![BenNevis2005](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/BenNevis2005.jpg)
A Munro () is defined as a mountain in Scotland with a height over , and which is on the
Scottish Mountaineering Club
Established in 1889, the Scottish Mountaineering Club is the leading club for climbing and mountaineering in Scotland.
History
The Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) was formed in 1889 as Scotland’s national club and the initial membership of ...
(SMC) official list of Munros; there is no explicit
topographical prominence
In topography, prominence (also referred to as autonomous height, relative height, and shoulder drop in US English, and drop or relative height in British English) measures the height of a mountain or hill's summit relative to the lowest contou ...
requirement. The best known Munro is
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis ( ; gd, Beinn Nibheis ) is the highest mountain in Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland ...
(Beinn Nibheis), the highest mountain in the
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...
at .
Munros are named after
Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet
Sir Hugh Thomas Munro, 4th Baronet (16 October 1856 – 19 March 1919), was a British mountaineer best known for his list of mountains in Scotland over 3,000 feet (914.4 m), known as Munros. Born in London, Munro was the fifth child of ...
(1856–1919), who produced the first list of such hills, known as ''Munro's Tables'', in 1891. Also included were what Munro considered lesser peaks, now known as Munro Tops, which are also over 3,000 feet but are lower than the nearby primary mountain. The publication of the original list is usually considered to be the
epoch event
In chronology and periodization, an epoch or reference epoch is an instant in time chosen as the origin of a particular calendar era. The "epoch" serves as a reference point from which time is measured.
The moment of epoch is usually decided by ...
of modern
peak bagging
Peak bagging or hill bagging is an activity in which hikers, climbers, and mountaineers attempt to reach a collection of summits, published in the form of a list. This activity has been popularized around the world, with lists such as 100 Peaks ...
. The list has been the subject of subsequent variation and as of 10 December 2020, the
Scottish Mountaineering Club
Established in 1889, the Scottish Mountaineering Club is the leading club for climbing and mountaineering in Scotland.
History
The Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) was formed in 1889 as Scotland’s national club and the initial membership of ...
has listed 282 Munros and 226 Munro Tops.
"Munro bagging" is the activity of climbing all the listed Munros. As of 31 December 2021, 7,098 people had reported completing a round. The first continuous round was completed by
Hamish Brown
Hamish Brown M.B.E. FRSGS is a professional writer, lecturer and photographer specialising in mountain and outdoor topics. He is best known for his walking exploits in the Scottish Highlands, having completed multiple rounds of the Munros and be ...
in 1974, whilst the record for the fastest continuous round is currently held by Donnie Campbell, who completed a round in just under 32 days in September 2020.
Furths
This is a list of Furth mountains in Britain and Ireland by height. Furths are defined as mountains that meet the classification criteria to be a Scottish Munro, including being over in elevation, but which are ''furth'' of (i.e. "outside" of ...
are mountains in England, Wales or Ireland recognized by the SMC as meeting the Munro classification.
History
![Sir Hugh Munro (Scotland)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Sir_Hugh_Munro_%28Scotland%29.jpg)
Before the publication of ''Munro's Tables'' in 1891, there was much uncertainty about the number of Scottish peaks over 3,000 feet. Estimates ranged from 31 (in M.J.B. Baddeley's guides) to 236 (listed in Robert Hall's third edition of ''The Highland Sportsman and Tourist'', published in 1884). When the Scottish Mountaineering Club was formed in 1889, one of its aims was to remedy this by accurately documenting all of Scotland's mountains over 3,000 feet.
Sir Hugh Munro, a founding member of the club, took on the task using his own experience as a mountaineer, as well as detailed study of the
Ordnance Survey
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six inches to the mile (1:10,560) and one-inch to the mile (1:63,360) maps.
Munro researched and produced a set of tables that were published in the
Scottish Mountaineering Club
Established in 1889, the Scottish Mountaineering Club is the leading club for climbing and mountaineering in Scotland.
History
The Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) was formed in 1889 as Scotland’s national club and the initial membership of ...
Journal in September 1891. The tables listed 538 summits over 3,000 feet, 282 of which were regarded as "separate mountains". The term ''Munro'' applies to separate mountains, while the lesser summits are known as ''Munro Tops''. Munro did not set any measure of
topographic prominence
In topography, prominence (also referred to as autonomous height, relative height, and shoulder drop in US English, and drop or relative height in British English) measures the height of a mountain or hill's summit relative to the lowest contou ...
by which a peak qualified as a separate mountain, so there has been much debate about how distinct two hills must be if they are to be counted as two separate Munros.
The Scottish Mountaineering Club has revised the tables, both in response to new height data on
Ordnance Survey
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maps and to address the perceived inconsistency as to which peaks qualify for Munro status. In 1992, the publication of Alan Dawson's book ''Relative Hills of Britain'', showed that three Munro Tops not already considered summits, had a prominence of more than . Given this they would have qualified as
Corbett Corbett may refer to:
* List of Corbetts (mountains), 222 mountains in Scotland between , with prominence over
* Corbett, Oregon, a community in the United States
* Corbett Award, US award for athletics administrators
* Corbett (surname), people w ...
summits had they been under 3,000 feet. In the 1997 tables these three Munro Tops, on
Beinn Alligin
Beinn Alligin ( gd, Beinn Àilleagan) is one of the classic mountains of the Torridon region of Scotland, lying to the north of Loch Torridon, in the Highlands. The name Beinn Alligin is from the Scottish Gaelic, meaning ''Jewelled Hill''. ...
,
Beinn Eighe
Beinn Eighe () is a mountain massif in the Torridon area of Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. Lying south of Loch Maree, it forms a long ridge with many spurs and summits, two of which are classified as Munros: Rua ...
and
Buachaille Etive Beag
Buachaille Etive Beag (, gd, Buachaille Èite Beag, 'little herdsman of Etive') is a mountain between Glen Coe and Glen Etive in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies west of Buachaille Etive Mòr, its larger neighbour, from which it is sep ...
, gained full Munro summit status. Dawson's book also highlighted a number of significant Munro Tops with as much as of prominence which were not listed as Munro Tops. The 1997 tables promoted five of these to full Munro status.
A total of 197 Munros have a
topographic prominence
In topography, prominence (also referred to as autonomous height, relative height, and shoulder drop in US English, and drop or relative height in British English) measures the height of a mountain or hill's summit relative to the lowest contou ...
of over and are regarded by
Peakbaggers as Real Munros. 130 Scottish mountains over 1000m, with a
topographic prominence
In topography, prominence (also referred to as autonomous height, relative height, and shoulder drop in US English, and drop or relative height in British English) measures the height of a mountain or hill's summit relative to the lowest contou ...
of over have been termed Metric Munros.
Other classification schemes in Scotland, such as the Corbetts and
Grahams
Graham and Graeme may refer to:
People
* Graham (given name), an English-language given name
* Graham (surname), an English-language surname
* Graeme (surname), an English-language surname
* Graham (musician) (born 1979), Burmese singer
* Clan ...
, require a peak to have a prominence of at least for inclusion. The Munros, however, lack a rigid set of criteria for inclusion, with many summits of lesser prominence listed, principally because their summits are hard to reach.
During May and July 2009 the
Munro Society
A Munro () is defined as a mountain in Scotland with a height over , and which is on the Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) official list of Munros; there is no explicit topographical prominence requirement. The best known Munro is Ben Nevis ...
re-surveyed several mountains that are known to be close to the 3,000 ft figure to determine their height more accurately. On 10 September 2009 the society announced that the mountain
Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean
Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean is a Scottish mountain situated 13 kilometres southwest of the village of Achnasheen on the southern side of Glen Carron within the Glencarron and Glenuig Forest in the Ross and Cromarty district of the Highland council ...
, south of
Glen Carron
River Carron ( gd, Carrann, IPA: ˆkÊ°aᵲən̴̪ is a west coast river in Wester Ross, in the Highlands of Scotland. The river rises in Ledgowan Forest. It gathers its head-streams through Carron Bog, then enters Loch Scaven and flows out from ...
, had a height of . Therefore, the Scottish Mountaineering Club removed the Munro status of Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean and this mountain is now a
Corbett Corbett may refer to:
* List of Corbetts (mountains), 222 mountains in Scotland between , with prominence over
* Corbett, Oregon, a community in the United States
* Corbett Award, US award for athletics administrators
* Corbett (surname), people w ...
. In a Summer 2011 height survey by The Munro Society,
Beinn a' Chlaidheimh
Beinn a' Chlaidheimh (Scottish Gaelic: "Hill of the Sword", 914 m) is a remote mountain in the Northwest Highlands, Scotland. It lies in the wild Dundonnell and Fisherfield Forest in Wester Ross.
A steep and distinctive shaped peak, it is o ...
was found to be and thus short of the Munro mark. On 6 September 2012, the Scottish Mountaineering Club demoted it from Munro to Corbett status. On 26 August 2020, the SMC confirmed that Beinn a' Chroin West Top at 938m was deleted as a Munro Top and Beinn a' Chroin East Top became the new Munro Top at 940.1m. The summit height of
Beinn a' Chroin
Beinn a' Chroin is a mountain in the Breadalbane region of the Scottish Highlands, six kilometres south of Crianlarich. With a height of it qualifies as a Munro.
Overview
Beinn a’ Chroin stands well into the interior of the Crianlaric ...
was also changed to 941.4m. As of 10 December 2020, there were 226 Scottish Munro Tops after
Stob Coire na Cloiche
Stob may refer to:
People
* Verity Stob (since 1988), pseudonymous author of IT satirical articles
* Ralph Stob (1894–1965), U.S. academic, president (1933–1939) of Calvin College
* Henry J. Stob (1908–1996), U.S. academic, namesake of the ...
, a Munro Top to Parent Peak
Sgùrr nan Ceathramhnan
Sgùrr nan Ceathreamhnan () is a mountain in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It lies between Glen Affric and Glen Elchaig, some 30 kilometres east of Kyle of Lochalsh. With a height of it is classed as a Munro and ranked as the thi ...
, was surveyed at 912.5m and was deleted as a Munro Top and downgraded to a Corbett Top.
As of 10 December 2020, the Scottish Mountaineering Club lists
282 Munros and 226 Munro Tops. The current SMC list; totals 508 summits.
Notable peaks
The most famous Munro is
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis ( ; gd, Beinn Nibheis ) is the highest mountain in Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland ...
(Beinn Nibheis) in the
Lochaber
Lochaber ( ; gd, Loch Abar) is a name applied to a part of the Scottish Highlands. Historically, it was a provincial lordship consisting of the parishes of Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig, as they were before being reduced in extent by the creation ...
area. It is the highest peak in the
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...
, with an elevation of 4,413 ft (1,345 m)
Other well-known Munros include:
*
Ben Macdui
Ben Macdui ( gd, Beinn MacDuibh, meaning "MacDuff's mountain") is the second-highest mountain in Scotland and all of the British Isles, after Ben Nevis, and the highest of the Cairngorm Mountains. The summit is above sea level and it is cla ...
(Beinn Macduibh), 4,295 ft (1,309 m), is the second highest peak in the British Isles;
Braeriach (Am Brà igh Riabhach), 4,252 ft (1,296 m), is the third highest peak in the British Isles and
Cairn Gorm
Cairn Gorm ( gd, An CÃ rn Gorm) is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands. It is part of the Cairngorms range and wider Grampian Mountains. With a summit elevation of above sea level, Cairn Gorm is classed as a Munro and is the seventh-h ...
(An CÃ rn Gorm), 4,084 ft (1,244.8 m), is the sixth highest peak in the British Isles. These three Munros are located together in the
Cairngorms
The Cairngorms ( gd, Am Monadh Ruadh) are a mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland closely associated with the mountain Cairn Gorm. The Cairngorms became part of Scotland's second national park (the Cairngorms National Park) on 1 S ...
*
Beinn Teallach, 3,001 ft (914.6 m), in
Lochaber
Lochaber ( ; gd, Loch Abar) is a name applied to a part of the Scottish Highlands. Historically, it was a provincial lordship consisting of the parishes of Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig, as they were before being reduced in extent by the creation ...
is the smallest Munro
*
Ben Hope
Ben Hope ( gd, Beinn Hòb) is a mountain in northern Scotland. It is the most northerly Munro, standing alone in the Flow Country (a region of bumpy, peat-covered moorland) south-east of Loch Hope in Sutherland. The mountain is a roughly trian ...
(Beinn Hòb), 3,041 ft (927 m), in
Sutherland
Sutherland ( gd, Cataibh) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area in the Highlands of Scotland. Its county town is Dornoch. Sutherland borders Caithness and Moray Firth to the east, Ross-shire and Cromartyshire (later ...
is the most northerly Munro
*
Mount Keen
Mount Keen ( gd, Monadh Caoin) is a 939 m (3,081 feet) high mountain in Scotland and the most easterly Munro. It can be accessed from several directions, South from Glen Mark, North from Glen Tanar, and East to Braid Cairn. It is a moderate ...
(Monadh Caoin), 3,081 ft (939 m), in
Glen Mark
Glen Mark is a glen in northern Angus, eastern Scotland, through which the Water of Mark flows. Near the mouth of the glen, at Auchronie, the Water of Mark is joined by the Water of Lee from Loch Lee to become the River North Esk. This flows ...
is the most easterly Munro
*
Ben Lomond
Ben Lomond (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Laomainn, 'Beacon Mountain'), , is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands. Situated on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, it is the most southerly of the Munros. Ben Lomond lies within the Ben Lomond National Me ...
(Beinn Laomainn), 3,195 ft (973.7 m), at
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is the most southerly Munro
*
Sgùrr na Banachdaich
Sgùrr na Banachdaich ( Gaelic for "smallpox peak"), also spelt Sgurr na Banachdich in English, is a peak in the Cuillin mountains on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It reaches a height of , making it a Munro
A Munro () is defined as a mounta ...
, 3,166 ft (965 m), in the Black
Cuillin
The Cuillin ( gd, An Cuiltheann) is a range of mostly jagged rocky mountains on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The main Cuillin ridge is also called the Black Cuillin to distinguish it from the Red Cuillin ('), which lie to the east of Glen Sliga ...
on the
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated ...
is the most westerly Munro
*
Schiehallion
Schiehallion (; gd, Sìth Chailleann, ) is a prominent cone-shaped mountain in the Breadalbane region of the Scottish Highlands, in the county of Perthshire. It rises to and is classed as a Munro. Schiehallion has a rich botanical life, int ...
(Sìdh Chailleann), 3,553 ft (1,083 m), in
Perth and Kinross
Perth and Kinross ( sco, Pairth an Kinross; gd, Peairt agus Ceann Rois) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland and a Lieutenancy Area. It borders onto the Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Fife, Highland and S ...
, is a Munro often described as lying at the centre of Scotland
*
Bidean nam Bian
Bidean nam Bian ( gd, Bidean nam Beann, 'peak of the mountains') is the highest peak in a group of mountains south of Glen Coe and north of Glen Etive in the Scottish Highlands. With a height of , it is a Munro and the highest point in Argyll. I ...
, 3,771 ft (1,149.4 m);
Buachaille Etive Mòr
Buachaille Etive Mòr (), gd, Buachaille Èite Mòr, 'great herdsman of Etive'), also known simply as 'The Buachaille', is a mountain at the head of Glen Etive in the Highlands of Scotland. Its pyramidal shape, as seen from the northeast, ...
(Buachaille Èite Mòr) (Stob Dearg), 3,351 ft (1021.4 m), at the entrance to
Glen Coe
Glen Coe ( gd, Gleann Comhann ) is a glen of volcanic origins, in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies in the north of the county of Argyll, close to the border with the historic province of Lochaber, within the modern council area of Highland ...
, is the most photographed mountain in the British Isles/
Buachaille Etive Mòr
Buachaille Etive Mòr (), gd, Buachaille Èite Mòr, 'great herdsman of Etive'), also known simply as 'The Buachaille', is a mountain at the head of Glen Etive in the Highlands of Scotland. Its pyramidal shape, as seen from the northeast, ...
(Buachaille Èite Mòr) (Stob na Bròige), 3,128 ft (953.4 m);
Aonach Eagach
The Aonach Eagach () is a large mountain ridge in the Scottish Highlands, marking the northern edge of Glen Coe. It stretches east–west for several miles and includes two Munro summits: Sgùrr nam Fiannaidh at 967 m (3,175 ft) high, ...
(Sgor nam Fiannaidh), 3,175 ft (967.7 m)/
Aonach Eagach
The Aonach Eagach () is a large mountain ridge in the Scottish Highlands, marking the northern edge of Glen Coe. It stretches east–west for several miles and includes two Munro summits: Sgùrr nam Fiannaidh at 967 m (3,175 ft) high, ...
(Meall Dearg), 3,124 ft (952.3 m), are regarded as the two most difficult Munros for extreme exposure while scrambling including the longest and narrowest ridge on mainland Britain, though it competes with
Liathach
Liathach (pronounced , ) is a mountain in the Torridon Hills, in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It stands between Loch Torridon and the neighbouring mountain Beinn Eighe. The mountain is a ridge running east–west, with several peaks, and i ...
and
An Teallach
An Teallach (Scottish Gaelic for 'the forge' or 'the anvil') is a mountain group in Wester Ross, in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It lies west of Dundonnell Forest, north of Loch na Sealga, and south of Little Loch Broom. Its highest pea ...
for this title; and finally
Buachaille Etive Beag
Buachaille Etive Beag (, gd, Buachaille Èite Beag, 'little herdsman of Etive') is a mountain between Glen Coe and Glen Etive in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies west of Buachaille Etive Mòr, its larger neighbour, from which it is sep ...
(Buachaille Èite Beag) (Stob Dubh), 3,143 ft (958 m)/
Buachaille Etive Beag
Buachaille Etive Beag (, gd, Buachaille Èite Beag, 'little herdsman of Etive') is a mountain between Glen Coe and Glen Etive in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies west of Buachaille Etive Mòr, its larger neighbour, from which it is sep ...
(Buachaille Èite Beag) (Stob Coire Raineach), 3,033 ft (924.5 m). These seven Munros are located together in
Glen Coe
Glen Coe ( gd, Gleann Comhann ) is a glen of volcanic origins, in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies in the north of the county of Argyll, close to the border with the historic province of Lochaber, within the modern council area of Highland ...
*
Sgùrr Alasdair
Sgùrr Alasdair is the highest peak of the Black Cuillin, and the highest peak on the Isle of Skye and in the Inner Hebrides, and indeed in all the Scottish islands, at . Like the rest of the range it is composed of gabbro, a rock with excell ...
, 3,255 ft (992 m);
Sgùrr Dearg – Inaccessible Pinnacle, 3,234 ft (985.8 m), is the hardest Munro and the only Munro with a peak that can only be reached by rock climbing and abseiling;
Sgùrr a' Ghreadaidh, 3,189 ft (972.1 m);
Sgùrr nan Gillean
Sgùrr nan Gillean is a peak in the northern part of the Cuillin mountains on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. With a height of , it is one of eleven Munros in the Cuillins. It is the Munro peak nearest to the settlement of Sligachan, and its ...
, 3,170 ft (966.1 m);
Bruach na Frìthe
Bruach na Frìthe is one of the principal summits on the Black Cuillin ridge, on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Like the rest of the range it is composed of gabbro, a rock with excellent grip for mountaineering. The Bruach cannot be seen in the po ...
, 3,146 ft (958.8 m);
Sgùrr Mhic Choinnich, 3,111 ft (948.1 m);
Sgùrr Dubh Mòr, 3,097 ft (944 m);
Am Basteir
Am Basteir ( gd, Am BÃ isteir, 'the baptizer') is a mountain peak in the northern Cuillin range on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It is high and classed as a Munro. It forms a narrow blade of rock, which bears comparison with the Inaccessible Pi ...
(Am Baisteir), 3,064 ft (934 m);
Sgùrr nan Eag, 3,039 ft (926.3 m) and
Sgùrr a' Mhadaidh
Sgùrr a' Mhadaidh () is a mountain peak in the Black Cuillin range on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It is a Munro with a height of . Like the rest of the range it is composed of gabbro
Gabbro () is a phaneritic (coarse-grained), mafic int ...
, 3,012 ft (918 m). These ten Munros including one other (
Sgùrr na Banachdaich
Sgùrr na Banachdaich ( Gaelic for "smallpox peak"), also spelt Sgurr na Banachdich in English, is a peak in the Cuillin mountains on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It reaches a height of , making it a Munro
A Munro () is defined as a mounta ...
, as shown above) provide part of the most spectacular, toughest and longest single mountaineering challenge anywhere in the British Isles and are located together in the Black
Cuillin
The Cuillin ( gd, An Cuiltheann) is a range of mostly jagged rocky mountains on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The main Cuillin ridge is also called the Black Cuillin to distinguish it from the Red Cuillin ('), which lie to the east of Glen Sliga ...
on the
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated ...
*
Blà Bheinn
Blà Bheinn or Blà bheinn, also known as Blaven, is a mountain on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It is usually regarded as an outlier of the Black Cuillin range. It is a Munro with a height of . North of the summit is the ridge of Clach Glas, whic ...
(Blaven), 3,048 ft (929 m), in the Black
Cuillin
The Cuillin ( gd, An Cuiltheann) is a range of mostly jagged rocky mountains on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The main Cuillin ridge is also called the Black Cuillin to distinguish it from the Red Cuillin ('), which lie to the east of Glen Sliga ...
Outlier (Blaven group) on the
Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated ...
*
Liathach
Liathach (pronounced , ) is a mountain in the Torridon Hills, in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It stands between Loch Torridon and the neighbouring mountain Beinn Eighe. The mountain is a ridge running east–west, with several peaks, and i ...
(Spidean a' Choire Lèith), 3,461 ft (1,054.8 m)/
Liathach
Liathach (pronounced , ) is a mountain in the Torridon Hills, in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It stands between Loch Torridon and the neighbouring mountain Beinn Eighe. The mountain is a ridge running east–west, with several peaks, and i ...
(Mullach an Rathain), 3,359 ft (1,023.8 m);
Beinn Eighe
Beinn Eighe () is a mountain massif in the Torridon area of Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. Lying south of Loch Maree, it forms a long ridge with many spurs and summits, two of which are classified as Munros: Rua ...
(Ruadh-stac Mòr), 3,314 ft (1,010 m)/
Beinn Eighe
Beinn Eighe () is a mountain massif in the Torridon area of Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. Lying south of Loch Maree, it forms a long ridge with many spurs and summits, two of which are classified as Munros: Rua ...
(Spidean Coire nan Clach), 3,258 ft (993 m) and
Beinn Alligin
Beinn Alligin ( gd, Beinn Àilleagan) is one of the classic mountains of the Torridon region of Scotland, lying to the north of Loch Torridon, in the Highlands. The name Beinn Alligin is from the Scottish Gaelic, meaning ''Jewelled Hill''. ...
(Beinn Àilleagan) (Sgùrr Mhòr), 3,235 ft (986 m)/
Beinn Alligin
Beinn Alligin ( gd, Beinn Àilleagan) is one of the classic mountains of the Torridon region of Scotland, lying to the north of Loch Torridon, in the Highlands. The name Beinn Alligin is from the Scottish Gaelic, meaning ''Jewelled Hill''. ...
(Beinn Àilleagan) (Tom na Gruagaich), 3,025 ft (922 m). These six Munros are located together in
Torridon
Torridon (Scottish Gaelic: ''Toirbheartan'') is a small village in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. However the name is also applied to the area surrounding the village, particularly the Torridon Hills, mountains to the north of Glen Torrido ...
*
An Teallach
An Teallach (Scottish Gaelic for 'the forge' or 'the anvil') is a mountain group in Wester Ross, in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It lies west of Dundonnell Forest, north of Loch na Sealga, and south of Little Loch Broom. Its highest pea ...
(Bidean a' Ghlas Thuill), 3,486 ft (1,062.5 m)/
An Teallach
An Teallach (Scottish Gaelic for 'the forge' or 'the anvil') is a mountain group in Wester Ross, in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It lies west of Dundonnell Forest, north of Loch na Sealga, and south of Little Loch Broom. Its highest pea ...
(Sgùrr Fiona), 3,473 ft (1,058.7 m). These two Munros are located together in
Dundonnell
Dundonnell (Gaelic: Achadh Dà Dhòmhnaill) is a village in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, on the south side of Little Loch Broom and at the foot of An Teallach, right at the north of the area commonly known as the " Great Wilderness". It is situ ...
*
Sgùrr na Cìche
is a mountain in Knoydart, in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It lies on the edge of Knoydart in an area known as the ''Rough Bounds of Knoydart''.
The peak has a distinctive nipple-like summit, making it easily recognisable in views fro ...
, 3,413 ft (1,040.2 m) and
Ladhar Bheinn
Ladhar Bheinn is the highest mountain in the Knoydart region of the Highlands of Scotland. It is the most westerly Munro on the Scottish mainland.
The mountain may be climbed from Barrisdale to the northeast or Inverie to the south. From Barris ...
, 3,346 ft (1,020 m). These two Munros are located in
Knoydart
Knoydart (Scottish Gaelic: ''Cnòideart'') is a peninsula in Lochaber, Highland, on the west coast of Scotland. Knoydart is sandwiched between Lochs Nevis and Hourn — often translated as "Loch Heaven" (from the Gaelic ''Loch Néimh'') an ...
*
The Saddle
The Saddle ( gd, An Dìollaid) is one of the great Scottish mountains; seen from the
site of the Battle of Glen Shiel it forms (with Faochag) one of the best-known views in the Highlands. It is in the Highland local government area, on the bo ...
(An Dìollaid), 3,319 ft (1,011.5 m), in
Glen Shiel
Glen Shiel ( gd, Gleann Seile; also known as Glenshiel) is a glen in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland.
The glen runs approximately 9 miles from south-east to north-west, from the Cluanie Inn (216 metres, 708 feet) at the western end of Loc ...
*
A' Mhaighdean
A' Mhaighdean is one of the least accessible of the munros in northern Scotland. It is north of Kinlochewe but most easily accessible from Poolewe, taking a private road South East (pedestrian & bicycle access only) to Kernsary. A good track the ...
, 3,173 ft (967 m), and
Slioch
, photo = Slioch_from_Loch_Maree.jpg
, photo_caption = Slioch seen from the shores of Loch Maree.
, elevation_m = 981
, elevation_ref =
, prominence_m = 626
, prominence_ref =
, parent_peak = Sgurr Mor
, listing = Munro, Marilyn
, tr ...
(Sleaghach), 3,219 ft (981 m). These two Munros are located together in
Wester Ross
Wester Ross () is an area of the Northwest Highlands of Scotland in the council area of Highland. The area is loosely defined, and has never been used as a formal administrative region in its own right, but is generally regarded as lying to the ...
between the
Fisherfield Forest and
Letterewe Forest
*
Ben Cruachan
Ben Cruachan ( gd, Cruachan Beann) is a mountain that rises to , the highest in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It gives its name to the Cruachan Dam, a pumped-storage hydroelectric
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH), or pumped hydroelectric ...
(Cruach na Beinne), 3,698 ft (1,127 m), at
Loch Awe
Loch Awe (Scottish Gaelic: ''Loch Obha'') is a large body of freshwater in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. It has also given its name to a village on its banks, variously known as Loch Awe or Lochawe. There are islands within the loch such ...
, gives its name to the
Cruachan Power Station
The Cruachan Power Station (also known as the Cruachan Dam) is a pumped-storage hydroelectric power station in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The scheme can provide 440 MW of power and produced 705 GWh in 2009.
The turbine hall is located in ...
(also known as the Cruachan Dam), a
pumped-storage hydroelectric
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH), or pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES), is a type of hydroelectric energy storage used by electric power systems for load balancing. The method stores energy in the form of gravitational potential ...
power station
A power station, also referred to as a power plant and sometimes generating station or generating plant, is an industrial facility for the generation of electric power. Power stations are generally connected to an electrical grid.
Many p ...
located in a cavern inside the mountain
Peak bagging
![Beinn Eighe](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Beinn_Eighe.jpg)
Compared with some continental ranges, Scottish mountains might be modest in height, but walking and climbing in them can be treacherous because of their latitude and exposure to Atlantic and Arctic weather systems. Even in summer, conditions can be atrocious; thick fog, strong winds, driving rain and freezing summit temperatures are not unusual.
Winter ascents of some Munros are serious undertakings due to the unpredictable weather, the likelihood of ice and snow, and poor visibility. Some walkers are unprepared for extreme weather on the exposed tops and fatalities are recorded every year, often resulting from slips on wet rock or ice.
Some
hillwalkers aim to climb every Munro, known as "Munro bagging". Munro-bagging is a form of
peak bagging
Peak bagging or hill bagging is an activity in which hikers, climbers, and mountaineers attempt to reach a collection of summits, published in the form of a list. This activity has been popularized around the world, with lists such as 100 Peaks ...
. A walker who has climbed all Munros is entitled to be called a Munroist.
Notable completions
By 31 December 2021, 7,098 people had completed the Munros. The
Scottish Mountaineering Club
Established in 1889, the Scottish Mountaineering Club is the leading club for climbing and mountaineering in Scotland.
History
The Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) was formed in 1889 as Scotland’s national club and the initial membership of ...
, who maintain a list of those Munroists who have reported completing the Munros, have attempted to popularise the archaic spelling of .
Hugh Munro never completed his own list, missing out on
CÃ rn an Fhidhleir and
CÃ rn Cloich-mhuillin (downgraded to a Munro Top in 1981).
Sir Hugh is said to have missed the Inaccessible Pinnacle of
Sgùrr Dearg, on the Isle of Skye, which he never climbed.
["The Munros" Page 5 Quote:"Sir Hugh himself never did manage the Inaccessible Pinnacle".] However the "In Pinn", as it is known colloquially within Scottish mountaineering, was only listed as a Munro Top on his list (despite being several metres higher than Sgùrr Dearg, which was listed as the main Munro Top).
The first "completionist" was to be the Reverend
A. E. Robertson
Rev. Archibald "Archie" Eneas Robertson (1870–1958), was a Church of Scotland minister. He is generally regarded as being the first mountaineer to climb all 282 Munros, the peaks of Scotland over in height, first listed by Sir Hugh Munro.
...
, in 1901, later minister at
Braes of Rannoch
Braes of Rannoch ( :wikt:braes, slopes, Gaelic ''Braigh Raithneach'') is a hill with a deserted hamlet and church in Perthshire. The hamlet was formerly, briefly, called Georgetown, as the redcoat barracks of Jacobite rising of 1745 were then kn ...
from 1907.
However, research has cast doubt on this claim, and it is not certain that he reached the summit of
Ben Wyvis
Ben Wyvis ( gd, Beinn Uais) is a mountain in Easter Ross, in the northern Highlands of Scotland. It lies north-west of Dingwall, in the council area of Highland, and the county of Ross and Cromarty. Ben Wyvis is a large winding and und ...
. Also it is known that Robertson did not climb the Inaccessible Peak of Sgùrr Dearg. If Robertson is discounted, the first Munroist is Ronald Burn, who completed in 1923. Burn is also (indisputably) the first person to climb all the Munro Tops.
The person with the most rounds of Munros is Steven Fallon from
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
, who has completed 16 rounds as of 1 October 2019.
Chris Smith became the first Member of Parliament to complete the Munros when he reached the summit of
Sgùrr nan Coireachan on 27 May 1989.
Ben Fleetwood is probably the youngest person to have completed a round. He climbed the final Munro of his round –
Ben More – on 30 August 2011 at the age of 10 years and 3 months.
[Dan Bailey]
"The Youngest Munro Completer"
ukclimbing.com, 2 September 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011. The youngest completionist to have done the round without the presence of a parent or a guardian is probably Andy Nisbet, who finished his round in 1972 aged 18 years and 1 month.
[
]
Continuous rounds
Hamish Brown
Hamish Brown M.B.E. FRSGS is a professional writer, lecturer and photographer specialising in mountain and outdoor topics. He is best known for his walking exploits in the Scottish Highlands, having completed multiple rounds of the Munros and be ...
did the first continuous self-propelled round of the Munros (except for the Skye and Mull ferries) between 4 April and 24 July 1974 with of ascent and mostly walking – just were on a bicycle. The journey is fully documented in his book ''Hamish's Mountain Walk''. The average time taken to bag all the Munros is eight years.
The first reported completion of all the Munros plus the Munro Tops in one continuous expedition was by Chris Townsend in 1996. His trip lasted between 18 May and 12 September (118 days), he covered a distance of ( by bicycle) with of ascent. The round was broken twice for spells at the office, which could be regarded as stretching the meaning of "continuous".
The first person to complete a winter round (all the Munros in one winter season) was Martin Moran in 1984–85. His journey lasted between 21 December 1984 and 13 March 1985 (83 days), he walked with of ascent. He used motor transport (campervan
A camper van, also referred to as a camper, caravanette, motor caravan or RV (recreational vehicle) in North America, is a self-propelled vehicle that provides both transport and sleeping accommodation. The term describes vans that have been fitt ...
) to link his walk.
In the winter of 2005–06, Steve Perry completed a continuous unsupported round entirely on foot (and ferry). He is also the first person to have completed two continuous Munro rounds, having also walked Land's End to John O'Groats via every mainland 3,000 ft mountain between 18 February 2003 and 30 September 2003.
Fastest rounds
In 1990, international fell runner and maths teacher Hugh Symonds of Sedbergh, Yorkshire
Sedbergh ( or ) is a town and civil parish in Cumbria, England. The 2001 census gave the parish a population of 2,705, increasing at the 2011 census to 2,765. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, it lies about east of Kendal, nor ...
, ran all 277 Munros starting from Ben Hope
Ben Hope ( gd, Beinn Hòb) is a mountain in northern Scotland. It is the most northerly Munro, standing alone in the Flow Country (a region of bumpy, peat-covered moorland) south-east of Loch Hope in Sutherland. The mountain is a roughly trian ...
. It took him 66 days and 22 hours. This also included running the other 3,000 foot peaks in Great Britain. Having achieved this in the short time of 83 days, when his target had been a hundred, he decided to add the Republic of Ireland
Ireland ( ga, Éire ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern side of the island. A ...
tops to the list and still finished all 303 peaks in 97 days.
In July 1992, Andrew Johnstone of Aberdeen
Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...
and Rory Gibson of Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
completed their mountain triathlon across the Munros, the 277 Scottish peaks over 3,000 ft, beating the existing record by five days. They began on 29 May and finished at 8.30pm on 15 July on the summit of Ben Hope, the most northerly Munro, completing a journey which began 51 days and 10 hours earlier on the Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull ( gd, An t-Eilean Muileach ) or just Mull (; gd, Muile, links=no ) is the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides (after Skye) and lies off the west coast of Scotland in the Council areas of Scotland, council area of Arg ...
. After swimming lochs, cycling highland roads and running across some of the most desolate and dangerous terrain in Britain, they covered 1,400 miles.
Charlie Campbell, a former postman from Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
, held the record for the fastest round of the Munros between 2000 and 2010. He completed his round in 48 days, 12 hours and 0 minutes, finishing on 16 July 2000, on Ben Hope
Ben Hope ( gd, Beinn Hòb) is a mountain in northern Scotland. It is the most northerly Munro, standing alone in the Flow Country (a region of bumpy, peat-covered moorland) south-east of Loch Hope in Sutherland. The mountain is a roughly trian ...
. He cycled and swam between Munros; no motorised transport was used.
Campbell's record was broken by Stephen Pyke of Stone, Staffordshire
Stone is a canal town and civil parish in Staffordshire, England, north of Stafford, south of Stoke-on-Trent and north of Rugeley. It was an urban district council and a rural district council before becoming part of the Borough of Staffor ...
, in 2010 who completed the round in 39 days, 9 hours and 6 minutes. Pyke's round started on the Isle of Mull on 25 April 2010 and finished on Ben Hope in Sutherland on 3 June 2010. He cycled and kayaked between Munros; no motorised transport was used. He was backed by a support team in a motor home, but had to camp out in the more remote areas.
On 2 September 2020, Pyke's record was broken by Donnie Campbell of Inverness
Inverness (; from the gd, Inbhir Nis , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness"; sco, Innerness) is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands. Histori ...
. He completed his round in 31 days, 23 hours and 2 minutes, starting on the Isle of Mull on 1 August 2020 and finished on Ben Hope on 2 September 2020. Campbell ran the 282 Munros and cycled and kayaked between them. On day 29, he was joined by previous record holder Stephen Pyke. Whilst ticking off Moruisg in the cloud, he mistook the big cairn for the summit and had to head back up and so climbed the Munro twice. On day 31, he completed 18 Munros. He was supported by a crew travelling in his motorhome, who also shuttled his bike for him to follow a more linear route.
The women's self-propelled, continuous record is held by Libby Kerr and Lisa Trollope. They completed their round on 17 September 2017, in 76 days and 10 hours.
On 18 September 2011 Alex Robinson and Tom O'Connell finished a self-propelled continuous round on Ben Hope in a time of 48 days, 6 hours and 56 minutes. At the age of just 21, Alex became the youngest person to have completed a continuous round without the use of any motorised transport.
Furths
The SMC recognises six peaks in England, fifteen in Wales and thirteen in Ireland that would be Munros or Munro Tops if they were in Scotland. These are referred to as Furth Munro
This is a list of Furth mountains in Britain and Ireland by height. Furths are defined as mountains that meet the classification criteria to be a Scottish Munro, including being over in elevation, but which are ''furth'' of (i.e. "outside" of) ...
s, i.e. the Munros furth of Scotland. The first recorded Furthist is James Parker, who completed on Tryfan
Tryfan ) is a mountain in the Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia, Wales. It forms part of the Glyderau group, and is one of the most recognisable peaks in Britain, having a classic pointed shape with rugged crags. At above sea level, it is the fifteenth ...
(Snowdonia) on 19 April 1929.
See also
* List of mountains of the British Isles by height
This is a list of mountains in Britain and Ireland by height and by prominence. Height and prominence are the most important metrics for the classifications of mountains by the UIAA; with isolation a distant third criterion. The list is sourced ...
* List of Munros and Munro Tops in Scotland
* List of Munros in Scotland by Section
, this is the list of the 282 Munros, recognised by the Scottish Mountaineering Club ("SMC") and The Munro Society. The Munros are listed by "Section" per the ''Munro's Tables'', and in descending order of height within each section. Hills are ...
* List of Murdos (mountains)
This is a list of Murdo mountains in Scotland by height. Murdos are defined as Scottish mountains over in height, above the general threshold to be called a "mountain" in the British Isles, and with a prominence over ; a mix of imperial an ...
* Lists of mountains and hills in the British Isles
The mountains and hills of the British Isles are categorised into various lists based on different combinations of elevation, prominence, and other criteria such as isolation. These lists are used for peak bagging, whereby hillwalkers attempt ...
* Mountains and hills of Scotland
Scotland is the most mountainous country in the United Kingdom. Scotland's mountain ranges can be divided in a roughly north to south direction into: the Scottish Highlands, the Central Belt and the Southern Uplands, the latter two primarily belo ...
References
Citations
General references
* ''The Munros'' (SMC Guide), Donald Bennet et al.,
External links
Scottish Mountaineering Club
– The SMC maintain the lists of Munros, Munro Tops, Furths, Corbetts and Donalds. They also keep a record of Completionists.
Walkhighlands guide to the Munros
– Features podcasts giving the correct pronunciation and place-name meanings, a 3D visualisation of every route, gradient profiles and route downloads for GPS devices.
MunroMagic.com
– Munro, Corbett and Graham descriptions, pictures, location maps, walking routes and weather reports.
Hill Bagging – the online version of the Database of British and Irish Hills
– Survey reports, the change control database and the GPS database are on Hill Bagging.
– Spreadsheet showing changes in successive editions of Munros Tables.
Ordnance Survey Munro Blog
– OS is Britain's mapping agency. They make the most up-to-date and accurate maps of the United Kingdom. They have also produced a blog on the Munros.
Harold Street Munros
Lists of GPS waypoints + Grid References for walking in UK mountains and hills in various GPS file formats.
ScottishHills.com
– Hillwalking forum with Munro, Corbett, Graham and Donald, Sub 200's log, maps and trip reports.
360Routes.com
– Virtual Tours over the Scottish Mountains.
{{Mountains of Great Britain and Ireland
Peak bagging
Tourist attractions in Scotland