19/05/2026
Have you climbed the most northerly Munro? ⛰️
Turns out it the perfect post party hill, well at least one that suits a 3pm start 😅
The crux of the climb was getting to the bottom. Even though we were only staying 20 miles away the drive took over an hour. Single track roads ever narrowing that would challenge any traveller.
Eventually we arrive at the parking. A beautiful spot in a lush green glen, vibrant gorse filling the air with its sweet coconut scent and a tumbling river cascading its many waterfalls down the hillside.
The north ridge looks a lot of fun but we were short on time and a little tender from the 3am bedtime 🥳 so up and down we went and lovely it was.
The name Ben Hope comes from Beinn Hòb or Mountain of the Bay. A melding of Gaelic, Norse and English as is so common in these parts. From its summit it’s not hard to see why with its commanding position over the Kyle of Tongue, Pentland Firth and Orkney Beyond.
An accidental shortcut on descent takes us deep into the vegetated hillside and it’s a delight to see small Rowan, Oak and Alder thriving. The Estate is owned by Anders Povelson, Scotlands largest landowner and advocate for rewilding. While it’s undeniably brilliant to see the trees his ‘eco resort’ in construction at the start of Glen is more questionable. I have mixed feelings about the guy…
We descended into a warm evening, a golden glow, and just enough time for a much needed skinny dip before dinner.
The perfect first hill of my forties 🙏🏻
The words on the final image are from a favourite poem which felt very apt on this day & place.
