Back in July I had a free weekend that coincided with good weather in the north west. This generally seems to be a rare occurrence with good weather appearing to only happen during the working week. Whilst having climbed Ben Hope many times I had never spent a night high on the hill. Cue plans for a night camping on the summit plateau and seeing what the views would bring.
See a slideshow of all images below and please read on.
Sunset over the Cape Wrath hills at the British mainland’s north western tip. Loch Hope is in the foreground, then Loch Eriboll. 
The sun heading down towards the clouds over Cape Wrath 
Around the summit of Ben Hope at 4:20 am; waiting for sunrise, checking out the light 
Around the summit of Ben Hope at 4:20 am; waiting for sunrise, checking out the light 
Around the summit of Ben Hope at 4:20 am; waiting for sunrise, checking out the light. Crescent moon over Ben Loyal 
An early morning view over Ben Hope’s north eastern coire, Coir’ a’ Ghallaich, with the sun rising over the Kyle of Tongue, Ben Loyal and surrounding moors, northern Sutherland. 
Dawn over the Kyle of Tongue 
Sunrise lighting rocks near the summit of Ben Hope. The Kyle of Tongue and the long ridge of Ben Loyal spread out below. 
Early morning light – Ben Loyal from Ben Hope 
Early morning light – Ben Loyal and Ben Klibreck from Ben Hope with the south east ridge of Ben Hope in the foreground 
Ben Hee Over the Clouds from Ben Hope 
A view south over evening clouds from the summit of Ben Hope to Ben Klibreck, itself largely shrouded by cloud 
A slightly tilted camping spot (not as bad as it looks) at the north end of the Ben Hope summit plateau 
A view south west down Loch Eriboll over the picturesque Ard Neackie peninsula to the Corbett Beinn Spionnaidh 
A telephoto view of the misty eastern shore of Loch Eriboll 
Beinn Spionnaidh, a Corbett seen in late afternoon light across Loch Eriboll 
Hazy Misty Foinaven from Ben Hope 
The sun getting much higher over the Kyle of Tongue and Ben Loyal 
The broch of Dun Dornaigil in Strath More with Ben Hope behind 
A long exposure view north up Strath More to Ben Hope taken from near Dun Dornaigil 
A view back south from Cnoc nan Gobhar on the Loch Eriboll coast of the Moine peninsula to Ben Hope, left, Hope, Loch Eriboll, Cranstackie and Beinn Spionnaidh 
North to Whiten Head (An Ceann Geal) from Cnoc nan Gobhar
I drove out on a Saturday afternoon with the weather and light looking good. At Loch Eriboll I had a stop at the near island peninsula of Ard Neakie to take in one of my favourite views down and across Loch Eriboll towards Foinaven, Cranstackie and Beinn Spionnaidh. Despite still being high in the sky, the late afternoon sun streaming through the clouds coupled with a misty haziness was quite spectcular.
A view south west down Loch Eriboll over the picturesque Ard Neackie peninsula to the Corbett Beinn Spionnaidh A telephoto view of the misty eastern shore of Loch Eriboll Beinn Spionnaidh, a Corbett seen in late afternoon light across Loch Eriboll
I made my way down the lovely winding single track road to Muiseal where the path for the normal route to Ben Hope begins. Getting ready there, the midges and cleggs were out in force and I’d forgotten my repellant! A lady on a quick tour of the North Coast 500 route kindly let me use her’s which was a life saver; many thanks!
Getting moving up the hill a breeze mercifully picked up. I moved into a layer of low cloud at about 600 metres whilst heading for the 806 m south east top of Ben Hope. Near the mountain’s main summit I passed through it into much clearer air, took a few photos and then headed for a bit of shelter at the northern tip of the summit plateau from the now strong south-easterly wind.
Ben Hee Over the Clouds from Ben Hope 
A view south over evening clouds from the summit of Ben Hope to Ben Klibreck, itself largely shrouded by cloud 
A slightly tilted camping spot (not as bad as it looks) at the north end of the Ben Hope summit plateau
Tent up and food eaten it was time to enjoy the sunset in the north west over the Cape Wrath hills. Mist sporadically blew through adding to the atmosphere and this continued through the night and into the morning.
Sunset over the Cape Wrath hills at the British mainland’s north western tip. Loch Hope is in the foreground, then Loch Eriboll. The hills are Foinaven, Cranstackie and Beinn Spionnaidh 
The sun heading down towards the clouds over Cape Wrath
I set the alarm early hoping to catch some spectacular morning light. At 4:20 am it was just starting and I had a wander round the summit checking out the light.
By 5:30 am the sun was above the horizon in the north east and the light was spectacular. The following 30 minutes provided the best light.
An early morning view over Ben Hope’s north eastern coire, Coir’ a’ Ghallaich, with the sun rising over the Kyle of Tongue, Ben Loyal and surrounding moors 
Dawn over the Kyle of Tongue 
Sunrise lighting rocks near the summit of Ben Hope. The Kyle of Tongue and the long ridge of Ben Loyal spread out below. 
Early morning light – Ben Loyal from Ben Hope 
Early morning light – Ben Loyal and Ben Klibreck from Ben Hope with the south east ridge of Ben Hope in the foreground
I retired to the tent for a bit more sleep, then on waking to thicker mist I headed to the valley for a brew and to decide how to spend Sunday. Exploring the Moine peninsula past Inverhope towards Whiten Head (An Ceann Geal) has been in my thoughts for a while and I headed that way. It was one of the hottest days of the summer and my borrowed Smidge from the night before had long since worn off. The cleggs were viscious and the heat intense but it was great to make it to Cnoc nan Gobhar and see a bit of new ground to explore. The way towards Whiten Head is wild and rugged. Certainly somewhere to come back to.
A view back south from Cnoc nan Gobhar on the Loch Eriboll coast of the Moine peninsula to Ben Hope, left, Hope, Loch Eriboll, Cranstackie and Beinn Spionnaidh 
North to Whiten Head (An Ceann Geal) from Cnoc nan Gobhar
See the map below for the locations of these photos.
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