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Name:Ben Hiel
Hill number:1139
Height:535m / 1755ft
RHB Section:16B: Durness to Loch Shin
County/UA:Highland
Catchment:Borgie, Catchment Boundaries, Tongue
Class:Marilyn, Hump, Dodd (500-599m), Highland Five, Yeaman
(Ma,Hu,Tu,5,HF,Y)
Grid ref:NC 59583 50038
Summit feature:prominent rock 7m W of cairn
Drop:210m
Col:325m  NC595492  
OS map sheet(s):(1:50k) 10
(1:25k) 447N 447S 448N
Survey:Abney level
GPS data:show GPS entries for this hill

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N.B. Some hill summits are on private property or on land where there is no public right of way.  Permission should be sought from the landowner where access to a hill summit is through private land(*).
*For information about access rights in Scotland see the ScotWays website.
Please report via the contact page any logs you see below which describe or encourage acts of trespass.  Please quote the hill number and hill name.

Logged Descriptions  (logged by 115 users)ByDate of Ascent
After Sgor Chaonasaid & An Caisteal via N side Creag Ruabhach & up to Ben Hiel from 5898/4980duchally08/06/2023
Parked at Lettermore and walked up the road to Gill's ATV track just beyond the bridge. This allows good passage through the tussocks and heather though its direction becomes less useful at c320m. Still a bit spongy above here but there's wee outcrops that can be stitched together. More or less straight down then up the grassy runnel to the right of the crags and up Creag Riabhach. Over An Caisteal and Beinn Bheag then down to the outflow of Loch Fhionnaich and the Sgurr above. Back over Carn an Tionail and then to Cnoc nan Cuilean and Meall Eudainn. Followed the burn down to the ATV track which takes you to the road and the walk back to the car. Gorgeous weather and views all day - didn't see a soul. 7hr 25m car to car.StueyB29/04/2023
A lovely day for my 1500th Marilyn and birthday walk. Parked on grass alongside unsurfaced passing place approx. 614492ish. Off piste to ruins and old wall, rough stuff above despite benign grassy appearance then contouring to 602493 and up ridge to rocky spine of hill. Superb walk along to the summit, notwithstanding deep spongy vegetables right at the top. Headed down towards the mapped sheepfold finding a poor ATV track a long way above it. Would be a better route up the hill than off piste. Track joins road at small bridge 614489. Even though it's rough and tough, it's a very fine hill indeed.Gill01/06/2022
Solo trip. Started up track to mast, which continues SW then west-ish up the Allt Dubh before becoming very faint. Do not be tempted by the easy-looking slopes on the E side of the hill. They are covered in spongy vegetation into which I sank to mid-calf. It was like breaking trail in soft snow. Have faith and continue up SW to the bottom of the SSE ridge of the hill. A fine rocky grassy ridge with (at last) views of Ben Loyal.Invicta1424/04/2022
After Cnoc nan Cuilean drove to 614490 and enjoyed an ascent in fine weather. Simply superb further up on the rocky ridge. The views are amazing.NormanW15/05/2021
Parked 614490, big passing place and additional grass beyond it for parking. Very windy, tortuous broken summit, stay high, don't contour. Overcast but still good views.iangalbraith04/11/2020
Final peak before heading east back to car. Finished off me butties, and took a few more pics. Superb mountain. Seriously glad I won't have to drive that NC 500 route again, nightmare with all traffic now.iandesbottes27/09/2020
Parked by Loch Loyal 614491. Rough ground lower down, fortunately not too boggy after a dry spell.Owen B21/04/2019
On solo traverse of Loyal Marilyns + Beinn Stumanadh.amswanston02/09/2018
1 of 3: From north end of Loch Loyal.ChrisR16/08/2018
Clockwise round of three marilyns from Lettermore. Lots of blueberries at col. Splendid view of north coast from summit. Trackless long vegetation problem descending lower ground.Topographer5718/07/2018
From good parking at the north end of Loch Loyal. Followed track to mast (not shown on my map) and then moorland to the top.Alan Moore17/05/2018
MMC Tongue trip with Noelle Ryan and Jon Moss. followed Donald Irvine's advice about the round to take in two Marilyns. Long mostly dry day in low cloud on Ben Loyal but some views from Marilyns. 8 hours.alexmaclennan21/10/2017
Up from the east on a lovely summers day. Complex ridge, steep descent to get on the path to Ben Loyal.Play2End20/06/2017
2/3 from Tongue road to the east. Dry grassy then rocky outcrops to the summit. Sunny, views to Orkney and all roundN.Morters03/05/2017
Weather fair with moderate wind.MountainMac29/04/2017
From the east.AndrewFinnimore26/08/2014
On way from Loch Loyal appropriately enough to Ben Loyal. Name loyalty, indeed. A fine summit in its own right, with grand views.Martin R27/05/2014
Parked opposite the track up to the disused quarry, at NC613500. Walked up the track and above Creagh Dubh and along the ridge to the top, returning more directly to the north of Creagh Dubh.martin_hall17/03/2013
Climbed from North end of Loch Loyal. Up past phone mast to Creag Dhubh bealach then up SE ridge. Return same way.Chris Peart24/11/2012
Took in this Marilyn en-route to Ben Loyal. So close to it's big cousin it seemed we could reach out and touch it! Easy access from Loch Loyal, but an unnecessary distraction if doing Ben Loyal from the usual start point of Ribgill Farm.jonglew23/05/2012
From Ribigil via Cunside. Up to col pt. NC590496, took in Ben Hiel from col - steep slopes (back deer tracks help), then slabby outcrops to top..nordicstar01/05/2011
A great little hill, very complex topography done with a layer of snow and on a very cold day.thenomad24/11/2010
with Jamie and ben-Jivegibagger08/08/2010
Parked in small space opposite a lay by on A 836. Rumble of thunder. Plod over sloping deer grass moor then steeply up on tussock and heather to grass under grey crags and to top of ridge. Turned right to a flattish slope of wet grass and to top at 11.30. Neat cairn of 20 rounded stones on highest crag. Loyal looking splendid close to.arranc29/07/2008
Up and down from the road after a night in Achnanclach bothy.Eddie03/12/2005
fine craggy complex hill, fine views. A836, atv tk from 613499, bypass false summit RHW17/10/2001
With Ben LoyalBLACKHILL15/06/2001
danpquinn28/11/2022
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Tricky12/10/2019
sarah mundell24/08/2019
Tom Mundell24/08/2019
Simon Winton18/06/2019
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bobhem2505/03/2019
Martyn102/07/2018
Glenysj2102/07/2018
Dave McG08/06/2018
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iainwalton14/04/2018
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Tony Rogers11/06/2014
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Alan Whatley05/04/2012
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jimbloomer20/06/2011
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RichardM28/05/2007
Denise 28/05/2007
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Tony S30/04/2007
Gavin Theobald00/00/2007
Lindsay M24/09/2006
Janet M24/09/2006
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Pete R06/06/2003
Colin Crawford11/02/2003
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fasgadh03/01/2002
chalky195314/10/1999
JimElliott31/05/1999
ChrisU02/04/1999
Sherlock18/05/1996
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