Investigating the controversial phenomenon
Whatever the weather, Ben Lomond has a dignity and a magical thrill that for centuries has drawn hikers and climbers from all over the world. Rising steeply from the east shore of Loch Lomond to a height of 974 m (3,193 ft), Ben Lomond is Scotland’s most southerly situated Munro. It offers exhilarating walking and spectacular views across Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
Beinn Alligin truly lives up to its name, meaning the Jewelled Hill or Mountain. This splendid duo of Munros boasts its own pinnacle ridge, the Horns of Alligin. Positioned on the seafacing side of Torridon, it offers an unparalleled vantage point, with views of Skye and the sea to one side, and the Horns framing the adjacent grand peaks on the other.
High above Loch Tay is one of Scotland’s highest mountains, Ben Lawers. It also gives its name to the surrounding National Nature Reserve, which includes the Ben Lawers and Tarmachan ranges. If you walk to the summit you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the rugged and diverse landscape from Glencoe in the west and the Cairngorms in the east.
Beinn Eighe is the largest, though not the highest, of the Torridon giants, its enormous scree-girt ridge having two Munros but really requiring more than one visit to do full justice. As with Liathach, its most rewarding features are on the northern side, with the great Triple Buttress of Coire Mhic Fhearchair being a great showplace.
Crowned as Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis by is a long, not-particularly-remarkable slog, but for the experienced it has so much more to offer. Its magnificent North Face is perhaps the greatest climbing ground in the country, and the approach along the Carn Mor Dearg Arete lends the mountain an almost Alpine grandeur.
Bla Bheinn stands shoulders apart from the rest of the Black Cuillin, rising very steeply and grandly above Loch Slapin–though the hidden side above Srath na Creitheach is equally impressive. Its lofty position makes it an incredible viewpoint, both over the main Cuillin Ridge and a plethora of islands dotting the sea.
Though the summits themselves are mostly rounded and sweeping, the Cairngorms combine to make a vast and unique landscape rising up from the remnants of our ancient Caledonian pinewoods in the straths and glens. Braeriach has a majesty and atmosphere all of its own, with superb wildlife and an amazing array of dramatic, rocky corries that bite into their vast plateau protected by a long approach walk through the closest we have to a natural tree line. It is also the start of a fabulous traverse to Cairn Toul.
Buachaille Etive Mor also know as, the great herdsman of Glen Etive, a twin when seen from that glen to its neighbor Bu,achaille Etive Beag. It is from the spectacular Rannoch Moor side, however, at the head of Glen Coe, that the mountain steals the show with its famed pyramidal appearance. Affectionately known to many climbers simply as the Bookle, this pair of Munros must be the most photographed of Scottish mountains.
Ladhar Bheinn is situated in Knoydart, a remote and spectacularly rugged area of the Highlands that has little or no road access to its main town, Inverie. All the Munros here provide a very demanding walking regime and superb vistas over mountain and sea. But it is Ladhar Bheinn seen looming above Barrisdale Bay on the most beautiful of sea lochs, Loch Huorn, that ranks as the finest.
Liathach is the central and perhaps the most scenic ascent of the three great mountains of Torridon. Its higher Munro, Spidean a’ Choire Leith, looks quite impregnable from most directions, and even the easiest gentle climb involves a little scrambling. The hidden northern side of Liathach is even more spectacular than the great wall towering above Glen Torridon, and is well worth the effort exploring.
While Sgurr Alasdair may rank the highest and the Inaccessible Pinnacle the toughest of the Cuillin Munros, many would regard Sgurr nan Gillean as being the finest peak on Skye. Even the most basic ascent via the southeast ridge is a fairly serious scramble, with the other two ridges edging into the realm of rock climbing. The mountain appears dramatic enough from Sligachan, but this actually hides the mountain’s most glorious features. It is only on a closer exploration to Coire a Bhasteir that the scale and grandeur of the stunning Pinnacle Ridge reveals Sgurr nan Gillean’s true statuesque presence.
The Aonach Eagach in Glencoe is considered the grandest of all of the Scottish mainland ridge traverses. This narrow and exciting ridge traverses between the two Munros of Meall Dearg and Sgorr na Fiannaidh with impressive drops and views down into Glencoe.
The highest mountain in the old county of Argyll, Bidean nam Bian is the whole majestic range of mountains on the south side of Glen Coe. It's dramatic northern ridges are known as the Three Sisters, while the highest summits of the group are hidden away behind.
Buachaille Etive Mòr is one of the most iconic and loved of all the Munro peaks. The epic view of the mountain from the main A82 road makes it appear quite unsurmountable, and is one of the most photographed sights in Scotland.
Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan is a magnificent mountain, the culminating point of a series of fine ridges. It is at the very heart of the wild area at the head of Glen Affric, making it one of the remotest peaks in Scotland. Most walkers will need an overnight stay to make the ascent.
Beinn Fhada has a sprawling summit plateau with steep, craggy sides and several grand corries. It is well seen in the view from Morvich near the head of Loch Duich.
The Devil's Point, or Bod an Deamhain to give its original Gaelic name, is a stark jutting out pyramid of rock that protects the entrance to the Lairig Ghru from the south. From other directions its true nature as the southern end of Cairn Toul is more apparent.
An Sgarsoch is as rounded as it is spectacular, but it must rank amongst the remotest in Scotland, lying as it does in the very lonely country linking the Mounth to the Cairngorms. It requires a very long approach from any direction.
Even Sir Hugh Munro himself never did complete the Inaccessible Pinnacle (In Pinn), which is the second highest summit in the Skye Cuillin. It is notorious as the most difficult of the Munros, requiring a rock-climb and an abseil (and suitable experience or help from an expert) to complete the ascent. It rises from the summit of Sgùrr Dearg.
Mullach an Rathain is known for being the westernmost of the two Munros on the ridge of Liathach, and one of the very best in the Highlands. It offers tremendous vertiginous views down Loch Torridon and the sea as a just reward for the tackling of its extremely steep slopes.
Sgùrr Mòr, a rocky and steep peak between Loch Quoich and lonely Glen Kingie, must also rank amongst the remotest Munros. Unless you have a kayak, the usual approach is from Glendessary to the south, involving a pass to Glen Kingie just to reach the foot of the mountain. The stunning Corbett Sgùrr an Fhuarain is easily included in the walk.
The sheer natural beauty that is Spidean Coire nan Clach was only promoted to Munro status in 1997 to become Beinn Eighe's second Munro.
Majestic Meall Corranaich is part of the Ben Lawers range, and is clearly visible from the Lawers visitor center. It can be climbed from there up a steep ridge, but is more usually ascended from the northwest, starting from the summit of the pass.
The showstopping Meall nan Tarmachan is the only Munro summit on the Tarmachan ridge. It can be climbed quickly from Lochain na Lairige, but is usually tackled as part of a very enjoyable and rocky scramble along the whole ridge with views down onto the dam and reservoir of Lochan na Lairige. The Munro's unmistakable ridge is very prominent when seen from Killin, usually shrouded in mist.
The monumental Ben Macdui is the second highest mountain in Britain. Approaching it from Speyside involves crossing the Cairngorm plateau. The ascent offers good paths on ascent and descent to the plateau, which is extremely exposed and tricky to navigate under snow.
The striking Cairn Toul is the most shapely of the high Cairngorms. It is in a very wild and remote position and many walkers will need an overnight trip to climb it. It is the fourth-highest mountain in Scotland and all of the British Isles, after Ben Nevis, Ben Macdui, and Braeriach.
Not for the fainthearted, Sgòr an Lochain Uaine (commonly reffered to as Angel's Peak) was promoted to full Munro status in 1997. It is an extremely remote solitary mountain at the heart of the Cairngorms, but well worth a visit.
With its great summit cone rising above the foothills, Derry Cairngorm is often mistaken for Ben Macdui in views from Deeside. Nestled in National Trust for Scotland land, the Cairngorm has a wide summit ridge running north-south and connected to Ben Macdui via Creagan a'Choire Etchachan.
Carn an Fhidhleir is perched on the border of Invernessshire, Perthshire and Aberdeenshire. A rounded, slightly non descript hill, it's lent distinction by its remoteness set in the heart of the wild country between the main Cairngorms and the Atholl ranges.
Sources: (National Trust for Scotland) (Walkhighlands) (Steven Fallon)
See also: Scotland's most haunted castles
A vast dome-shaped horizon rising out of the open countryside, Mount Keen is Scotland's most easterly Munro and one of the easiest ones to climb, as it has a relatively straightforward yet scenic path to the top. At the heart of Cairngorms National Park, you might spot majestic red deer in Glen Esk and Glen Tanar while taking in breathtaking views over open moorland from the top. The simplest and quickest route is to tackle it from Glen Esk, but you also have the option of ascending via scenic Glen Tanar.
Munros are the tallest mountains in Scotland, all must fit the criteria of height of over 914 m (3,000 ft). The original list of Munros was first compiled by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891, and has been sporadically updated at various times ever since. There are now officially recognized 282 Munros in total, and in this gallery we show you 30 of the most challenging ones.
Click on to discover them.
Discover the 30 most exhilarating Munros
All with breathtaking scenery and unforgettable climbing and hiking experiences
TRAVEL Scotland
Munros are the tallest mountains in Scotland, all must fit the criteria of height of over 914 m (3,000 ft). The original list of Munros was first compiled by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891, and has been sporadically updated at various times ever since. There are now officially recognized 282 Munros in total, and in this gallery we show you 30 of the most challenging ones.
Click on to discover them.