Ben More

Ben More ( Gaelic “the big hill” ) stands alone as the only munro on Mull and is a popular choice for a last munro as it gives an excellent excuse to stay overnight on the island and celebrate. The base of the mountain is some 16 miles away from the ferry terminal and the public transport on Mull leaves a little to be desired so it leaves the walker with a little quandary of how to get to the start of the walk. I have cycled round to the base of the hill but cycling back to Craignure in time for a ferry with tired legs and a tired companion who could only be encouraged by the offer of a cold beer once we got on the ferry was a experience I could do without repeating. The easiest option is, of course, to take a car over on the ferry and spend a couple of days exploring Mull, a very worthwhile exercise.

The foot of the climb is on the shores of Loch Na Keal at the foot of the burn Abhainn na h-Uamha, there is space just over the bridge to park your car on the grass. The path sets off alongside the burn on the east side and is a steady tramp up which doesn’t really start to get steep until past the waterfalls. There are a couple of tributaries to be crossed and the path here becomes a little indistinct but continue heading for the col directly ahead. The col is a broad saddle and a good place for a rest before the ascent starts in ernest. The satellite peak of A’Chioch ( the breast ) rears up in front of you a requires a steep pull up including some sections where the hands are definitely required.

From the top of A’Chioch you can now see the bulk of Ben More in front and after a short descent the final climb awaits. It starts off steady at first but soon gets narrower and steeper and the final 100m of the climb is a good scramble requiring a good head for heights as the best place to be is right on the ridge as the ground is looser and less secure round to the right.

On the summit there is a round sheep fank which offers some protection from the wind whilst a welcome drink is taken. On a clear day you get fantastic views, north towards the small isles of Rhum and Canna with the cuillins on the Isle of Skye in the background, west out over the Treshnish Islands and Staffa and south east back towards the mainland with Ben Cruachan dominating the skyline.

Leave the summit in a north west direction for a few hundred metres until the steep descent into Coire nam Fuaran opens up before you. Take care here as the early part of the descent is on loose boulders and can be quite hard going until it leads into a grassy slope a couple of hundred metres down. A path alongside Abhainn Dhiseig appears and this is followed down to the road at Dhiseig Farm. Here walk the 3/4 mile along the road and bathe your feet in the burn just as it goes under the bridge.