The great thing about the Munros is that there’s something for all abilities, and as you get more experience, more and more become available. In this short blog, we explore our top 6 beginner days, in no particular order.

Before we begin, we must emphasise that we always recommend being proficient in the use of a map and compass and having the necessary equipment for a day out in the Scottish mountains. You can see more on our kit lists here.

*The Ben Lawers range from Meall Garbh.*

1. Ben Lomond (974m)

Distance: 12.5km

Ascent: 940m

Duration: 4.5-6 hours

Ben Lomond is the southernmost of all the Munros and sees the second most footfall of any after Ben Nevis. Its proximity to the Central Belt and commanding views of Loch Lomond and the mountains beyond mean that it sees some 30,000 ascents every year. The most straightforward route follows a good path to the summit, returning the same way. There is an option to return via the Ptarmigan ridge which is steep and rocky in places.

The southern end of Loch Lomond (left). The Arrocher Alps (right).

2. Ben Lawers (1214m) and Beinn Ghlas (1103m)

Distance: 10.5km

Ascent: 910m

Duration: 4-6 hours

Ben Lawers is the highest Munro in the Central Highlands and Sir Hugh Munro’s first recorded Munro. The area’s a National Nature Reserve, which is famous for its rich arctic alpine flora, and it provides pleasant walking with fantastic views of Loch Tay and beyond. There’s a clear path to the summit; first you reach Beinn Ghlas before the final steep ascent to Ben Lawers. The best descent option is to return the way you came until the bealach between the two Munros; here you take the traverse path that follows round the north side of Beinn Ghlas.

If you’re after something more strenuous, then we’re running a weekend summiting all 7 Munros in the Ben Lawers range; click here to find out more.

Purple Saxifrage (left). The final ascent to Ben Lawers, with Ben Ghlas in the background (right).

3. The Cairnwell (933m) and Carn Aosda (915m)

Distance: 7.5km

Ascent: 460m

Duration: 3-4 hours

Possibly the two most accessible Munros anywhere! Starting at 650m and with Carn Aosda being one of the lowest in altitude, it is a straightforward introduction to Munro bagging. The path is good as you weave in amongst the Glenshee ski infrastructure. To get a more remote experience and to really grasp the scale of the western Glenshee hills, you can head over to the outlier Carn a Gheoidh. The route finding can be more tricky here; if the path is lost in poor visibility, it will require good navigation to find it again.

Click here if you’d like to do all three with us.

*The summit of Carn Aosda with The Cairnwell in the background.*

4. Schiehallion (1083m)

Distance: 9km

Ascent: 760m

Duration: 4-6 hours

Fun fact: Contour lines were first used when mapping Schiehallion; these were used in a wider experiment to determine the mass of the earth in 1774. In addition to this, it’s known for its striking appearance and isolated position. It provides another fine there and back route with an excellent path most of the way until you close in on the summit, where it is pathless and some awkward boulders need to be negotiated.

Looking west (left) and east (right) from Schiehallion.

5. Cairn Gorm (1244m)

Distance: 6.8km

Ascent: 640m

Duration: 3-4 hours

Cairn Gorm is understandably the most visited Munro in the mountain range. The Cairngorm Mountain Carpark is a little over 600m giving a modest amount of ascent, and on a good day the route is relatively straightforward with good path the whole way. Although the ski infrastructure and controversial funicular somewhat scar the landscape of Coire Cas, the views are still spectacular. Whether you’re looking down onto Glenmore Forest and Loch Morlich, at the steep cliffs of Coire an t’Sneachda, or south across the entire main Cairngorm massif.

The route that we suggest is a circular heading through the ski infrastructure and up onto Fiachaill a Choire Cas. Once at the summit, head down north past the Ptarmigan Cafe onto Sron an Aonaich before dropping back down to the car park. There are plenty of alternatives to extend the day; you could do a full tour of the Northern Corries, or why not join us and tag Ben Macdui too?!

Dropping down Fiacaill a Choire Chas (left). Coire an t’Sneachda (right)

6. Glas Maol (1068m)

Distance: 6.5km

Ascent: 480m

Duration: 3-3.5 hours

Glas Maol can be found on the other side of Glenshee from The Cairnwell and Carn Aosda. It’s another there and back walk with good path most of the way, however, the featureless rounded summit can be disorienting in poor conditions. If you’re looking for a longer excursion, you can include Creag Leachach to your route, or if you’re feeling extremely spritely, then why not join us on a round of all 6 Munros on the eastern side of Glenshee?!