Ben Hope

Caley has climbed today the world's most northerly Munro. While we were there the summit was shrouded in wetting mist and drizzle but the views improved with a drop in altitude on the return.
We are looking at Loch Eribol in the distance (a sea loch) and Loch Hope closer to the camera.
As I drove back to Tongue it was frustrating to look back over my right shoulder and see the summit of the mountain cloud free.
Given its status (with geographic latitude) it is not surprising that this is a popular hill but it is sad that the volume of foot traffic has a price in terms of quite serious erosion; and my clumsy feet have only added to it today. Infinitely more accessible, and just as valuable to the committed Munro Bagger, I do not see the same damage (thankfully) to the Grey Corries and other Lochaber mountains. Earlier in the year I quietly cursed the well engineered rock steps hewn on to Ben Wyvis but perhaps it is a necessary evil.