Ben Wyvis National Nature Reserve

Wildlife and Flora

The different seasons bring exciting opportunities to spot a variety of wildlife on NatureScot's Ben Wyvis National Nature Reserve. As winter brings a dusting of snow to the high peaks, you will be lucky to spot the ptarmigan in its winter white plumage or the mountain hare. Come summer time, flocks of dotterel stop by on their way to more northerly breeding sites, while on the lower ground, butterflies and dragonflies flit around the burns and pools. On calm days, in late October, the mountain resounds with the roaring of red deer stags rutting.

Hillwalking

On a clear day, the views from the summit are outstanding, with the whole of the Moray Firth stretched out beneath you. The 6.5km / 4 mile route starts from the Forestry & Land Scotland car park at Garbat on the A835 between Garve and Ullapool, heads up to An Cabar and along the summit ridge. The average time to the summit and back is six hours.

Check the weather forecast and rethink your plans if conditions change on the mountain.  Equip yourself with a map, compass, hillwalking boots and warm, weatherproof clothing, even in summer. There is no shelter at An Cabar or on the ridge.

Most visitors approach Ben Wyvis from the Forestry & Land Scotland car park at Garbat on the A835 road between Garve and Ullapool. From the car park, the path follows the Allt a’ Bhealaich Mhòir stream with aspen, birch and  rowan clinging to its banks. After two kilometres, it enters the Reserve’s landscape of heather and bog plants. It zig-zags steeply up a staircase of boulders through the scree to An Cabar (946m). There, take the most direct route along the ridge to the summit, keeping to the centre of the eroded areas to prevent further damage. The two kilometre walk rewards you on a clear day with views over the whole of the Moray Firth to the north and east, the Cairngorms to the south and the remote Fannich peaks to the west.

If you have the stamina you can continue on to the summit of Tom a’ Choinnich (955m) before heading down its southwest ridge towards Garbat.