Ben More (Mull)
Encyclopedia
Ben More is the highest mountain
and only Munro
(mountains in Scotland that reach an elevation of 3000 feet or more) on the Isle of Mull
, Scotland
.
It is the highest peak in the Inner Hebrides
outwith the Isle of Skye. The mountain is situated in the south of the island, above the shores of Loch na Keal
.
, the walk up from the B8035 road following farm tracks, the side of a stream; Abhainn Dhiseig, and ultimately up scree slopes to the top. From the summit on a clear day, the view encompasses the Sound of Mull
, Staffa
, Ulva
, the Ross of Mull and Iona
in the distance. From sea loch to summit is approximately a four-hour walk.
The more demanding but rewarding route follows a boggy path up the banks of Abhainn na h-Uamha to the bealach between A' Chìoch ("The Breast") and Beinn Fhada (not to be confused with its namesake in Kintail). From the bealach the route follows South West along a steep and rocky ridge first to the peak of A' Chìoch then on and up to Ben More itself. There is respite at the top in a circular refuge of stones. This route starts and ends on the B8035 road and is approximately a 6 hour walk and scramble
.
Climbers should be cautious when using a compass in misty conditions since there is magnetic rock in places, especially near the summit of the mountain.
active, with Ben More being the remnant of a volcano, and it was in this period that the famous rock formations of Staffa
and the basaltic columns of "The Castles" on Ulva
came into being. The lava flows are known as the "Staffa Magma Type member" and can also be seen on Mull at Carsaig, Ardtum, and near Tobermory on its east coast. They are particularly rich in silica.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
and only Munro
Munro
A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over . They are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet , who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munros Tables, in 1891. A Munro top is a summit over 3,000 ft which is not regarded as a separate mountain...
(mountains in Scotland that reach an elevation of 3000 feet or more) on the Isle of Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
It is the highest peak in the Inner Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which enjoy a mild oceanic climate. There are 36 inhabited islands and a further 43 uninhabited Inner Hebrides with an area greater than...
outwith the Isle of Skye. The mountain is situated in the south of the island, above the shores of Loch na Keal
Loch Na Keal
Loch Na Keal , meaning Loch of the Kyle, or Narrows, also Loch of the Cliffs, is the principle sea loch on the western, or Atlantic coastline of the island of Mull, in the Inner Hebrides, Argyll and Bute, Scotland...
.
Access and climbing route
The peak is easiest reached from Loch na KealLoch Na Keal
Loch Na Keal , meaning Loch of the Kyle, or Narrows, also Loch of the Cliffs, is the principle sea loch on the western, or Atlantic coastline of the island of Mull, in the Inner Hebrides, Argyll and Bute, Scotland...
, the walk up from the B8035 road following farm tracks, the side of a stream; Abhainn Dhiseig, and ultimately up scree slopes to the top. From the summit on a clear day, the view encompasses the Sound of Mull
Sound of Mull
The Sound of Mull is a sound between the Inner Hebridean island of Mull and Scotland. It forms part of the Atlantic Ocean....
, Staffa
Staffa
Staffa from the Old Norse for stave or pillar island, is an island of the Inner Hebrides in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The Vikings gave it this name as its columnar basalt reminded them of their houses, which were built from vertically placed tree-logs....
, Ulva
Ulva
Ulva is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, off the west coast of Mull. It is separated from Mull by a narrow strait, and connected to the neighbouring island of Gometra by a bridge. Much of the island is formed from Tertiary basalt rocks, which is formed into columns in places.Ulva has...
, the Ross of Mull and Iona
Iona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
in the distance. From sea loch to summit is approximately a four-hour walk.
The more demanding but rewarding route follows a boggy path up the banks of Abhainn na h-Uamha to the bealach between A' Chìoch ("The Breast") and Beinn Fhada (not to be confused with its namesake in Kintail). From the bealach the route follows South West along a steep and rocky ridge first to the peak of A' Chìoch then on and up to Ben More itself. There is respite at the top in a circular refuge of stones. This route starts and ends on the B8035 road and is approximately a 6 hour walk and scramble
Scrambling
Scrambling is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges. It is an ambiguous term that lies somewhere between hillwalking and rock climbing. It is often distinguished from hillwalking by defining a scramble as a route where hands must be used in the ascent...
.
Climbers should be cautious when using a compass in misty conditions since there is magnetic rock in places, especially near the summit of the mountain.
Geology
Around 60 million years ago, the region was volcanicallyVolcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
active, with Ben More being the remnant of a volcano, and it was in this period that the famous rock formations of Staffa
Staffa
Staffa from the Old Norse for stave or pillar island, is an island of the Inner Hebrides in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The Vikings gave it this name as its columnar basalt reminded them of their houses, which were built from vertically placed tree-logs....
and the basaltic columns of "The Castles" on Ulva
Ulva
Ulva is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, off the west coast of Mull. It is separated from Mull by a narrow strait, and connected to the neighbouring island of Gometra by a bridge. Much of the island is formed from Tertiary basalt rocks, which is formed into columns in places.Ulva has...
came into being. The lava flows are known as the "Staffa Magma Type member" and can also be seen on Mull at Carsaig, Ardtum, and near Tobermory on its east coast. They are particularly rich in silica.
