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Stone slab steps climbing a grassy hillside past a lichen-covered boulder on Ben Wyvis, a rounded top above.
Ullapool, Ben Wyvis and the far north

Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor

A Munro of 1,046 metres, number 86 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Ben Wyvis, Bheinn Uais, stands on its own to the north of Inverness: a high whaleback ridge whose summit, Glas Leathad Mòr, is 1,046 metres.

Dotterel, a rare migratory bird, nest in the fragile carpet moss of the summit ridge, says Forestry and Land Scotland. Aspen, birch and rowan grow beside the burn on the lower slopes.

The route climbs steeply from the car park up An Cabar, then follows the main ridge to the summit. Forestry and Land Scotland waymarks some of its mountain routes only as far as the forest edge: out on the hill there are no waymarkers or signposts.

Distance and time
4 miles (6.4 km) to the summit, and about six hours there and back for most people.
Starts from
Forestry and Land Scotland's Ben Wyvis car park, east of the A835 between Garve and Loch Glascarnoch.
Under snow
There is no avalanche forecast for Ben Wyvis: the service covers six other areas. No forecast does not mean no risk under snow.
Summit
Glas Leathad Mòr, grid reference NH 462 683.
Car park
Forestry and Land Scotland's car park is east of the A835 between Garve and Loch Glascarnoch, and free, with a height barrier at 2.5 metres. The nearest postcode, IV23 2PG, is north of it.
When it is full
The car park is small and fills quickly on busy days. A layby about a quarter of a mile along the road takes a few more cars. Share a lift if you can.
Toilets and food
None at the car park. The nearest toilets are the Highland Council's at Silverbridge and Rogie Falls, though Rogie's may not be open all year. Contin and Strathpeffer have shops and places to eat.
On the hill today

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, Glas Leathad Mòr, Ben Wyvis.

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 John Irvine, Damian Kurczyk and Jon Royle, via Google

The car park is small and can fill up quickly on busy days.Forestry and Land Scotland, which keeps the car park and the forest path
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 NH 462 683
  • 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

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From the magazine
Read more elsewhere

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

Sleep and eat at its foot

Next along: Am Faochagach, An Coileachan, Cona' Mheall, Beinn Dearg. Checked on 9 October 2026. The facts on this page are Forestry and Land 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.