A wide tidal sea loch on Scotland's far north coast, with two big lonely hills rising behind it
The Kyle of Tongue is a shallow sea loch that empties to sand at low tide, out on the north coast of Sutherland where the roads are long and quiet. Behind it stand two mountains, Ben Loyal, a syenite hill crowned with rocky tors, and Ben Hope to the south, the most northerly Munro in Scotland.
The National Scenic Area takes in 245 square kilometres of loch, moor and hill. A causeway now carries the road across the Kyle, though the old route ran round the head of the water. Ben Hope is a steep but straightforward climb by its usual line and a fair objective in good weather; Ben Loyal is lower, but rockier near the top.
This is remote ground with few facilities, and the weather off the Atlantic can turn quickly, so come prepared and self-reliant. There are older traces of people here too, like the little fort at Dun Mhaigh above the water.
