Ben Hope

Or 'had given up hope but found hope'. Hill fever - it can't be suppressed. With Darren's last Munro on Ladhar Bheinn, I was meant to drive up the night before and meet him somewhere along the way. The plan was to get some shut-eye, then make an early start. I tossed and turned for 30 minutes then decided to just head off at 2230. I was heading along the A82 with a coffee and wondering whether I'd get the whole way to Kinlochourn before a sleep. Driving across Glencoe at 2345 was a spooky experience with many deer popping up at the side of the road, as I drove past. I eventually got to Invergarry for about 0115 only to find a large sign indicating that the A87 West and East was shut until 0700 the next day. Feck. This would mean I wouldn't get to Kinlochourn until at least 0800 with a 90-minute run to Barrisdale meaning I was unlikely to meet Darren on the hill. My tired mind played over what to do. I felt relatively awake. I decided on Ben Hope in the North. I drove (all night) and eventually got to south of Lairg for 0400 before I succumbed to a 30-minute nap. A truck roared past the lay-by and I was awake. I drove on and eventually happened upon a rather wonderful sunrise over Ben Klibreck.

I was really heartened by this and continued the drive round to the Altnaharra, then beyond to the eventual starting point for Ben Hope. It looked impressive from here. At 0600, I began the trek up and made excellent time up the hill. It reminded me of Ben Klibreck in some ways but once on to the flatter plateau, before the final climb I looked back and could appreciate the magnificent views to Foinaven, Klibreck itself and Arkle. The last steep part of the mountain was now bathed in sunshine with a light wind and once at the summit proper, I was blown away by the inversion over Ben Loyal and the North of Scotland. What a fantastic mountain.

I headed over to the further most Northerly point and relished the expanse before me. I phoned my wife and told her I was ok, as she hadn't heard from me since mixed messages through the night. I then began the descent and was back at the car for 0900. Lovely to be back amongst the big boys once again.