Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
1,046 m ยท Highland
Glas Leathad Mor is the summit of Ben Wyvis, a huge, rounded Munro north of Garve that dominates the skyline from Inverness and the Black Isle.
Peakify lists 1 measured route up Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor routes, easiest to hardest
There is one measured route so far, graded Moderate. Grades run Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garbat via An Cabar | Garbat forestry car park | 9.2 km one way | 932 m | 3h 25m | 5h 15m | Moderate |
Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor route
Garbat via An Cabar
A path through forestry leads to the steep, pitched shoulder of An Cabar, then a gentle walk along the mossy summit ridge. It starts from Garbat forestry car park. 9.2 km one way with 932 m of ascent. About 3h 25m to the summit and 5h 15m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Moderate.
Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor route GPX
This page doesn't offer a GPX download. To get a GPX file for a Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor route, use the Peakify iPhone app: open Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor, plan the route in the route planner (or import a GPX you already have), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor today and the Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor
What is the easiest route up Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor?
The standard route from Garbat on the Garve to Ullapool road goes through forestry, up the steep shoulder of An Cabar and then along the broad ridge to Glas Leathad Mor. It is a steady climb on a good path.
How much time does each Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor route take?
Garbat via An Cabar: about 3h 25m up and 5h 15m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a Ben Wyvis - Glas Leathad Mor route?
Not from this page. In the Peakify iPhone app, plan the route in the route planner (or import one), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.