A solitary massif, standing far apart from any mountains of similar stature, Ben Wyvis is the biggest thing near the east coast anywhere in Britain, its rounded bulk dominating the skyline north of the Cromarty Firth. Easily accessed from towns such as Inverness and Dingwall, this is a popular Munro, and though large parts of its sprawl remain obscure you'll rarely find solitude on the standard route described here. But rightly so: it's an enjoyable walk on a unique hill, with wide-ranging views and a great sense of height and space.
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metres / Distance
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Detailed description
1
NH4100367233 From the car park follow the path northeast, parallel to the road. Cross a footbridge then take the well-made path east, uphill through the woods beside the Allt a' Bhealaich Mhoir. Cross a forest track and continue by the burn up out of the trees towards the Bealach Mor between Ben Wyvis and Little Wyvis. The peak of An Cabar is obvious ahead.
2
NH4347166495 Stay with the stony made-up trail as it cuts up left and then zigzags up the steep west spur of An Cabar. Pass a giant boulder - a potentially sheltered spot for a break on a windy day - to reach the summit. One of three Munro Tops on Ben Wyvis, An Cabar forms the southern end of its high summit ridge; the hard uphill work is now done.
3
NH4504366582 Bear north-northeast along the broad, rolling ridge, which is joyously easy underfoot. Ben Wyvis is a National Nature Reserve known for its upland flora and fauna - look out for wildlife such as ptarmigan and mountain hares. Pass over the wide minor top of Carn a' Chaiptean, then follow the better-defined final ridge up to the mountain's high point, Glas Leathad Mor. In heavy winter conditions the trig point on top may be buried under snow.4
NH4629768383 While it is possible to continue north to Tom a' Choinnich before dropping back west to complete a circuit through the forestry back to the car park, most people will be happy to return the way they came. On the approach to An Cabar, an obvious traverse path on the west flank saves a bit of unnecessary height gain.
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Difficulty: ModerateDistance: 8.70 miles (14 km)
Total ascent: 916m
Time: 5 hours (Walking)
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Additional Information
Start/Finish:Ben Wyvis car park signed off the A835, NH409671
Nearest town:
Dingwall
Terrain:
A well-made path through the woods and up the steep western spur of An Cabar. Up on the summit ridge it's gently rolling, mossy ground.
Seasonal variations:
The steep, grassy flanks of Ben Wyvis can be bad for avalanches. Where the summit ridge narrows south of Glas Leathad Mor, the eastern edge may be heavily corniced, and in poor visibility some care may be needed here. Thanks to its height and isolated position, Ben Wyvis can be very windy at any time of year.
Weather and Hill Conditions: mwis: Northwest Highlands – Met Office: West Highlands
Public transport:
Ben Wyvis is more easily accessible by public transport than most Munros in northern Scotland. The nearby village of Garve is on the rail network. Buses from Inverness to Ullapool use the A835 at the foot of the mountain and it may be possible to be dropped at the start of the walk.
Guidebooks:
The Munros, SMC
Maps:
OS Explorer 437 (1:25,000), OS Landranger 20 (1:50,000) Directory Listings:
Find more Listings near this route Tourist info:
Strathpeffer (0845 22 55 121)
Further Routes
by Dan Bailey UKH
- East Ridge of Beinn a' Chaorainn and Beinn Teallach 21 Jan
- A' Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire 4 Dec, 2023
- Meall na Teanga & Sron a' Choire Ghairbh - The Loch Lochy Munros 6 Nov, 2023
- Bynack More 19 Oct, 2023
- Beinn a' Mhuinidh 4 Oct, 2023