The Munros
The Best (in our opinion)
The Munros
When Sir Hugh Munro published his first tables in 1891, he could hardly have imagined that Munro bagging would become such a popular pursuit. Today, Scotland has 282 Munros, mountains standing over 3,000ft (914m).
Height is the only fixed criterion. Whether a neighbouring summit qualifies as a separate Munro or merely a Munro Top depends on its prominence and separation, with the final decision resting with the Scottish Mountaineering Club.
Completing all 282 Munros takes you through some of the most spectacular and remote landscapes in the Scottish Highlands. I'm often asked which is my favourite, but that depends on the season, weather and company. The same mountain can offer a glorious day of stunning views or a challenging adventure in wild conditions. They're all magnificent in their own way!
Below are some of my favourite Munro routes and mountain days, organised by region using the interactive map. I can provide private mountain guiding for these routes or any other Munros in Scotland. For more technical routes, such as Aonach Eagach or Liathach in winter, I work with specialist, qualified mountaineering instructors (MCI/WMCI).
Whether you're starting your Munro bagging journey, working towards your final few or simply looking for inspiration, get in touch to discuss your next adventure!
North
& South Cairngorms
North & South Cairngorms Includes:
Central
& South
Central & South
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
The Mammores
Level 4 walk - Long and Hard Mountain Days
The Mamores offer some of the finest mountain walking in the Scottish Highlands, with ten Munros typically tackled over three spectacular days:
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The Binnein Beag Circuit: Taking in Binnein Beag, Binnein Mòr, Sgùrr Eilde Mòr and Na Gruagaichean.
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The Ring of Steall: A magnificent high-level circuit above Glen Nevis, including four Munros and some entertaining scrambling.
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The Western Mamores: The remaining two Munros, Mullach nan Coirean and Stob Bàn.
The approaches from Kinlochleven or Glen Nevis offer wonderful scenery and a real sense of remoteness. I particularly love these mountains in winter, when snow-covered ridges and clear night skies make for unforgettable adventures.
Binnein Beag is a personal favourite. Despite its smaller stature, its distinctive pyramidal shape is magnificent, especially beneath a blanket of snow.
Distance: Varies depending on which mountains are included and start point.
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
Glencoe - Buachaille Etive Mor
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Day
Buachaille Etive Mòr, meaning The Herdsman of Etive in Gaelic, is one of Scotland's most iconic mountains. Guarding the entrances to Glencoe and Glen Etive, its near-perfect pyramidal shape, seen from Rannoch Moor, makes it a favourite with photographers, walkers and climbers alike.
Known simply as The Buachaille, the mountain has two Munros: Stob Dearg (1,021m), the famous pyramid, and Stob na Bròige (956m) at the far end of its long, twisting ridge.
The usual walking route follows a steep path between two rocky spurs. Although straightforward in good summer conditions, it can be daunting, while in winter the approach is particularly vulnerable to avalanches.
Once on the ridge, the terrain becomes broader and more undulating, with spectacular views across Rannoch Moor, the mountains of Glencoe, Glen Etive and towards the sea.
It's always a privilege to guide on the Buachaille. For many people, climbing this magnificent mountain is a lifelong ambition, and reaching Stob Dearg for the first time is an unforgettable experience.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: 11km | Ascent: 1,000m | Time: 6–8 hours
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
Glencoe - Aonach Eagach
Level 4 walk - Hard Mountain Day with technical scrambling
There are a few Munros that strike fear into the hearts of Munro baggers. The Inaccessible Pinnacle (InPin) on Skye is one, and the Aonach Eagach in Glencoe is another!
Meaning Notched Ridge, the Aonach Eagach is one of Scotland's most spectacular and exposed mountain traverses. Often described as "Crib Goch on steroids", its knife-edge ridge, sustained Grade 2 scrambling and lack of easy escape routes make it a serious undertaking.
The usual east-to-west traverse begins with an ascent of Am Bodach, continuing to the first Munro, Meall Dearg. A steep, exposed descent leads onto the main ridge, where a succession of rocky pinnacles provides around 2km of exhilarating scrambling before reaching the second Munro, Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh.
One of the ridge's stranger features is the remains of an old boundary fence. As if the knife-edge ridge wasn't enough of a boundary marker!
This is a route for confident scramblers with a good head for heights. We can arrange an experienced, qualified mountaineering instructor for roped guiding, particularly if you're unfamiliar with exposed scrambling. There's absolutely no shame in using a rope on terrain like this.
Summer grade: 2 | Winter grade: I/II
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: 6km | Ascent: 914m | Time: 5–7 hours
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
Glencoe - Ballachulish Horseshoe
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Day
Overlooking Loch Leven and the Ballachulish Bridge, the Ballachulish Horseshoe is a spectacular ridge walk taking in two Munros, Sgòrr Dhearg and Sgòrr Dhonuill, with magnificent views across Glencoe, Ben Nevis and beyond.
I've explored these mountains several times in summer and winter. My first attempt ended in retreat when forestry operations had turned the plantation into an enormous, impassable game of Jenga!
Since then, I've discovered a much more enjoyable approach via Schoolhouse Ridge, a Grade I scramble leading to Sgòrr Bàn. From here, a beautiful sweeping ridge rises towards Sgòrr Dhearg. In my opinion, it's one of the finest ridgelines in Scotland. Not particularly technical, just magnificent in its simplicity.
The horseshoe continues across to Sgòrr Dhonuill, with wonderful views throughout. Rather than descending the usual steep, loose path into the forestry plantation, I prefer continuing along the ridge before descending from around 800m, avoiding much of the forestry.
It's a fantastic mountain day combining gentle scrambling, beautiful ridges and some of the finest scenery in the Scottish Highlands.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: 16km | Ascent: 1,210m | Time: 5–8 hours
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
Glencoe - Bidean nam Bian / Lost Valley
Level 4 walk - Long and Hard Mountain Day
Glencoe is one of Scotland's most dramatic mountain landscapes, with countless classic walks, scrambles and climbs. Among the finest is the circuit of Bidean nam Bian and Stob Coire Sgreamhach, taking in Stob Coire nan Lochan and the famous Lost Valley.
Hidden behind the towering Three Sisters of Glencoe, Bidean nam Bian is the highest mountain in the area, with spectacular views towards Glen Etive, Loch Etive and Ben Nevis.
The route begins with a steep ascent into the magnificent corrie beneath Stob Coire nan Lochan (SCNL), a former Munro now classified as a Munro Top. This dramatic natural amphitheatre is also a popular winter climbing and skills venue, with snow sometimes lingering in its gullies well into summer.
From SCNL, a narrow ridge and short scramble lead to Bidean nam Bian, before continuing along the ridge to the second Munro, Stob Coire Sgreamhach.
The descent into the Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) is steep, eroded and initially rather intimidating! But it eventually opens into a remarkable, almost tranquil valley hidden among Glencoe's towering cliffs. A rocky path, woodland and stream crossing complete this wonderfully varied mountain day.
It's a challenging but hugely rewarding circuit, combining dramatic ridges, magnificent scenery and one of the most atmospheric valleys in the Scottish Highlands.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: 12km | Ascent: 1,090m | Time: 7–8 hours
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
Schiehallion
Level 2 walk - Longer, easy hill walk
Schiehallion is one of Scotland's most distinctive Munros. Standing alone in the Central Highlands, its elegant shape is visible for miles, and on a clear day the summit offers spectacular panoramic views.
It's also a mountain with a fascinating scientific history. In 1774, Nevil Maskelyne conducted an experiment to estimate the mass of the Earth by measuring the gravitational attraction of Schiehallion. The results were remarkably accurate, while the survey work led Charles Hutton to develop a system of contour lines, now an essential feature of modern maps.
Schiehallion is a popular Munro with a good path from the car park, although the upper slopes become increasingly rocky.
My first ascent was at night in torrential rain. The rain was so intense that our head torches reflected straight back at us, rather like driving on full beam through thick fog! We made it to the summit and back, although we didn't see much.
A later visit couldn't have been more different: a crystal-clear winter's day, with spectacular sastrugi, wind-carved snow and rime ice formations. Its isolated position leaves Schiehallion particularly exposed to the elements.
It's a wonderful introduction to Munro bagging, combining a relatively straightforward ascent, extensive views and a remarkable piece of scientific history.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: 8km | Ascent: 753m | Time: 3–5 hours
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
Glen Lyon 4
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Day
The circuit of the four Glen Lyon Munros, Càrn Gorm, Meall Garbh, Càrn Mairg and Creag Mhòr, is one of my favourite long mountain days in the Central Highlands.
These four summits form a broad, undulating horseshoe above Glen Lyon, with excellent views towards the Ben Lawers range and Loch Rannoch. A good initial track leads onto mountain paths, with old fence posts providing useful navigation features in poor visibility.
I've completed this circuit several times, although I once retreated in high winds. In good conditions, it's a magnificent day out. Personally, I prefer it to the classic Lawers ridge. It feels more remote, offers opportunities to shorten the route and, best of all, finishes where you started. No two-car faff!
The main challenge is the bouldery descent from Càrn Mairg, which requires careful footwork. In winter, the fence posts can become coated in spectacular sculptures of rime ice.
Otherwise, this is a wonderful circuit for simply enjoying a long day in the mountains. With beautiful scenery, relatively straightforward walking and four Munros to your name, you'll certainly have earned a good meal in Aberfeldy afterwards!
The photographs are from a solo trip in November 2017, when I was fortunate enough to enjoy some glorious weather. And yes, that's me in one of them!
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: 18km | Ascent: 1,390m | Time: 7–8 hours
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
Ben Chonzie
Level 2 walk - Longer, easy hill walk
Ben Chonzie has often been described as Scotland's most boring Munro! Admittedly, there's nothing particularly technical about it. A good track leads up gentle slopes to a broad, L-shaped ridge. But even supposedly boring mountains can provide wonderful adventures.
I remember very little about my first ascent, probably because it was a typical wet and grey Scottish summer day. My second visit, however, was unforgettable.
Arriving from York one November afternoon, I decided to head up Ben Chonzie for some night navigation practice. The drive to the car park, with patches of black ice along the road, was probably the most technical part of the adventure!
As other walkers returned, I set off alone into the fading light, attracting a few puzzled looks. Higher up, snow covered the paths, but the skies remained largely clear. The moon appeared, and the surrounding snow-covered hills glowed beneath a spectacular display of pink, orange and purple evening light.
The wind was howling, but I made it back to the lower track before needing my head torch, completing the walk in around four hours.
So, if someone tells you a mountain is boring, perhaps it's worth seeing it in a different light. Quite literally! That evening remains one of my favourite memories of this supposedly unremarkable Munro.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: 14km | Ascent: 670m | Time: 3–5 hours
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
Ben More & Stob Binnein
Level 2 walk - Longer, easy hill walk
At 1,174m, Ben More is the highest mountain in the Southern Highlands, with nothing higher anywhere in Britain to the south. Together with neighbouring Stob Binnein (1,165m), it forms an imposing pair of Munros near Crianlarich, on the edge of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
The usual approach starts near Crianlarich, climbing steeply towards Ben More before descending to the col and continuing to Stob Binnein. However, I much prefer the quieter southern approach from Balquhidder.
This route follows a good track towards Stob Binnein, with magnificent views across to Ben Vorlich and Stùc a' Chroin. From Stob Binnein, it's a descent to the col, an ascent of Ben More and then a return over Stob Binnein. It's a little more climbing, but well worth the effort!
On one October visit, we were rewarded with a spectacular sunrise before the weather reverted to something rather more typically Scottish, putting an end to the photography!
Although neither summit involves technical scrambling, this is a substantial mountain day with considerable ascent, particularly when approaching from the south.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: 13km | Ascent: 1,800m | Time: 5–7 hours
Ben Vorlich (Arrochars)
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Day
Despite their dramatic name, the Arrochar Alps are among Scotland's most accessible mountains, rising above Loch Lomond just north of Glasgow. They're rugged, rocky peaks, including four Munros and the famous Cobbler (Ben Arthur), a Corbett with a distinctive, rocky summit.
Ben Vorlich (943m) is perhaps the most straightforward of the group, particularly when approached from Inveruglas on the shores of Loch Lomond. A good track leads past the Sloy hydroelectric power station towards Loch Sloy before climbing steeply onto the mountain.
The usual route follows a well-worn, sometimes badly eroded path, although I prefer exploring quieter alternatives that weave between the rocky outcrops.
Eventually, the terrain opens onto a broad summit ridge, with a trig point at one end and the true summit a little further along. On a clear day, the views are magnificent, stretching across Loch Lomond, the other Arrochar Alps, Ben Lomond and north towards Ben More and the Crianlarich Munros.
Even on a grey day, it's an enjoyable mountain walk. But my photographs are from late winter 2016, when we were treated to a spectacular cloud inversion, with the surrounding peaks rising above a sea of cloud.
A wonderful introduction to the rugged mountains of the Southern Highlands.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
DDistance: 10km | Ascent: 900m | Time: 4–6 hours
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
North & South Cairngorms
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
Cairn Gorm, Ben MacDui & Beinn Mheidhoin
Level 4 walk - Long and Hard Mountain Day
Few mountain days come better than a circuit of Cairn Gorm and Ben Macdui. Add a detour to Loch Etchachan and Beinn Mheadhoin, and you've got one truly epic day in the Cairngorms National Park!
Unlike the rugged peaks of Scotland's west coast, the Cairngorms (Am Monadh Ruadh, or Red Mountains) are vast, sweeping mountains with enormous plateaux. This is some of the highest, coldest and windiest terrain in Britain, where even relatively straightforward walking can become a serious undertaking in poor weather.
At 1,309m (4,295ft), Ben Macdui is Britain's second-highest mountain, and five of Scotland's nine summits over 4,000ft are found in the Cairngorms.
It's difficult to choose a favourite route here. The magnificent Braeriach to Devil's Point circuit is another classic, while Derry Lodge provides access to countless adventures. Even the quieter southern Cairngorms, beyond Braemar and Ballater, have their own special magic.
But the Cairn Gorm and Ben Macdui circuit is a wonderful introduction to the sheer scale and wild beauty of these mountains, with immense views, remote corries and a real sense of wilderness.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: 22.5km | Ascent: 1,500m | Time: 8–10 hours
White Mounth (Lochnagar Circuit)
Level 4 walk - Long and Hard Mountain Day
The White Mounth Circuit from Loch Muick is another magnificent day in the Cairngorms National Park, taking in five Munros: Lochnagar, Càrn an t-Sagairt Mòr, Càrn a' Choire Bhòidheach, Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn.
It's a long walk, around 18 miles, but once you've climbed onto the plateau, the terrain is largely broad and undulating. On a clear day, the views across the northern Cairngorms are spectacular, with an exhilarating sense of space and wilderness.
The highlight is undoubtedly Lochnagar, with its dramatic cliffs and magnificent rocky amphitheatre, a famous venue for summer rock climbing and winter mountaineering.
Good paths cross much of the plateau, making this a popular circuit for groups of walkers. However, in mist or poor weather, the vast, relatively featureless terrain demands careful navigation.
Spring and autumn can be particularly rewarding, with spectacular cloud inversions and cascades, where clouds spill over the mountain slopes like enormous waterfalls.
It's a wonderful high-level mountain walk, combining five Munros, immense panoramas and some of the finest plateau scenery in Scotland.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: Approximately 29km (18 miles) | Ascent: 1,500m | Time: 8–10 hours
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
Beinn a'Ghlo
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Day
The Beinn a' Ghlò circuit near Blair Atholl takes in three Munros: Càrn Liath, Bràigh Coire Chruinn-Bhalgain and Càrn nan Gabhar.
It's a brilliant mountain day, following a broad, undulating ridge with magnificent views across the Southern Cairngorms and surrounding Perthshire hills.
I've completed this circuit several times, including as part of a memorable three-day winter wild camping adventure and as a single winter walk. I've also tackled it in both directions.
One particularly rewarding approach follows the glen beneath the mountains before climbing onto the ridge and traversing roughly west to east. This leaves the return walk for the late afternoon, with the possibility of catching a spectacular sunset.
On one winter outing, the timing couldn't have been better. As you'll see from the second photograph, we were treated to a glorious sunset over the surrounding hills.
A wonderful circuit with three Munros, expansive views and plenty of opportunities for memorable winter adventures.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: 22km | Ascent: 1,250m | Time: 6–8 hours
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
North West Highlands
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
Beinn Dearg Range
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Day
The Beinn Dearg range, near the lovely Highland town of Ullapool, offers a cracking day out on four Munros in some of Scotland's most spectacular mountain country.
Travelling west from Inverness, you leave the A9 behind, passing the enormous whaleback of Ben Wyvis before climbing towards the high ground separating Scotland's east and west coasts. Ahead lie the Fannaichs and the magnificent Beinn Dearg range.
The usual route begins near Inverlael, at the head of Loch Broom, following the River Lael into Gleann na Sguaib. It's a lovely approach, passing through farmland, woodland and open moorland before reaching a broad, rocky bealach.
From here, a rather helpful dry-stone wall provides a useful navigation feature almost to the summit of Beinn Dearg (1,084m).
The neighbouring Munros of Cona' Mheall and Meall nan Ceapraichean can also be climbed without too much additional distance or ascent. With enough time and energy, Eididh nan Clach Geala completes a magnificent four-Munro circuit.
The views are tremendous, stretching towards An Teallach, the Fannaichs, the mountains of Skye and the extraordinary peaks of the far northwest.
For me, these mountains mark the beginning of a different Scotland. Beyond Ullapool, the landscape becomes increasingly wild and almost otherworldly. Isolated mountains rise abruptly from vast, empty spaces, with enormous cliffs and geological formations that seem almost impossible in our otherwise tidy little Britain.
This is the gateway to Sutherland, one of the strangest and most beautiful landscapes anywhere in Britain.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: 24km | Ascent: 1,520m | Time: 7–11 hours
The Fisherfields
Level 5 walk - Long and Hard Wilderness Mountain Days
The Fisherfields, between Gairloch and Ullapool, are among the wildest and most breathtaking mountains in Scotland. Five remote Munros, two dramatic Corbetts (Beinn Dearg Beag and Beinn Dearg Mòr) and the magnificent, notched ridge of An Teallach guarding one of the approaches.
There used to be six Munros here, until Beinn a' Chlaidheimh was demoted after a survey found it fell just short of 3,000ft. It's still a magnificent mountain and well worth including in the traditional round.
The Fisherfield Five (or Six) can be tackled over several days, with long approaches on foot or by bike. But this is somewhere to savour rather than rush. For many Munro baggers, it's their introduction to proper wilderness walking and wild camping.
And it really is wild!
There are two significant river crossings, which can vary from harmless trickles to raging torrents, and some of the worst bogs I've encountered anywhere in Scotland. Paths are generally good where they exist, but the weather and conditions dictate everything.
I've experienced full winter conditions in May, suffered from contaminated water, found myself waist-deep and alone in a swamp, enjoyed three days of baking sunshine and had my tent flooded, resulting in hypothermia.
Expect the unexpected.
Shenavall Bothy is the traditional base for exploring these mountains. Even when it's packed with walkers, there's something wonderful about watching everyone disappear towards their chosen summits until suddenly it's just you, your companions and the wilderness.
The Fisherfields are often said to offer some of the finest mountain views in Britain. Perhaps that's partly because you've worked so hard to reach them!
On a clear day, the panoramas are extraordinary. Add spectacular sunsets, remote mountain camps and a genuine escape from everyday life, and you've got one of Scotland's greatest adventures.
This is serious, remote mountain country where experience, navigation, self-sufficiency and careful planning are essential.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
The Fannaichs
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Days
The Fannaichs are a magnificent range of nine Munros between Inverness and Ullapool. They can be explored over several separate walks or, for the particularly enthusiastic, tackled in one enormous mountain day!
This whole area is spectacular. Approaching from Braemore Junction, where the roads divide towards the Fisherfields and Beinn Dearg, you're entering some of Scotland's finest mountain country.
The views stretch towards Torridon, Beinn Dearg, the magnificent razor-notched ridge of An Teallach and the remote mountains of the far north.
Good tracks lead through the main glens, with paths crossing much of the higher, sometimes bouldery terrain. Yet despite their accessibility, the Fannaichs have an extraordinary sense of wilderness. There's something almost pioneering about exploring these sweeping ridges and remote corries.
When the weather plays along, there's real magic here. Wisps of cloud drift between the summits, mysterious patches of mist appear and disappear, and the landscape takes on an almost otherworldly quality.
They're often my first suggestion to clients when the Fisherfields are too wet, although the Fannaichs have plenty of boggy ground of their own!
Sgùrr Mòr (1,110m) is the highest summit and, to my mind, one of Scotland's most elegant mountains. Neighbouring Beinn Liath Mòr Fannaich, which happened to be my 200th Munro on my first round, offers perhaps the finest views of it.
Accessible yet remote, dramatic yet achievable in a long mountain day, the Fannaichs have a bit of everything: beautiful ridgelines, sweeping panoramas, good paths, rocky summits and, inevitably, some wonderfully squelchy Scottish ground!
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
The Torridon Giants – Liathach, Beinn Eighe & Beinn Alligin
Level 4 walk - Hard and Long Mountain Days
There are few mountain landscapes in Britain quite like Torridon. Three enormous mountain massifs, Liathach, Beinn Eighe and Beinn Alligin, rise almost impossibly from the surrounding glens. Ancient, dramatic and utterly unforgettable.
The Torridonian sandstone is among Britain's oldest rock formations, and these mountains seem to make their own rules. Even the familiar map lichen, Rhizocarpon geographicum, normally bright yellow-green with black markings, takes on unusual purple hues here.
Driving along the winding road between Kinlochewe and Torridon, the mountains appear like enormous fortresses. Sheer walls, jagged ridges and towering cliffs. How on earth do you get up there?
But there are weaknesses in their armour, and some of Scotland's finest mountain adventures await.
Liathach is perhaps the most intimidating. Its two Munros, Spidean a' Choire Lèith and Mullach an Rathain, are connected by a magnificent ridge featuring the famous Am Fasarinen pinnacles. The exposed scrambling is spectacular, although a bypass path avoids the most technical sections. Even this demands a head for heights and careful footwork.
Beinn Eighe is a sprawling mountain of quartzite ridges, dramatic corries and towering cliffs. Its two Munros, Ruadh-stac Mòr and Spidean Coire nan Clach, can be linked in a wonderful mountain circuit. The magnificent Coire Mhic Fhearchair, with its famous Triple Buttress, is one of the most spectacular corries in Scotland.
Then there's Beinn Alligin, often considered the most approachable of the three giants. Its two Munros, Tom na Gruagaich and Sgùrr Mhòr, form a superb horseshoe above Loch Torridon. The famous Horns of Alligin add some exhilarating scrambling for those following the full circuit.
Each mountain has its own character, but all three share that extraordinary Torridon atmosphere. Vast panoramas, ancient rock, knife-edge ridges and an overwhelming sense of geological time.
In summer, these are magnificent mountain adventures, although exposed scrambling and steep terrain demand experience and good judgement. In winter, they become serious mountaineering objectives where conditions can change the difficulty enormously.
These aren't mountains to rush. They're places to explore, experience, see and touch.
The Torridon giants are ancient. And they are magnificent.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
Sgorr Ruadh & Beinn Liath Mor
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Day
The two Munros of Beinn Liath Mhòr and Sgòrr Ruadh, near Glen Carron, make for a magnificent mountain day. You can also add the neighbouring Corbett, Fuar Tholl, although the two Munros alone offer plenty of adventure.
What makes this circuit so rewarding is the extraordinary variety of terrain, vegetation and geology. Each mountain has its own character and challenges.
The approach to Sgòrr Ruadh takes you through a maze of rocky lumps, bumps and wonderfully squelchy Scottish ground. Descending towards the col involves some steep, rough terrain, followed by a short scramble around a rocky obstacle separating the two mountains.
Then comes Beinn Liath Mhòr, which is absolutely sublime. Its pale, rocky slopes seem to glow in the right light, while a beautiful undulating ridge leads across two further lower summits.
On a clear day, the views north are breathtaking. The mighty Torridon giants, Beinn Alligin, Liathach and Beinn Eighe, dominate the skyline, providing one of the finest mountain panoramas in the Highlands.
And there's another bonus: you can reach the start of this walk by train! Achnashellach Station, on the spectacular Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh railway, is right beside the approach.
Two contrasting Munros, wonderful ridges, spectacular views and no need for a car. What's not to love?
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
Distance: 14km | Ascent: 1,140m | Time: 7–8 hours
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
North Glen Affric (South Loch Mullardoch)
Level 4 walk - Long and Hard Mountain Day
Level 5 (if wild camping) - Hard and Long Wilderness Mountain Days
The North Glen Affric Munros form a magnificent collection of eight remote mountains, stretching across some of the wildest and most beautiful country in the Scottish Highlands.
Glen Affric itself is one of my favourite places in Scotland. Entering the glen feels like travelling back to another age. Ancient Scots pine forests give way to heather moorland, vast open spaces and towering mountains. It's a landscape that wouldn't look out of place in The Lord of the Rings.
And it's enormous!
Deep in the glen lies Alltbeithe Youth Hostel, one of Britain's most remote hostels, accessible only on foot or by bike. Even the approach from Glen Shiel takes several hours, and you'll need to carry everything you require.
The surrounding mountains are equally impressive. Some dominate the skyline with their sheer size and dramatic ridges, while others are hidden gems, revealing themselves only as you venture deeper into the wilderness.
I've been fortunate enough to explore Glen Affric extensively. I spent a week with a university mountaineering club at Strawberry Cottage, followed a year later by another stay at an Edinburgh University mountaineering club hut at the opposite end of the glen. Between them, I got to experience much of this extraordinary landscape.
It was also here that I undertook my wildest winter expedition ever, an adventure that only reinforced my fascination with the place.
The more remote Munros demand long approaches, often making a bike useful if you're attempting them in a single day. But why rush?
Glen Affric deserves time. Time to explore its ancient woodlands, remote glens and spectacular ridges. Time to experience its wildlife, tranquillity and extraordinary sense of isolation.
This is a place of mystery, legends and epic adventures. Of tranquil beauty and howling storms.
One of Scotland's truly magical wilderness landscapes.
The North Glen Affric Munros can be explored through a series of long mountain days or as a multi-day wilderness adventure with wild camping.
To see the approximate start point in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
North Glen Affric can be explored via a series of day walks or a wild camp.
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
North Glen Shiel (South Glen Affric)
Level 4 walk - Long and Hard Mountain Day
Glen Shiel reminds me of Glencoe in many ways, but without quite the same crowds. The famous Road to the Isles, leading towards Skye, runs through this enormous glen, surrounded by some of Scotland's most spectacular mountains.
This is an all-or-nothing landscape. There aren't many short mountain days here!
To the north rise the famous Five Sisters of Kintail, alongside the neighbouring Brothers and a succession of dramatic ridges stretching towards Glen Affric. The mountains form part of a vast landscape of almost parallel glens, each with its own character and hidden treasures.
There's history here too. Sgùrr na Spàinteach, a Munro Top, takes its name from the Spanish soldiers who fought alongside the Jacobites at the Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719.
The eastern Munros offer some relatively straightforward approaches, but the western ridges are altogether more serious. The North Glen Shiel ridge is an epic undertaking, with exposed scrambling, narrow ridges and some genuinely hair-raising sections.
One of my particular favourites is Ciste Dhubh, a magnificent mountain with a distinctive, pointed summit. It's one of the few peaks in the area that lends itself particularly well to a single-Munro day. The ascent is dramatic, and the summit rewards you with breathtaking views across the North Glen Shiel mountains, into Glen Affric and far beyond.
Everywhere you look, there are mountains. Great sweeping ridges, deep glens, rocky summits and seemingly endless possibilities for adventure.
With 22 Munros in the wider Glen Shiel area, it's a Munro bagger's dream.
And I absolutely love it!
The North Glen Shiel mountains can be explored through a series of demanding mountain days, with routes ranging from individual summits to long, exposed ridge traverses.
To see where Glen Shiel is in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
North Glen Shiel can be explored via a series of day walks
If you're interested in this walk or this area:
South Glen Shiel Ridge / Forcan Ridge
Level 4 walk - Long and Hard Mountain Day
The Glen Shiel 7 boasts 7 Munros as the name suggests with terrific views across to the North Shiel ridge and across to the Knoydart Hills to the south.
The ridge is long. Roughly 13 km. The bonus being that each Munro isn't separated by enormous cols. The ridge doesn't drop below 800m and the highest summit is just a bit over 1,000m. It's still a long day however as you follow the track undulating and snaking around. It is typically done from near the Clunie Inn near the top of the Glen and finishes further down. The reasoning being that you start higher up meaning less ascent overall.
It is a magical day. A long and tough day but bar a few short scrambles (one unhelpfully at the end in descent) it is straight forward. It gives you that full day out experience with the satisfaction that your Munro tally has gone up by a whopping 7!! Separately, there is the saddle and Sgurr na Sgine. A brilliant circuit of 2 Munros with the infamous Forcan Ridge (grade I or III scramble). The scrambles can be missed out but that does seem almost criminal.
This Glen is a Munro baggers paradise, steeped in history and in an area packed with mountains with views across to Skye on a fine day. It really doesn't get much better.
To see where Glen Shiel is in Google Maps, please see here (opens in a new tab).
South Glen Shiel Ridge Distance: 24km; Ascent: 1,829m; Approx time: 7-11h
Forcan Ridge Munros Distance: 16km; Ascent: 1,430m; Approx time: 5-7h