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My wife and I were up for a few days on the the north coast, on our way to Orkney for a week, and so planned a daunder up Ben Hope.
The road down Strathmore Glen is rather 'interesting'.
Ben Hope by
Matt, on Flickr
Ben Hope - 'road' by
Matt, on Flickr
We started with low cloud, but were balancing a forecast for heavy rain late afternoon with a gap in the clouds forecast for around midday. 50:50 for a cloud free top according to MWIS....
There is a steep initial pull up the waterfalls, onto the first terrace.
Ben Hope by
Matt, on Flickr
But as you turn the first proper corner you are greeted with the pleasant looking ridge above. Sadly still swathed in cloud...
Ben Hope by
Matt, on Flickr
After a good push we sat for a quick break before the clouds. I had spent the ascent frustrated by someone who had started creating piles of stacked rocks all over the path - not cairns (although they are barely needed either with a wide path and easy navigation), just balanced stones, including some on steps you would use. I was a good vandal.
Ben Hope by
Matt, on Flickr
Soon enough the glories of the north coast were revealed in a breath-taking 360* view of the north of Scotland, the Pentland Firth and Orkney.
Oh no.
Wait.
That was in my head.
The reality was more inside of a cloud.
And cold.
Ben Hope by
Matt, on Flickr
Lunch was snatched in the summit shelter, and we braved it as long as we could before the cold set in and the clouds refused to lift.
Ben Hope by
Matt, on Flickr
The descent quickly took us back out of clouds
Ben Hope by
Matt, on Flickr
We now saw a lot more folk heading up - but I am not sure if they did get the forecasted break in the clouds.
The last steep drops saw us both with protesting legs - and seemed to really hurt us two days later when climbing on bikes for some Orkney pedals...
Ben Hope by
Matt, on Flickr
And of course the evenings rain turned out to be this heavy:
Port Vasco by
Matt, on Flickr
