While a lot of my trips last year were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, I ended up doing a fantastic week-long road trip around the very north of Scotland, the North Coast 500. One of the best parts of the trip was the spectacular scenery of these remote northern regions. I loved all the hiking I did—and hiking up Ben Hope, the most northern Munro in Scotland, was a real highlight! You can also read about my best North Coast 500 travel tips. Here’s everything you need to know about hiking Ben Hope and doing this amazing hike in northern Scotland.

EDIT: I took this trip in August 2020, and this post was written and ready to publish before my marriage ended. I have decided not to edit the original post.

Starting the Hike up Ben Hope

The starting point for the hike up Ben Hope is in Strathmore, about 8.5 miles (20-25 minutes driving) from the A838, down a narrow, overgrown, single-track road. Drive cautiously here, as visibility for the road ahead isn’t great! However, you can get great views out to Loch Hope as you drive along. There is a car park with room for about 15 cars, plus room for another 8-10 cars on the side of the road near a farm building. Due to the remoteness of the hike, we thought we’d have it mainly to ourselves—we were wrong! We got one of the last spots when we arrived just before noon, but it was a bank holiday Monday, so that could be why.

There are no toilets or water facilities at the start of the hike, so make sure you plan in advance. As with all hikes in the UK, I recommend always having a waterproof rain jacket and rain pants, in addition to layers. Sturdy hiking boots are a must on this steep hike (I love my Scarpa Mistral boots!). Hiking poles are a lifesaver, especially on the descent. You’ll need OS map OS Explorer 447: Map of Ben Hope, Ben Loyal, & Kyle of Tongue for this. You can check out all of my recommendations in my outdoor gear guide! And don’t forget plenty of water and snacks! (Check out my North Coast 500 packing list here.) There is a well-trod path signposted “way up Ben Hope” to start the climb.

Hiking Ben Hope: The Steep Ascent

There’s no way around it: Ben Hope is a very steep hike. The mountain is 927 meters, and you start at essentially sea level (Loch Hope), so you climb every single one of them to get to the summit. While I am generally quite fit and active, the steep incline meant I regularly had to stop and pause to catch my breath throughout the entire hike up Ben Hope. The total ascent for this is approximately 946 meters.

The path climbs past a series of waterfalls, and through a muddy/boggy section to reach Allt a’Mhuiseil ridge. This is a false summit, so don’t get your hopes up! There’s still quite a bit to climb further on. Once you’re on this ridge however, there’s a bit of a break from the steepness as you walk across a grassy section. The views out to Strathmore and the Strathmore River are just amazing!

You don’t get too much of a breather, as soon the path continues ascending steeply through a rock/slate area. There is a big cairn before you go through the rocky bit. It took me about 1 hour and 20 minutes from leaving the car to get here. There’s another small false summit, as you arrive up to a large rocky area. The path veers to the right here, where you can see the trig point at the actual summit!

The views from the top of Ben Hope are unparalleled. I didn’t think I’d ever see anything in Scotland that could hold a candle to the magical beauty of the Isle of Skye, but Ben Hope proved me wrong. The views east, to the craggy and mystical Ben Loyal among lakes, was stunning. You can see the coast and the sea to the north, and to the west there are more rocky mountains. It took me just under 2 hours to get to the summit.

I honestly don’t think I can put into words how beautiful this was. I’m so thankful visibility was good when we went up Ben Hope! There is a rock shelter by the trig point at Ben Hope. Take your time, enjoy the views, and go camera-happy!

Descending Down Ben Hope

The simplest option is to do Ben Hope as an out-and-back, and return on the same path you came. This is what I did, and it worked pretty well! Keep in mind that after all the steep climbing up to the summit, you have to descend down on the same steep path. I honestly don’t know how my knees would have made it if I hadn’t have had my hiking poles. I strongly recommend hiking poles for Ben Hope, it’ll give you so much more stability and your knees will thank you later!

It took me about 50 minutes to get from the summit down past the grassy area and to the more stony/muddy path. Again, the views out to Strathmore are excellent. I had to stop a few times to give my knees a break, but eventually made it past the waterfall and all the way to the bottom.

Overall, this hike is 4.75 miles and it took me 3 hours and 45 minutes. Don’t be deceived by the mileage—keep in mind you are hiking straight up the mountain! WalkHighlands has an excellent description of the hike, although they advise 4-6 hours for the hike. Due to the steepness and gradient of the path, I can definitely see why.

Planning Your Trip

Ben Hope is the most northern Munro, and definitely one hike to put on your list if you’re doing the North Coast 500! While this hike has more elevation gain, it is meant to be shorter time-wise than doing nearby Ben Loyal. And of course, if you’re bagging Munros you can’t miss it! I’d also recommend driving two minutes down the road to Dun Dornaigil Broch, which is 2300 years old!

Due to Ben Hope’s location, you most likely won’t end up here accidentally! There are options for accommodation around either Tongue or Durness. The Ben Loyal Hotel is probably the most convenient in Tongue. You can also stay at the Smoo Cave Hotel just outside Durness (we ate a delicious Ben Hope victory dinner here!), or the Durness Youth Hostel. If you’re camping, the Kyle of Tongue campsite was recommended to us. You’re also close to Sango Sands, which is meant to be one of the best campsites on the North Coast 500 route.

If you’re wild camping, there are a few options on the road between Ben Hope and the A838 where you could park the car safely (not in a passing place) and set up a tent. However I didn’t camp here, so I don’t really know what the ground is like. And while the road is quiet, camping next to a road will mean noise throughout the night.

There is no public transportation available to the starting point of the hike up Ben Hope, so you will need your own car to do this hike. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Hiking Ben Hope was such a huge accomplishment for me. It was challenging, and I was so overjoyed to reach the summit! This isn’t an easy hike, but so rewarding. If you are up for a very steep half-day hike on the North Coast 500, I definitely recommend Ben Hope! I hope this post helps in planning a trip to the area and hiking up Ben Hope!

Have you hiked Ben Hope or another Munro in Scotland?

You might also like my posts:

What You Need To Know About The North Coast 500 In Scotland Before You Go

A 7-Day Itinerary For Scotland’s North Coast 500 Road Trip

What To Pack For The North Coast 500 In Scotland

How Much Does It Cost To Do The North Coast 500 In Scotland?

The Best Beaches On Scotland’s North Coast 500

Sandwood Bay: Hiking To Britain’s Most Beautiful Beach

What To See And Do In And Around Inverness

My Outdoor Gear Guide For Hiking And Camping In The UK

All of my Scotland posts and hiking posts!

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