The Northwest Highlands stretch from the West of the Great Glen to the West coast and from the North of Kyle of Lochalsh up to the North coast of the Scottish mainland.
Here, in the least populated area of Scotland, you find the most northerly Munro: Ben Hope, which is in a superb position.
On a clear day, you get a view over the Kyle of Tongue across the North Sea all the way to Orkney, and looking southwards, you will see the loch-sprinkled expanse of Assynt that makes you rethink your definition of loneliness.
Hillwalks in the Northwest Highlands
The hillwalks below are sorted into different categories according to their difficulty, as well as the fitness level and experience needed to tackle them.
Please note, however, that they are only valid for hillwalking in summer conditions. What might be a relatively easy hillwalk on a sunny day in June can be a huge challenge when snow and ice are involved – especially when you don’t have the necessary winter hillwalking equipment and the skills to use it correctly.
Also, the following criteria don’t necessarily have to apply all the time. If a short walk would tick all of the typical numbers in the “easy”-category, but has very challenging terrain to cross, it better fits the “moderate”- or “challenging”-category. So, please, take these criteria only as rough guidance and always read the detailed descriptions of the walk you’re interested in.
Typical numbers
- Ascent: up to 800m
- Distance: up to 10km
- Duration: up to 5 hours in total (including breaks)
Typical terrain
- Walk is on well-trodden paths that are obvious
Typical numbers
- Ascent: up to 1.000m
- Distance: up to 15km
- Duration: between 5 and 7 hours
Typical terrain
- Walk is on well-trodden paths that are obvious for most of the way
- Pathless sections may be encountered
- Steeper and more challenging terrain (muddy slopes, bog holes/peat hags)
Typical numbers
- Ascent: up to 1.500m
- Distance: up to 20km
- Duration: between 7 and 9 hours
Typical terrain
- Approach is on well-trodden paths that are obvious for most of the way
- Pathless sections or no paths up the hill or on the plateau
- Various types of challenging terrain (muddy slopes, bog holes/peat hags, scree slopes, boulder fields)
- Sections with moderate exposure may be encountered
No walks in this category yet
Typical numbers
- Ascent: 1.500m+
- Distance: 20km+
- Duration: between 9 and 12 hours
Typical terrain
- Approach and hill paths not always obvious
- Various types of challenging terrain (deep heather on approach and on the slopes, muddy slopes, bog holes/peat hags, scree slopes, boulder fields)
- Sections with moderate to severe exposure may be encountered
- Light scrambling may be necessary to tackle some steep sections
No walks in this category yet
Typical numbers
- Ascent: 1.500m+
- Distance: 25km+
- Duration: 2 days+
Typical terrain
- All kinds of terrain may be encountered from well-trodden paths to challenging sections
No walks in this category yet