Easiest Munros in Scotland
My choice of the easiest Munros in Scotland for beginner hillwalkers.
My Top 10 easiest Munros
All of the routes have very obvious paths to their Munro summits and on some it is possible to continue further and bag more peaks.
A summary of each hillwalking route's ascent, distance and expected time is shown along with links to pages with more information, including maps, GPX downloads, route descriptions, photos and more.
1 The Cairnwell and Carn Aosda
The Glenshee Ski Centre sits at 650m above sea-level and is overlooked by several Munros, including Carn Aosda and The Cairnwell.
These two peaks can be hiked in an afternoon and since their routes follow good tracks and have very little ascent, are ideal for Munro-bagger beginners.
A direct circular route over The Cairnwell and Carn Aosda takes around 2 hours, but there are lots of other route options combining these Munros with other hills including a hillrace taking in another 7 Munros !
My recommended route
Munros west of Glenshee
| Ascent | 625m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 11km |
| Duration | 3:50hr |
2 Meall nan Tarmachan
Meall nan Tarmachan is the Munro summit and the most easterly peak on a fine circular ridge walk above Loch Tay.
The route starts from below the Lochan na Lairige reservoir at just under 500m above sea-level. With an ascent of 700m on a fine path, a direct there-and-back up Meall nan Tarmachan makes for a fine introduction for beginners to hill walking.
Alternatively, continue hiking from the summit on a circular route over three other Munro Tops with a spot of easy rock-scrambling on the way.
My recommended route
Meall nan Tarmachan and Munro Tops
| Ascent | 900m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 12km |
| Duration | 4:40hr |
3 Càrn Liath on Beinn a'Ghlo
Beinn a' Ghlo is a massive and complex mountain range towering above Blair Atholl and Glen Tilt. The most southerly peak of this range is Càrn Liath, a fine Munro of conical shape as seen from the south.
To reach the summit of Càrn Liath, obvious tracks and paths are followed for around 4km and up an ascent of 640m.
For most beginners to hillwalking, Càrn Liath's summit will be their goal, but if you have confidence and some navigation skills, continue further along Beinn a' Ghlo's crests to the other Munros of Bràigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain and Càrn nan Gabhar for an enjoyable day's hiking.
My recommended route
Beinn a' Ghlo from Blair Atholl
| Ascent | 1350m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 20km |
| Duration | 7:15hr |
4 Ben Chonzie
Ben Chonzie sits in the Southern Highlands near Crieff and there are various approaches from Sma' Glen, Glen Turret and Glen Lednock.
The easiest route for hillwalking beginners is from Glen Lednock, which follows fine tracks and fence-posts all the way to the summit cairn.
A longer alternative is a circular route above Loch Turret, which also takes in the neighbouring Corbett peak of Auchnafree Hill.
My recommended route
Ben Chonzie from Glen Lednock
| Ascent | 750m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 12km |
| Duration | 4hr |
5 Cairn Gorm
Cairn Gorm's summit is more than 4,000ft above sea-level and as such, Cairn Gorm is the 6th highest mountain in Scotland.
Yet with Cairn Gorm Mountain Resort just 600m directly below and with excellent tracks, this mountain is very accessible and ideal for beginners to summer hill-walking. The Windy Ridge path starts from the ski centre and leads all the way past the Ptarmigan Station to Cairn Gorm's summit.
From the summit, views are over vast plateaus with Arctic-like tundra, hidden lochans, long narrow crests and dark corries. In fine conditions, the route is a joy to extend over the Northern Corries to Ben Macdui, but beware, due to this mountain's height and location, conditions can change dramatically, even in summer!
My recommended route
Cairn Gorm and Ben Macdui
| Ascent | 1000m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 17km |
| Duration | 6hr |
6 Schiehallion
Where scientists estimated the mass of the earth and where contours began, Schiehallion is therefore a significant mountain for many reasons.
The shape and isolation of this Munro make it a prominent mountain and a distinctive landmark from some directions. The John Muir Trust own much of the land around Schiehallion and have constructed an excellent path up its north-east flank.
The path makes for an easy approach for beginners to hill-walking, but beware the path rises to just over 800m, from where there is a further 200m of ascent on rough terrain !
My recommended route
Schiehallion from Braes of Foss
| Ascent | 750m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 10km |
| Duration | 3:45hr |
7 Mount Keen
Mount Keen is the most easterly of all the Munros, and sits in the fringes of the Cairngorm National Park, south of Ballater.
There are two main approaches up Mount Keen - from Glen Mark to the south and Glen Tanar to the north - your choice will most likely be based on where you are located. Both approaches have fine estate tracks to reach the foot of Mount Keen, from where well-maintained paths are followed to the summit.
Navigation couldn't be easier. A bike is recommended for the cycle along much of the track !
My recommended route
Mount Keen from Glen Esk
| Ascent | 600m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 16km |
| Duration | 3:30hr |
8 Driesh
Driesh, together with its Munro neighbour Mayar, form a long stretch of grass-covered high ground above the Angus Glens.
The easiest route starts from Glen Doll, where fine tracks, paths and fence-post lines make for straightforward navigation onto the summit of Driesh. A line of posts lead onwards to Mayar.
This, combined with the relatively short distance, makes for a lovely afternoon's hiking and a good introduction for beginners to hillwalking. The route can be extended further to Tolmount and Tom Buidhe, returning by 'Jock's Road'.
My recommended route
Driesh and Mayar from Glen Doll
| Ascent | 900m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 14km |
| Duration | 5:00hr |
9 Ben Lomond
The most southerly of all the Munros !
With a well-maintained path to the summit and being close to the large conurbations of the Central Belt, Ben Lomond can get quite busy, particularly on bank holidays and in summer.
Best therefore to head up first thing in the morning to savour the vast views from the summit in tranquillity.
My recommended route
Ben Lomond from Rowardennan
| Ascent | 975m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 11km |
| Duration | 4:20hr |
10 Ben Vorlich
The easiest route up Ben Vorlich begins from the shores of Loch Earn and travels through delightful woodland.
Easy walking on a fine track leads to the base of the mountain, from where a decent path climbs higher.
A bit of easy rock-scrambling can be enjoyed if you fancy extending the route to include Ben Vorlich's rocky Munro neighbour of Stùc a' Chroin.
My recommended route
Ben Vorlich from Ardvorlich
| Ascent | 885m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 8km |
| Duration | 3:30hr |
Choosing your first Munro
Although these are among the easiest Munros in Scotland, all involve mountain terrain where weather can change rapidly. Carry suitable equipment, a map and compass, and check the mountain forecast before setting out.
