Ben Wyvis is a vast and sprawling mountain whose isolated position makes it the dominating feature of a wide area of the Highlands. The ascent to its spacious plateau is a simple walk in good summer conditions by Munro standards and there are very extensive views from the summit.
Summary
Easy ascent on paths through the forest initially, followed by much steeper ground on the path ascending to An Cabar. Beyond the route across to the summit is a featureless plateau which could be tricky for navigation in mist.
Terrain
NH412673
Grid ref
14km/8.75 miles
Distance
Grade
New car park south of Garbat
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1. Park at the car park just south of the bridge over the Allt a Bhealaich Mhoir. From here a new path built to enable walkers to avoid the busy road heads north and crosses the Allt a' Bhealaich Mhoir by a bridge. Once across the stream, the old path is joined; a well trodden route which ascends the north side of the stream through the forest. Aspen, birch and rowan trees alongside the stream enliven the ascent.
Photo © Bob Jones under CCSA
2. After about a kilometre the path becomes more open as the newly planted forest has a wider gap. Climb more steeply, still close to the stream. Just over another kilometre uphill, the forest is completely left behind after crossing a stile, and the path, which has been newly reconstructed to avoid old boggy sections, begins to ascent in a series of zigzags towards the prominent top of An Cabar - the peak on the left side of the valley ahead.
Photo © Bob Jones under CCSA
3. The ascent is steep but the zigzag path leads unerringly to the 946 top of An Cabar, with a dramatic view down the steep slopes to the south. From An Cabar, the going becomes easier once more, although navigation could be difficult as the landscape is quite featureless in poor visibility. Head over Cairn a' Chaptein and across a barely perceptable dip before ascending gently towards the summit.
Photo © Nigel Brown under CCSA
4. The ridge narrows slightly about a third of a kilometre before the summit trig point is reached. The summit of Ben Wyvis (which means Awesome Mountain) is Glas Leathad Mor, a Munro at 1046 metres. In clear visibility the views cover a vast swathe of northern Scotland, from Torridon to the Black Isle and Easter Ross. The sharp cone of Sgurr Mor in the Fannichs is easy to identify. By far the quickest and the pleasantest route of ascent is to retrace your steps.
Photo © Callum Black under CCSA
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