In High Spirits

Exploring an alternative route to the impressive summit of Beinn Bhàn

- FIONA RUSSELL

BEINN BHÀN is an impressive sight from a popular tourist road in northwest Scotland.

Yet, as I discover during a rewarding walk, this mountain's summit appears surprisingly less visited.

The adventure with my friend Ben begins close to the base of the Bealach na Bà, an iconic pass on the famous North Coast 500.

While traffic passes almost constantly on the single-track road, we are very quickly immersed in a peaceful and wonderfully wild landscape.

At first, there is a well-trodden path along the western bank of the River Kishorn. Its gentle incline lulls us into a relaxed pace as we enjoy sunshine and increasingly spectacular views of the high cliffs, buttresses and sandstone amphitheatres that form the eastern flanks of the mountain ridge.

Then, as we meet a junction and veer north-west, the slope steepens and the terrain becomes more rugged.