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Ben Hope across the water, its long slope and steep western face above russet moor, cloud over the top.
Ullapool, Ben Wyvis and the far north

Ben Hope

A Munro of 927 metres, number 256 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Ben Hope is Scotland's most northerly Munro, and it stands a long way from the rest.

Its nearest Munro neighbour, Ben Klibreck, is about 23 kilometres to the south-east, and Ben More Assynt is about 34 to the south-west.

The hill rises in Sutherland, close to the shores of Loch Hope. Nearly all of its height is its own: it rises 772 metres above the lowest ground joining it to any higher hill, from a summit of 927.

Starts from
Accounts of the start differ, so take it from the route description and the map.
Stalking
There may be deer stalking on this hill. Mountaineering Scotland suggests checking Heading for the Scottish Hills, or the estate's own website, before you go.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for Ben Hope: the service covers six other areas. No forecast does not mean no risk under snow.
Summit
Grid reference NC 477 501.
Toilets and food
Do not count on a toilet, a shop, fuel or a bus near the start. The nearest café of ours is in Tongue.
On the hill today
0° to 4°Drizzle on the summit, 927 m. Feels like −3° in the wind.

West wind to 13 mph, gusting 24
Rain, about 2 mm
Light from 7.55am to 6.12pm, ten hours

Sat 17Cloudy0° to 4° on top · 9 mph, gusts 18
Sun 18Cloudy1° to 5° on top · 14 mph, gusts 26
Mon 19Cloudy−1° to 6° on top · 8 mph, gusts 13

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: The Northwest Highlands forecast, Ben Hope.

October2026

MTWTFSS

Going another day?

Choose the day you mean to climb.Near or far: the light you will have, and what the summit is likely to be doing.

Photographs by Duncan Macpherson, Celly and Simon Cort, via Google

Before you go

Carry

  • A paper map and a compass, and the skill to use them
  • Waterproofs, warm layers, hat and gloves
  • Food and drink
  • A head torch, a whistle and a first aid kit
  • A survival bag
  • Boots with a good grip

Under snow and ice this is a different day, with short light and the risk of avalanche. It needs an ice axe, crampons, winter boots and the skill to use them.

If something goes wrong

  • Dial 999, ask for the police, then mountain rescue
  • Give a six-figure grid reference: the summit is NC 477 501
  • Say how many are hurt, how many are with you, and your number
  • Register to text 999 before the day: text the word register to 999

The summit is optional. Turning back is the right decision whenever the cloud, the wind or the light say so.

How to call for help in the hills · Safety and skills for the hills · ThinkWINTER

From our readers

Nobody has written from Ben Hope yet. If you were up, yours would be the first.

Tell the next person

Were you up? Three words is enough.A free account, a word for the weather and a line if you like.

Sign in to tell them
From the magazine
Read more elsewhere

For the route itself, take the map and read these.

Sleep and eat at its foot

Next along: Ben Klibreck - Meall nan Con, Ben More Assynt, Conival, Seana Bhraigh. Checked on 9 October 2026. The facts on this page are Mountaineering Scotland's; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's and the Met Office's. Height and position from The Database of British and Irish Hills, v18.3, adapted, CC BY 4.0. This page is not a route description and does not replace a map.