Best Munros in Scotland
My choice of the 10 best Munros to hike in Scotland.
My Top 10 Munros
What makes a mountain worthy of a place among Scotland's best Munros ?
For me, there are many factors to consider. The views from the summit, the mountain's shape and character, its setting in the landscape, the quality of the hike to reach it and sometimes the surprise of finding something unexpected all play a part. A mountain may feature in a list of the most scenic Munros or the most exciting Munros, but that doesn't necessarily make it one of Scotland's best Munros.
Given everything else being equal - good weather, clear views, dry rock and ground underfoot, and even the absence of midges and ticks - these would be my personal top 10 best Munros in Scotland.
What would your top ten be?
1 Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain, is reached by many people via the Mountain Track, often still called the tourist route or pony track. The summit is frequently in mist, and those who climb only by this route may wonder what all the fuss is about.
Around the back of the mountain, the North Face reveals a very different side of Ben Nevis, with great crags, cliffs and gullies holding snow well into the year. The Carn Mor Dearg arête gives a superb approach to the summit, curving around the mountain before crossing an airy ridge to the final climb.
Ledge Route gives a step up in exposure as a Grade 1 scramble, while Tower Ridge is a true classic. However the summit is reached, a clear day brings far-reaching views and the inevitable game of identifying distant peaks.
My recommended route
Ben Nevis via CMD arête
| Ascent | 1520m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 16km |
| Duration | 6:30hr |
2 Beinn Eighe
All of Torridon's Munros could make a list of the best Munros, but that would take up too many places, so Beinn Eighe gets the nod as the best of the best in Torridon.
Beinn Eighe is a vast mountain, its crests and summits almost entirely made of quartzite. The mountain has seven peaks, two of which have Munro status - Ruadh Stac Mor and Spidean Coire nan Clach.
When viewed from Glen Torridon, Beinn Eighe's south-facing slopes appear as a long wall of scree. The northern side of the mountain is much more complex, with corries pushing deep into the mountain on a grand scale. The most dramatic feature is Coire Mhic Fhearchair, a spectacular amphitheatre hidden from roadside view and backed by the famed Triple Buttress.
My recommended route
Beinn Eighe's Munros
| Ascent | 1250m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 11km |
| Duration | 4:50hr |
3 Blà Bheinn (Blaven)
Blà Bheinn is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful mountains in Scotland. Standing apart from the main Cuillin Ridge, it has a distinctive profile with two principal summits separated by a narrow rocky ridge.
The northern summit is the Munro, while the southern summit is classed as a Munro Top. From both tops, the views are superb in every direction, with an outstanding panorama across the entire Cuillin Ridge on a clear day.
From a hillwalker's perspective, Blà Bheinn is relatively straightforward to ascend, with only the ridge linking the two summits providing any real difficulty. For those seeking a greater challenge, the ascent via Clach Glas is a classic scramble and climb requiring experience, a good head for heights and ropework skills.
My recommended route
Route from Loch Slapin
| Ascent | 930m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 8km |
| Duration | 3:35hr |
4 An Teallach
An Teallach, meaning "The Forge", is the dramatic sandstone mountain rising above Dundonnell and Little Loch Broom. It is one of Scotland's finest ridges, with steep buttresses, pinnacles and cliffs giving it an imposing appearance from every direction.
The mountain has ten recognised summits, two of which have Munro status - Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill and Sgùrr Fiona. Winter snow often transforms the ridge into one of the most spectacular sights in the north-west Highlands.
Although the two Munros can be climbed by a straightforward ascent from Dundonnell, doing so misses the finest section of the mountain. The celebrated Classic Traverse above Loch Toll an Lochain includes airy scrambling and the exposed Corrag Bhuidhe ridge, demanding a good head for heights and careful route choice. A bypass path exists for those wishing to avoid the scrambling.
5 Ladhar Bheinn (Larven)
Mighty Ladhar Bheinn, more commonly known as "Larven", is the dominant mountain of Knoydart, the remote peninsula on Scotland's west coast with no road access. Knoydart is a very special place and always holds a deep affection to anyone who visits there.
The mountain is a complex mass of ridges, corries and summits and not a place to be lost in mist ! Its broad summit crest provides outstanding views across Knoydart, with Skye, Torridon and the Outer Hebrides stretching across the western horizon on a clear day.
The finest approach follows the winding path beside the southern shore of Loch Hourn, a long but beautiful journey with ever-changing scenery. An alternative is to arrive by boat from Mallaig and stay in Knoydart, allowing more time to explore this remarkable mountain and its surroundings.
6 Bidean nam Bian
Bidean nam Bian dominates the southern side of Glencoe, forming a huge and intricate massif of corries, buttresses, hidden gullies and narrow ridges. As the highest mountain in Argyll, its summit commands outstanding views across Glencoe and the surrounding Highlands.
The mountain offers an abundance of routes for hikers, scramblers and climbers alike.
A favourite is scrambling up the 'Zig-zags' around the central buttress of the famed 'Three Sisters' - an easy but exposed scrambling route. A descent through the enchanting Lost Valley rounds off one of Scotland's classic mountain days.
My recommended route
Bidean nam Bian from Glencoe
| Ascent | 1300m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 10km |
| Duration | 4:30hr |
7 Ben Alder (Beinn Eallair)
Ben Alder stands at the heart of one of Scotland's great wilderness areas. Vast plateaus, lonely lochans, sweeping ridges and deep glens combine to create a mountain that feels wonderfully remote despite its Central Highland location.
The journey in is as memorable as the climb itself, with estate tracks leading beside lochs to isolated Culra Bothy, surrounded by mountains and far removed from civilisation.
Strong walkers can cycle to Culra and tackle Ben Alder along with its neighbouring Munros in a long day, while many prefer to spend a night or two by the bothy and explore the range at a more leisurely pace.
My recommended route
Alder Forest Munros
| Ascent | 1075m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 17km |
| Duration | 6:00hr |
8 A' Mhaighdean
A' Mhaighdean is regarded as the most remote Munro, lying deep in the Fisherfield and Letterewe wilderness.
Much planning will be needed to get to the summit of this mountain - options include from Poolewe to the west, Dundonnell to the north-east, Kinlochewe to the south or Loch a' Bhraoin. Regardless of the direction, distances are long and terrain is rough, so back-packing and an overnight camp will most likely be needed.
Get to the summit of A' Mhaighdean and all this effort is made more than worthwhile. The view from the top over Dubh Loch and Fionn Loch north-west to the Outer Hebrides is jaw-droppingly stunning and has to be one of the finest views in the country !
My recommended route
Fisherfield Big 6 from Shenavall
| Ascent | 1300m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 23km |
| Duration | 7:30hr |
9 Sgurr na Ciche
The mountains of the Rough Bounds of Knoydart are wild and remote. On the eastern fringes of this area, Sgurr na Ciche rises dramatically above Loch Nevis, its distinctive profile forming one of the most recognisable mountain silhouettes in the north-west Highlands.
There are many ways to reach the summit, all involving long approaches and careful planning, with some routes including enjoyable scrambling. The reward is a magnificent seaward panorama stretching out to Eigg, Rum, Skye and beyond.
Continue beyond Sgurr na Ciche and the neighbouring summits make for a superb mountain journey. Garbh Chioch Mhòr and its subsidiary tops are crossed beside the long parish wall, which provides a useful navigation aid in mist, before well-defined paths lead onwards across Sgurr nan Coireachan.
10 Ben Avon (Leabaidh an Daimh Bhuidhe)
Ben Avon is a vast mountain of broad plateaux, dramatic cliffs and bizarre granite tors. Unlike any other Munro, its summit area is scattered with huge rock formations that invite exploration and easy scrambling.
From the south, the approach passes through magnificent Scots pine woodland rich in wildlife, from grouse and deer to adders and bustling ant colonies. Higher up, ptarmigan and mountain hare are frequent companions on the open plateau.
The strange tors are what make Ben Avon truly memorable, encouraging endless wandering from one outcrop to the next. The summit tor is the largest of them all and provides an enjoyable scramble to the highest point.
My recommended route
From Linn of Quoich
| Ascent | 1740m |
|---|---|
| Distance | 50km |
| Duration | 12:15hr |
