DESCRIPTION

When traveling between Inverness and Ullapool, it’s impossible not to notice vast sprawling lump of Ben Wyvis which dominates views across Easter Ross. The huge west/ north west face face of this mountain coupled with a summit plateau that, given it’s altitude (1046m) is unusually grassy, make it an obvious objective for anyone keen to fly the bigger mountains of the Highlands. Ben Wyvis is best flown in very light north west through to westerly or nil wind conditions. Take off is at an altitude of 3000ft and it is important to pay close attention to the upper level wind speeds when planning a flight here especially as, perhaps due to Ben Wyvis being more prominent than other hills in the immediate vicinity, the summit plateau tends to be a particularly windy place even when at valley level things might seem quite calm.

ACTIVITIES

- paragliding
- hike
- xc

weather

It’s worth paying attention to the wind of the surface of Loch Garve when en route to Ben Wyvis. An indication of anything more than a very light breeze on the surface of the loch will usually mean that it’s going to be too windy high up to fly. If conditions are strong, do not be tempted to launch from lower down the face as this is not a hillside to be pinned against and hoovered up - the scale and topography of Ben Wyvis make it a dangerous place to fly in strong conditions. In summer it is also important to watch out for the easterly sea breeze kicking in. It has a tendency to be funneled between An Cabar and Little Wyvis (Tom na Caillich). This may not be immediately apparent from the air and so can catch out the unwary if setting up to land between the Garbat Forest and lower slopes of the hill. Note also that in winter the slopes of Ben Wyvis are particularly prone to the build up of windslab and avalanches are not uncommon.

access

Parking can be found at Garbat which is just beyond Garve when traveling north on the A835 Tore to Ullapool Road. From the car-park a well marked trail leads up through woods to the prominent top of An Cabar.

regulation

Ben Wyvis is in the Highland Restricted Area (HRA) and midweek flying is subject to strict restrictions.