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Ben Hiant

  • Ben Hiant from the viewpoint above Camus Nan Geall
  • The start of the path, directly opposite the track on the opposite side of the road
  • Looking back down the not so well defined path to the road
  • Looking back towards Loch Muddle. The path is fairly easy to follow, once you find it
  • The views to Loch Sunart and Loch Teacuis
  • Fine views to The Small Isles and Skye
  • There are a couple of steep and rocky sections
  • The view of the summit, the path skirts around the side and back
  • Ben Hiant summit
  • Views to Camus Nan Geall from the top of Ben Hiant
  • Take time to enjoy the views from the summit of Ben Hiant
  • Views down to Mingary Castle and Kilchoan from the top of Ben Hiant

Details

The austere rugged profile of Ben Hiant (528m) dominates the northern shore of Loch Sunart of the Ardnamurchan peninsula with its bare rock exposures and jutting outcrops.

Ben Hiant epitomises the complex geology of the Ardnamurchan region being a conglomeration of quartz-dolerite, breccias, pitchstone, basalt lavas, cone sheets and Moine schist. These rock formations bear evidence of later sculpturing by ice.

Habitat types associated with Ben Hiant include wet heath, dry heath and upland grassland.  The grassland includes Festuca ovina-Agrostis capillaris-Galium saxatile grassland and Nardus stricta-Galium saxatile grassland.  Look out for diverse bryophyte assemblages that include woolly hair moss (Racomitrium lanuginosum).   The schists support a diversity of montane flora, including locally abundant populations of Northern rock cress (Cardaminopsis petraea). Species most notable on route include Calluna vulgaris, purple moor grass, crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) and bog myrtle.  Ben Hiant has been designated as an SSSI for its geological features and flora.

This is a lovely low level hill walk with stunning views on a fine day of the Small Isles, Mull and Skye, Loch Sunart and Loch Teacius, and the hills of Morvern.  On the Ardnamurchan peninsula, good views are also afforded of Camus nan Geall and the deserted village of Bourblaige by Kilchoan (a victim of the Highland Clearances in the 19th century) as well as Mingary Castle.  Bourblaige village consists of the remains of 28 drystone buildings (houses, barns and byres) scattered over the hillside, with the lazy beds still visible.

A gentle ascent along a fairly distinctive path but with a few steep and vertiginous sections, requiring a little scrambling in places.  There are also some very boggy sections. The summit is marked by a cairn and a concrete triangulation station.  The walk is best done after a period of dry weather and a fine day.

Look out for signs of pine marten, wild cat, red deer and scan the skyline for raptors (including golden eagles) and corvids. 

A stunning walk on a bright day affording panoramic views at the summit and geological and botanic interest on route. 

Route Details

  1. Park at the wide- splayed track just off the B8007.  The start of the walk is immediately opposite the tarmacs area on a small gravel track that veers right and heads uphill.

  2. The path is fairly distinct in most places and ascends through heathland to upland grassland. There are some level sections as well as some steep sections requiring a little bit of scrambling. 

  3. The path can be boggy and slippery in places, so please take care.

  4. The summit is reached from behind on a gentle ascending path, with the summit soon coming into view with cairn and triangulation station.

  5. Return by the same route, taking particular care on the descent.

Location

starting grid ref: 

NM551641

Links to useful information

  • Lochaber Geopark Rock Route Interpretation board
  • Geology of Ben Hiant-JNCC (pdf)
  • Bourblaige village -CANMORE
  • Ardnamurchan Day Trips - RSPB Glenborrodale, Whisky, History and Wildlife

grade: 

  • moderate

terrain: 

grassy path

length: 

4.4km (2.75 miles

Type: 

  • there and back

Map: 

OS Explorer Map 390 - Ardnamurchan

OS Map

>>view map in full window

Google Map

Safety

Route details and information are provided in good faith.  All walking is potentially dangerous and it is your responsibility to ensure that you are properly dressed and equipped, have a map and compass, have checked and planned your route in advance and are able to navigate effectively.  Maps displayed on these walking pages are intended as an overview of the walk and are NOT suitable for navigation.  Please follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and respect landowners and residents' privacy.  Always check the weather forecast and let others know if you are walking in the hills.

Walking

  • Walking Overview
  • Map of All Walks
  • Ardnamurchan and Moidart
  • Arisaig, Mallaig and Glenfinnan
  • Fort William and Glen Nevis
  • Glencoe, Loch Leven & Argyll
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Ardnamurchan Walking Pages

  • Alphabet Trail
  • Aoineadh Mor
  • Ardmolich Woodland Walk
  • Ardnastaing and Scotstown
  • Ardtornish Castle
  • Ariundle Oakwoods
  • Bay MacNeil Beach
  • Bay of Flies
  • Ben Hiant
  • Ben Resipole
  • Blain Burn Circular
  • Bourblaige Cleared Settlement
  • Camas nan Geall
  • Castle Tioram Circular
  • Castle Tioram Viewpoint
  • Claish Plantation
  • Corrantee Lead Mines from Ardnastaing
  • Corrantee Lead Mines from Polloch
  • Dalilea Walks
  • Dorlin Low Road
  • Fairy Walk
  • Fascadale and Port Eigin-aig
  • Galmadale Dam
  • Garbh Eilean Wildlife Walk
  • Ghardail Loop
  • Glen Moidart
  • Glenborrodale Nature Trail
  • Glendrian and Port Eigin-aig
  • Greadal Fhinn Chambered Cairn
  • Kentra Bay and The Singing Sands
  • Kentra Moss Circular
  • Kilmory Beach
  • Kinlochaline Low Road
  • Kinlochmoidart Old Road
  • Loch Teacuis Northside
  • Mingary Castle
  • Ockle to The Singing Sands
  • Polloch and Loch Shiel
  • Portuairk and Bay MacNeil
  • Portuairk to Sanna
  • Prince's Walk
  • Rahoy Hills - Black Water
  • Rahoy Hills - Loch Arienas
  • Salen Oakwoods
  • Shielfoot Torr
  • Silver Walk
  • Smirisary Walk
  • Sonachan Wood and Heathland
  • St Columba's Chapel, Drimnin
  • Strontian Community Woodland
  • Tennyson's Waterfall

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Road to The Isles

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Day Trips

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