If you are lucky enough to have visited the Scottish Highlands you will no doubt recall their scale and magnificence. Whether you viewed the peaks and crags of our beloved mountain ranges from afar, or immersed yourself within the landscape – walking, running, skiing, cycling- there is no doubt that the majesty of the Highlands left you with a sense of wonder and humility, and perhaps pining for more.
Our vast and rugged Highland region is the result of glacial erosion in a long forgotten past. Characterised by a patchwork of bold and beautiful mountains separated by deep and atmospheric glens, the Scottish Highlands provide an excellent playground for outdoor enthusiasts, with one of the most popular activities being Munro bagging. Peaks above 3,000 ft (914.4 m) are classified as Munros. They are named after Sir Hugh Munro who created the Munro’s Tables in 1891 in an attempt to group into one definitive list, the highest peaks across Scotland. Having chosen 3,000 ft as his cut off point he recorded 283 Munros but as measuring and typography have advanced over the century we have seen adaptations of the list of Munros. For now, it is agreed that there are 282 Munros and bagging them (reaching the summits) is no mean feat. Many of the summits are inaccessible without scrambling, climbing and a head for heights. There is also the issue of the ever changeable and inclement Scottish weather. You can’t be a fair weather walker if you want to hike in Scotland!
Enticingly sparsely populated but not so remote and vast that you are ever too far away from road access or civilisation, the Northwest uplands of Scotland lie to the north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. The entire region was once covered in ice and the complex geomorphology includes incised valleys and lochs carved by the motion of mountain streams and ice, and a topography of irregularly distributed mountains. The variety of terrain and landscape is extensive and the climate is typically cool, damp and temperate, although the winter months on the high Tundra plateaus present truly inhospitable conditions. Great care, knowledge and experience is necessary to explore the sub arctic areas of Scotland’s remote heights.
If you are fairly new to hillwalking there are plenty of challenging but straightforward routes you can tackle to build up confidence on mountain terrain. The Munro peaks around Glenshee Ski Centre- Glas Maol, Cairn of Claise and The Cairnwell- provide easy access and a higher starting point which results in a quick summit reach. Or further north in the Cairngorm range there is Cairngorm itself which is a short steep but rewarding hike not far from a fantastic cafe and Funicular railway to take you back to the car park. The peaks of Glencoe and the Mamores across to the west offer superb hillwalking, with Buchaille Etive Beag being a good place to start for a straightforward route and outstanding views. Not forgetting the rolling peaks of Perthshire. Although busier routes they provide a satisfying challenge along with the stunning lush Perthshire scenery. Try Ben Lawers, Beinn a’ Ghlo or even the Corbett Ben Vrackie which provides an exceptional walking challenge for first timers.
The Scottish Highlands are truly wild and wonderful. If you are prepared for every eventuality and pay close attention to conditions, this incredible natural playground can be a place you create some of your most memorable outdoor experiences.
BONNIE TRAILS 