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Ben Wyvis (western approach)

Highland Walk

County/Area - Highland - Central Highland

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 8.0 miles / 13 km    Ascent - 3100 feet / 939 metres

Time - 7 hours 10 minutes    Grade - mod/hard

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Ordnance Survey Explorer 437Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer 437Digital Map1:25kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Ben Wyvis (western approach)
Click image to see photo description.

This ascent of Ben Wyvis (Glas Leathad Mor) is an excellent walk to this popular Munro which rises to 1046 metres. The route benefits from an excellent path so in fine weather navigation skills are not required. The quality of the path makes this one of the easier Munros (Scottish hill over 3000 feet) to climb. From the summit you can enjoy excellent views which include the surrounding Highlands and the Cromatry Firth.

The start is the Ben Wyvis car park (grid ref. NH410671) on the east side of the A835 from Inverness to Ullapool. After parking walk north along a track that runs parallel to the main road. Continue across a footbridge to pass through a gate. The path, heading south-east, passes through the Garbat Forest with a burn on your right. Continue across a track and continue a steady climb to exit the forest onto open hillside.

The clear path begins to zigzag up the hill easing the gradient. Above the zigzags a series of stone steps help on the steeper sections and with steady progress uphill you soon arrive at the top of the climb on An Cabar. With the hard work complete, the onward route follows a ridge. Walkers are requested to use the central path to avoid damaging the fragile vegetation. Stay on the broad ridge heading north-east for about two kilometres passing another cairn at the mid-point. A final steady ascent leads to the walled OS trig column on the summit of Ben Wyvis. After enjoying the extensive view, retrace your steps back down to the car park.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1530 Little Wyvis ascent from near Garvemoderate6.4 miles
Walk 2106 Ullapool - a Munro Quartet including Beinn Deargvery hard16.0 miles
Walk 2504 Struie circulareasy/mod4.5 miles
Walk 1305 Sgurr nan Fhir Duibhe from Kinlochewehard7.5 miles
Walk 1347 Meall a' Ghiubhais from Kinlochewemoderate8.0 miles
Walk 1018 Beinn Ghobhlachmoderate6.0 miles
Walk 2116 Beinn Eighe Route Guidehard13.0 miles
Walk 2117 Beinn Eighe - West to East traverse, Torridonhard12.3 miles
Walk 2118 Beinn Eighe traverse including Black Carls, Torridonhard12.5 miles
Walk 2119 Beinn Eighe - The Munros & Sail Mhor, Torridonhard13.0 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Great Mountain Days in Scotland

Great Mountain Days in ScotlandInspirational guidebook to 50 challenging routes for mountaineers, scramblers, hillwalkers and fell runners, many long enough to backpack over 2 days, especially in winter (12 to 25 miles). A mix of classic routes and unsung gems across Scotland from Galloway to the Outer Hebrides in widely differing wild landscapes. With customised OS mapping.
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Walking the Munros Vol 2 - Northern Highlands and the Cairngorms

Walking the Munros Vol 2 - Northern Highlands and the CairngormsGuidebook to walking the northern Munros, covering the northern Highlands, the Cairngorms and the Isle of Skye. 70 routes are described, including those up Ben Macdui, Braeriach and Cairn Gorm. Routes range from 7 to 46km, requiring a fair level of fitness. The second of two guidebooks to walking Scotland's Munros: peaks higher than 3000ft.
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