A quick guide to hiking up Scotland’s famous Munros!

 

Many of Scotland’s walkers are obsessed with the Munros. The Munros are the 282 Scottish mountains with a summit of at least 3,000ft (914m). Those who walk them are called Munro baggers.

The Munro Tables was first defined by Sir Hugh T Munro in the late 1800s. Sir Munro set out to survey Scotland’s tallest mountain. Sir Munro listed 236 individual mountain peaks but thanks to more modern surveying techniques, there have been several official revisions to his original listing.

The first recorded person to walk a full round of Munros was the Rev A E Robertson in 1901. Since then, the Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) has recorded 5,500 Munroists, although it’s likely there are many other unrecorded rounds.

Completing the Munros

These days, Munro bagging is a very popular pursuit and in recent years the number of walkers who have completed (this is the official word for a person who has finished a full round) has risen sharply. Some walkers even go on to walk a number of rounds. The current record is 15 rounds by Steve Fallon, who has now turned his hobby into a mountain guiding job.

There are some very tough Munros that take a day to walk to and are a challenge to climb. But there are also some much easier Munros that many hikers with a reasonable level of fitness and an ability to use a map and compass could hike. Perhaps it goes without saying, but a Munro walked in summer and sunshine is a very different outing to one walked in winter and a white out, so if you are new to Munro bagging make sure you choose a fine day.

Many hikers like to go out Munro bagging, trying to get one or two done in a weekend; for this, our campervan hire in Scotland and our motorhome hire in Scotland services are ideal, as they allow you to travel to each Munro with ease and comfort, while also giving you a place to stay at the end of a hard day’s hike, or you can simply drive to somewhere nearby, sleep overnight and then bag the Munro the next day.

Seven easier Munros to walk

View of Mount Keen. Pic credit Flickr 'Fear Liath Mor'

View of Mount Keen. Pic credit Flickr ‘Fear Liath Mor’

Hiking up Mount Keen

It’s possible to mountain bike much of this Munro, which is located south of Ballater. However, purists would say that a Munro bag is by foot and that bikes don’t count! Still, it’s a fairly easy day out, with 2,250ft of the ascent over 10 miles. Mount Keen is also the most easterly Munro, so that might suit some readers more than others.

Hiking up the Cairnwell and Carn Aosda

Starting at a high level at the Glenshee Ski Centre, these two Munros can be walked in just two hours and over a distance of just 3 miles (5km). The total ascent is 1400ft (430m). This short distance and close proximity to Glenshee Ski Centre makes these Munros perfect for beginners!

Hiking up Ben Chonzie

A 7.5-mile walk with an ascent of 2450ft, this Perthshire Munro offers a lovely walk on a fine summer’s day and should only take a morning or an afternoon. There’s a path all the way to the top that we recommend sticking to, but if you want to make it a little more challenging you can go off the path and see what you find.

The iconic Ben Lomond. Pic credit Flickr Graham Lewis

The iconic Ben Lomond. Pic credit Flickr Graham Lewis

Climbing Ben Lomond

The most southerly of the Munros, Ben Lomond is a popular walk. We recommend a walk in the early morning or a fine summer’s evening if you want to avoid the crowds. It is a seven-mile hike to the summit of Ben Lomond and back, and this includes 3,200ft of ascent.

Climbing Schiehallion

Another great Perthshire Munro, Schiehallion offers an easily navigable trail almost to the top. The rocky summit requires care and attention — especially in poor weather. The total walk is 5.5 miles and 2,500ft of ascent.

Climbing Dreish and Mayar

You can walk these two Munros in Angus in half a day. The paths are well-laid and the views for such a short outing are superb. You’ll walk just 8 miles and an ascent of 2,7000ft for the two Munros.

Loch Lomond from the top of Beinn Narnain

Loch Lomond from the top of Beinn Narnain

Climbing Beinn Ime

Located in the Arrochar Alp on the western side of Loch Lomond, Beinn Ime is an easy-ish ascent that is mostly on a well-laid trail. The route becomes a little more sketchy as you approach the summit, but the number of walking boots that have trodden the best path make it difficult to lose your way. You can return to the high bealach to then walk a second Munro called Beinn Narnain. Ime and Narnain equal around 7 miles of walking and 4.300ft of ascent. Add in the Corbett (mountains with a summit of 2,500ft to 3,000ft) Ben Arthur (known as the Cobbler) for an extended hillwalking day! Although you’ll probably want to jsut camp of sleep in a campervan at the end of such a tiring day Munro bagging.

 

If you’re looking for more detailed Munro-bagging guides, check out WalkHighlands, Munro Magic, and Steve Fallon Mountain Guides.

Please get in touch if you have any questions about Open Road Scotland’s diverse range of motorhomes and campervans for hire.  Are you going to start taking Munro bagging seriously? It’s one of the best ways to explore Scotland’s incredible scenery.