Ben Hiel

Rising above the eastern shore of the Kyle of Tongue, this North West Highland Marilyn offers a perspective far grander than its 535-metre stature suggests. It is a solitary, heathery lump that provides an unparalleled grandstand view across to the jagged granite peaks of Ben Loyal and the massive bulk of Ben Hope.

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic Beinn Shìtheil, which translates as the 'peaceful' or 'tranquil mountain', a stark contrast to the rugged, fortress-like profile of its immediate neighbour, Ben Loyal.
• •Its position as an isolated Marilyn makes it one of the finest vantage points in Sutherland for viewing the Rabbit Islands and the white sands of Watch Hill across the Kyle of Tongue.
• •The ascent is often undertaken from the south-west near the base of Ben Loyal, though the terrain is notoriously heathery and can be exceptionally boggy after the frequent Sutherland rain.
• •While the name suggests a certain serenity, the 'peace' is frequently interrupted by the ferocious Atlantic winds that buffet this exposed coastal outlier.