UKC

A dramatic massif of chunky granite tors and starkly beautiful north coast views, Ben Loyal is up there with the greatest of Scotland's mountains. Rising from sea level, its distinctive multi-peaked profile dominating the tidal sands of the Kyle of Tongue, Loyal has a bigger feel than its summit elevation might suggest. For full scenic effect it's best approached from the north, but while a linear summit raid seems to be the standard advice, the full traverse of the hill described here has a more satisfying completeness, and takes you through some bonus scenic corners. Despite the fairly modest distance and ascent, it's not an easy day.

10.81 miles, 17.40 km, 848m ascent, 7:30 – 8:30 hours. Tongue

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In reply to Dan Bailey - UKHillwalking.com:

We did a slightly shorter circuit in 2013 coming down from the fearsome looking Sgor a' Chleirich via its north ridge. It would be straightforward for competent scramblers in ascent but a bit heart-in-mouth going down since the bottom wasn't always in view. I had been squinting at it as we'd been further back on the circuit and it had looked steep but OK (as it turned out, but I was glad to be off without incident!). We traversed above the wood to get back to the approach and I don't recall it being too much of a pain. What was a pain were the unrelenting clegs on the moorland approach. They faded away as we gained height but they knew we had to come back down and were waiting for us! A grand day out on a super hill.

In reply to Dan Bailey - UKHillwalking.com:

In some ways, it is a good thing Ben Loyal is so far north. It is such a magnificent mountain, worthy of much exploration, and yet its distance from most of the population means it is rarely crowded. 

And you have a typo in the 'Seasonal variations' sidebar text - 'strep' should be 'steep' (unless there is something you are not telling us about streptococcal infections from the clegs). 

In reply to Lankyman:

A good way up maybe?

In reply to Harry Jarvis:

It's not the clegs you've got to worry about. Deer keds ate them all.

In reply to Dan Bailey - UKHillwalking.com:

Yes (in hindsight!)

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3574026

In reply to Lankyman:

That looks rather inviting as an ascent route!

In reply to Harry Jarvis:

Yes the best thing folk can do is stay far away, although the nc500 has probably put paid to that. Bah.