Scotland
Ben Hope
927M
3041FT
About Ben Hope
Rising as a solitary, craggy wedge above the vast peatlands of the Flow Country, this is the most northerly of the Munros. The ascent from Strathmore is steep but rewarding, revealing a summit that feels like the edge of the world, overlooking the cold Atlantic and the intricate Sutherland coastline.
Key Statistics
Rank
6th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
772m
Nearest Town
Data coming soon
Geology
You are walking on the Altnaharra Psammite Formation. This rugged rock began as ancient sand that was compressed and hardened into the tough foundation under your boots.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NC477501
Latitude
58.4131°N
Longitude
4.6079°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Beinn Hòb, which likely has roots in the Old Norse word hóp, meaning a bay or landlocked inlet. This refers to the nearby Loch Hope and reflects the strong Viking influence on the nomenclature of northern Sutherland.
- •As the most northerly Munro, the mountain offers a unique vantage point; on clear days, you can look across the Pentland Firth to see the cliffs of Hoy in the Orkney Islands and the distinctive stack of the Old Man of Hoy.
- •The peak is regarded as one of nineteen 'Holy Mountains' by the Aetherius Society. Followers believe the mountain was spiritually charged by a cosmic being in 1958 and occasionally make pilgrimages to the summit.
- •The mountain’s western face is a massive, tiered limestone and gneiss crag that stands in stark contrast to the rounded, boggy moorland of the surrounding Flow Country.
- •While most Munros are part of long, connected ridges, this hill is an 'outlier' that stands completely alone, making it a prominent landmark for sailors navigating the northern coast.
- •For many walkers, the real test of endurance is not the 900-metre climb itself, but the fifty miles of single-track road required to reach the start of the path.