What makes a munro a munro

Unfortunately this is not all there is to defining a Munro. These are then regularly reviewed by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland when a new edition of the Munros book is due to be published. The number of Munros can go up and down as peaks are re-classified; or you can be a purist and stick to the list as defined by Sir Hugh Munro himself originally. Popular view of the Cuillin mountains from the Sligachan area.

Munro bagging is an addiction which afflicts many dedicated hikers in the UK. As a visitor it may not be immediately obvious what it means. This means that you will have reached the top of all the Munros.

What happens when they reclassify though? Do you then have to complete extra routes? A Munro see definition above is one of the higher hills in Scotland.

Some are very well-known, some less so. All now have defined paths to the top, usually the most efficient path, rather than the most attractive route as the goal is just to reach the top, not necessarily to take your time doing it. So much so that a lot of path maintenance has had to be undertaken in places such as Schiehallion. There are Munros all over Scotland, not just in the Highlands. Some are more accessible than others. The spectacular sandstone peaks of Torridon, over million years old.

Not all Munros are interesting peaks. Sadly, Sir Hugh himself never bagged all of the Munros on his list, as he died from the flu epidemic at the end of WW1, with 3 left to go. Ben Macdui is the second highest peak in Britain, behind Ben Nevis.

Macdui sits in the centre of a vast wilderness in Mar Lodge Estate , and the remote hike from the Linn of Dee up to the summit avoiding the ski slopes on the Cairngorm is 18 miles long.

The famous Five Sisters ridge in Kintail takes a 10 mile route across three separate Munros. This is one of the finest hill walks in the Highlands, but prepare for a challenging day out — the terrain is steep and rough, and navigation is tricky even in good weather. See the full list. But every Munro-bagger has to start somewhere, and these climbs are less arduous than others …. Ben Lomond is the Munro in Scotland that most people bag first. Ben Lawers is a favourite with climbers all over Scotland.

The highest mountain in the Southern Highlands teems with wildlife and there are sublime views over Loch Tay from the summit. The relatively easy route to the top even takes you via another Munro, Beinn Ghlas 1,m , so you get two for the price of one!

Not sure where to start? Try a guided walk with one of our rangers. There are things that every walker needs to consider before they tackle a Munro. A Full House includes all the above, as well as the Furths, which are the peaks of at least ft within the UK and the Republic of Ireland but outside of Scotland. There are 34 Furths. But a Munro is still part of a collection of the highest mountains in the UK and it requires fitness and navigational ability to reach most summits.

Check the weather forecast before setting off and always be prepared to change your plans to avoid poor conditions. Remember that sunshine and clear sky at the base of a mountain can change to mist, low cloud and high winds at higher altitude. You should know how to read a map and use a compass.

If in doubt about navigation, go with a friend who can teach you, or sign up to a hill navigation course. The right Munro hiking kit is essential so that you remain warm and dry while walking. Take everything in a rucksack and add an emergency blanket or bivvy bag.

A mobile phone is essential, as is the right map and compass. There are plenty of resources for discovering the most popular and alternative routes for bagging Munros. Also check out websites such as Walk Highlands. The best way to enjoy Munro bagging is to go with a friend, especially someone who is more experienced than you, and learn from their advice and guidance.

Fiona Russell is a widely published adventure journalist and blogger, who is better known as Fiona Outdoors. She is based in Scotland and is an all-round outdoors enthusiast with favourite activities including trail running, mountain walking, mountain biking, road cycling, triathlon and skiing, both downhill and back country.