Ben Hee, from West Merkland

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Ben Hee - which appears to be a fairly rounded hill from the A838 road - has some hidden corries and steeper slopes on its eastern and northern sides. It gives a reasonably straightforward hillwalk - revealing spectacular views.

Terrain

Approach track; boggy path up by burn. Upper part of hill and descent route are both pathless.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

West Merkland. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Users' reports

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Bog Factor (key)

Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk starts at West Merkland, where parking is very limited; the former parking in the plantation is no longer available. There's a tiny amount of space at the side of the track entrance at the east side of the bridge, which is the start of the walk, but great care is needed to avoid an obstruction; alternatively there is a larger parking area around 1.3km west along the road. Begin the walk by heading past the gate and along the track which leads up the glen. This is the start of an old route through the Bealach nam Meirleach and on to Strath More. Ignore a track branching off to the left.

Stage 2

After 1.5km - and just before the Allt Coire a' Chruiteir, a small cairn marks the spot to leave the track and begin following a narrow path which heads up the south side of the burn. The path is boggy in places but good in others, whilst the burn has several small attractive waterfalls. Higher up the path has some eroded and some very wet sections.

Stage 3

There are good views back - with the sharp peak of Ben Stack particularly prominent. Once up into Coir' a' Chruiter the path fades out completely. A couple of cairns may help guide you up to head east, eventually gaining the Drochaid Coire nam Mang ridge east of the bealach.

Stage 4

From here a steady climb over grassy slopes and slabby rocks leads up towards Ben Hee.

Stage 5

The summit is marked by a trig point inside a wind-shelter cairn, and is close to the edge of steep slopes plunging down into An Gorm-choire. The views are superb - with Ben Hope looking very fine to the north, and range after range of peaks extending from NW to SW - with Quinag prominent.

Stage 6

To vary the descent, continue briefly along the summit ridge before heading west over more slabby rocks down towards the Sail Gharbh ridge. Once down to around 650m the broad ridge bends to the north and rises very slightly.

Stage 7

There are stunning views down to the lochs along the Bealach nam Meirleach as the ridge swings west downhill once more. The final rises can be bypassed on the south side, making a descending traverse across heathery, fairly steep slopes.

Stage 8

Eventually the gradient eases; continue down to reach the track, then turn left to follow it back to the start.

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