When I first read about Ben Wyvis it almost put me off. 'A flat featureless, boring hill, with nothing going for it apart from its height asl' I think were the words used to describe it. So whilst organising a camping trip to the area during September 1996, it was the last thing on my mind.

But camping on a hill behind Strathpeffer gave me a clear view to the mountain and it was too close to pass up! So one bright and breezy morning we set off, catching the Ullapool bus after a very pretty walk from Strathpeffer to Contin (excellent campsite).The friendly bus driver dropped us off at a parking place just south of Garbat and we set off up the incredibly dubby track which runs alongside the Allt a'Bhealaich Mhoir. It really was a mess - we were grumpy and tired from trudging through the mud and we almost turned back. After a while muttering and cursing we passeda forestry plantation and turned up a pretty well trodden/eroded path to climb the steep slopes of An Cabar, the southern top. Once we were up, it was an easy mile or so over the mossy, bouncy plateau to the summit cairn. We couldn't hang around long to admire the views because we were in imminent danger of being blown off the top. Choose a day when its calm if you want to do this one. It isn't the most awe inspiring mountain going,.it IS flat, featureless and boring but the views to the west from the summit make it very worthwhile. I have no experience of it during the winter, but allegedly it makes a good winter climb, but prone to avalanches!

To descend, either turn round and go back (not through that mud we weren't) or carry on along the ridge to Tom a' Choinnich and follow the burn (Allt a' Gharbh Bhaid) down to Garbat.

Notes: we went in early autumn when the weather was not at its best. Avoid it like the plague if its windy. Also watch out for the two great corries on its east side where the snow lies almost permanantly. We celebrated back at base camp later that night with 2 bottles of Cairn O' Mhor wine! My first 'Munro'!