
Nearest: Ullapool
Dogs: Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗

Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).

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Standard route

Open hillside path 50% · Rocky hillside 30% · Summit plateau 20%

16km · 816m ascent · 4.6 hrs

Park at the small layby below Alltnacaillich and follow signed posts up the steep grass between the burn and the south buttress. The path zig-zags through a weakness in the crags then trends north along the broad summit ridge to the trig point. The descent reverses the line; the cliffed eastern flank should not be approached in mist.

Terrain

A signed footpath threads the lower crag band on a steep grass ramp; above this the ground eases onto stony tundra and short turf. Care is needed near the eastern edge where unseen drops appear suddenly in mist.

In winter

Eastern aspects load heavily under westerly winds and large cornices form along the cliff line. Daylight collapses to under six hours at midwinter and the single-track A836 from Tongue can be unploughed for days.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Ben Hope. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS The Northwest Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow5h 28m
Edinburgh6h 31m

Parking: NC462477

OS maps: OS Landranger 9

Mobile signal: Very limited signal. Tongue village (25km east) has better coverage. Ben Hope is the most northerly Munro — remote in every sense.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 57mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:30
Sunset: 20:03
Civil dawn: 05:48
Civil dusk: 20:45

NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026

On a long-distance route

Ben Hope sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.

Sutherland Trail0.8km

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Around Ben Hope on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Lairg station

Central Sutherland; Ben Klibreck approach; gateway to Far North inland

46km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Durness

Cape Wrath base; Smoo Cave; Sandwood Bay walk-in

19km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Ben Hope — common questions

What difficulty is Ben Hope?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Ben Hope comes in at 5/5 — very challenging. Expect roughly 16km and 816m of ascent on the usual route — 6-9 hours for most parties. Terrain: A signed footpath threads the lower crag band on a steep grass ramp; above this the ground eases onto stony tundra and short turf.
How prominent is Ben Hope?: Ben Hope has 772m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
Where should I park to climb Ben Hope?: Standard parking is at NC462477 near Ullapool. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
When should I climb Ben Hope?: The standard good-weather months for Ben Hope are May, June, July, August, September. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
Can I bring my dog up Ben Hope?: On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
What's mobile reception like on Ben Hope?: Very limited signal. Tongue village (25km east) has better coverage. Ben Hope is the most northerly Munro — remote in every sense.
Is Ben Hope safe in winter?: Eastern aspects load heavily under westerly winds and large cornices form along the cliff line. Daylight collapses to under six hours at midwinter and the single-track A836 from Tongue can be unploughed for days.

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