One of Scotland's more remote Munros, Ben Wyvis is located around 35 miles north of Inverness and is an ideal walker's mountain with a summit plateau covered in rare, springy moss.
Walking Route: Ben Wyvis, Northern Highlands
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Garbat > An Cabar > Ben
Wyvis > Tom A Choinnich > Garbat
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Distance: 9.4 miles
(15.25Km)
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Height Gain: 3552 ft (
1083m)
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Overview: Situated around 35 miles
north of Inverness, Ben Wyvis is one of the most isolated of
the Munros though it has no less than seven tops over 3000
feet. Perfect for hillwalkers.
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Maps: Ordnance Survey: Expl 437, LR
20
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 2
Technicality: 1
Photo Grade: 4
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Start Point: NH
411 678
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Some 35 miles north of Inverness, in the Northern Highlands,
Ben
Wyvis sits isolated from the other big Scottish mountains. The
main ridge of the Ben Wyvis range has no less than seven tops over
3000ft, but only a single Munro in Glas Leathad Mor.
The mountain is perfect for hillwalkers as opposed to climbers with a
straightforward route from the west that's possible even in deep
snow. The western slopes make an ideal introduction to both winter
walking and ski mountaineering, and the flat summit plateau gives
extensive views over Easter Ross and the Cromarty Firth.
Section 1 - Garbat to An Cabar
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Distance: 2.8 miles (4.6km)
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Height Gain: 2630ft (802m)
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From the recently improved car park on the A835 at Garbat head
south along the road to the bridge over the Allt a' Bhealaich Mhoir
then left into the forestry plantations.
The path follows the north bank of the stream between the trees
and water as it steadily climbs uphill. As you exit the trees take
the stile over the fence then turn north east onto the ridge ahead.
This ridge climbs over 1800 feet in a mile and a quarter, getting
steeper as it approaches An
Cabar, the southernmost Munro top of the Ben Wyvis range.
On reaching the summit you're confronted by a unique carpet of
moss stretching out a mile and a half ahead.
Section 2 - An Cabar to Tom A Choinnich
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Distance: 2.6 miles (4.2km)
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Height Gain: 842ft (257m)
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From the summit of
An Cabar, at 3116 ft (950m) the steep
ascent is soon forgotten as you head north west along a flat ridge
with superb walking conditions underfoot provided by the moss carpet
that has given the mountain its National Nature reserve and SSI
status.
To the west the mountain slopes down back to the forestry
plantations but to the east and south east there are wide views over
the Cromarty Firth with its oil platforms.
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Winter on the summit
plateau of the mountain by Peter Macfarlane
from his OM
Gallery album
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Pass Coire na Feola to your right as you gently climb to the summit
of the ridge, and the one Munro that takes its name from the whole
range,
Ben
Wyvis. Now head out on the North North East Ridge as you
descend alongside Coire Mor with its loch way below.
After three quarters of a mile and 800ft of descent the path turns
North West and climbs 400 feet over the next half mile to reach the
top of Tom
A Choinnich.
Section 3 - Tom A Choinnich to
Garbat
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Distance: 4 miles (6.5km)
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Height Gain: 80ft (24m)
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From the summit of Tom A Choinnich it's pretty much all
downhill. Start along the ridge that heads off slightly south of west
to join the descending Allt a'Gharbh Bhaid, and follow this back
downhill to where it disappears into the trees. Instead of following
the stream into the plantation turn south along its edge and continue
for a quarter of a mile to a gate on your right.
Follow the path downhill through the trees to emerge once again at
the car park and your starting point.
