West Highlands and Skye

West of Dingwall, the beautiful glen of Strathconon travels westwards into a remote setting surrounded by many hills and mountains.

A drive of 12km along a private road with lots of wildlife. Easy walk mainly on fine paths.

Varied terrain and peaks with excellent views to Torridon and Skye. Accessed by good tracks.

East of Plockton, the three Corbetts of Aonach Buidhe, Faochaig and Sguman Coinntich guard the approaches to Affric, Monar and Cannich. Decent estate roads along Glen Elchaig enable access to this remote area.

There are 12 Munros encircling remote Loch Mullardoch. These can be bagged in one long outing, possibly backpacking, or split into 2 or 3 day walks.

Beautiful Glen Affric and its ancient Caledonian forest are surrounded by mountains. A fine way to get to know this area is to be based for a few days at remote Affric Hostel.

On the road to Skye, the Brothers and Five Sisters of Kintail tower above Glen Shiel with more peaks hidden behind.

Varied terrain and fine views with an enjoyable scramble on Mullach Fraoch-Choire.

South of Glen Moriston, Meall Dubh is a infrequented rough Corbett hill. Tracks for wind-turbines have tamed the route to within 1km of Meall Dubh's summit.

South of Glen Shiel a long ridge stretches from Shiel Bridge to Loch Cluanie on which are 9 Munros and a Corbett. The peaks can be bagged in 3 or 4 outings or done in one fairly long day.

A sea-level start and steep path make for a good stiff Munro ascent up Beinn Sgritheall. Easily extended or varied to include the neighbouring Corbett or Fiona peaks.

In Skye, Trotternish is the north-eastern peninsula, along which a spine of cliffs and hills travel from above Portree to the most northerly tip on the island. There are some spectacularly weird rock formations including the Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr.

Lots of scree and superb views. When the weather sulks on the Black Cuillin, the peaks on the Red Cuillin, Blà Bheinn and nearby Beinn na Caillich often stay cloud-free !

To bag the majority of the Munros of the Black Cuillin, sustained scrambling requiring a good head for heights and some ropework will be required. There are some less challenging peaks with Bruach na Frithe reckoned to be the easiest.

More compact than the Skye Cuillin, effort is needed to get to the island and scrambling on the ridges

A small island boasts history, geology and green credentials. These two peaks, both craggy with huge drops, are well worth visiting.

One of the more remote and most beautiful areas in Scotland. Accessed by a lovely walk in from Kinlochourn or by boat from Mallaig.

Rugged mountains on the edge of The Rough Bounds of Knoydart with fantastic seaward views.

A remote area. Access to all peaks are on fairly good, if sometimes wet, stalkers paths, built well before the construction of the dams. On older maps, Loch Cuaich is marked as Loch Quoich.

Standing dramatically above Loch Lochy, 2 Munros and 3 Corbetts are accessed using forestry tracks.

East of the white sands of Morar and Arisaig a series of rugged mountain ridges travel south of Loch Arkaig towards Glenfinnan and Loch Eil.

Moidart is a peninsula stretching westwards from Loch Shiel and holds some remote and rugged land.

The mountains of Ardgour are rough and wild with no roads penetrating the heart of the area. Garbh Bheinn at the southern end of this area is famed for climbing.

Narrow roads lead to a quiet route up two interesting Corbetts and a Fiona with amazing views easterwards over Loch Linnhe.

Ben More is a the highest mountain on Mull with a choice of some ridge walking and easy scramble, or a delightful and easy direct 'tourist route' up ! To the south-east and above Craignuire, Dun da Ghaoithe is easily accessed using tracks. Excellent views.