Ben Hogh - though only 106m high - is the highest hill on Coll and is an excellent viewpoint, well repaying the short ascent. Near the summit is the Clach na Ban-righ or Queen's Stone.
Faint paths, wet in places and some rough heather ground. Gate at start may need to be climbed.
None to start.
Clabhach.
The walk starts from the tiny cluster of cottages at Clabhach at a sharp bend in the road. Either find a place to park on the verge nearby (taking care not to block gates or passing places) - or arrive here as part of the central circuit loop from Arinagour, or by bike. Go through the gate at the road corner (this was in a poor condition/unopenable on our last visit and you may have to climb it) and follow the boggy/grassy track which climbs up and then continues southwards towards Ben Hogh.
The track soon fades to a faint grassy path, curving slightly to the right before aiming for the foot of the hill where a wooden stile leads over the drystone wall. From here the path climbs up the slope straight ahead aiming for the low col before bearing right to climb more steeply up the heathery slope until the ground begins to level off. From here aim first for the prominent boulder - the Clach na Ban-righ or Queen's Stone. This is an erratic - a rock carried along and then deposited by a glacier - and is perched on three much smaller stones.
From here the summit trig point is a short stroll away. As might be expected from the highest point, there are wonderful views of much of Coll as well as out towards the Outer Hebrides. In fact the trig point stands at 104m and the true summit is a slightly higher point to the southeast (follow the faint path if you want to detour to it), but there is little doubt that this is the more distinctive top.
The return is back the same way, enjoying the views to the cottages at Cladhach and sea beyond along the way.
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