Mountains

Scotland's mountains have been a magnet for walkers and climbers for more than a century and over this period, various classifications have been devised to group them according to height.

The Munros
Scotland's highest mountains are known as Munros, named after Sir Hugh T. Munro who in 1891 surveyed all the country's mountains above 3000 feet (914.4 metres) and produced his Tables which catalogued 236 peaks that he deemed to be individual mountains. Over the years and with advances in surveying methods, there have been several revisions to Munro's original listing, the latest being in 1997. Currently, there are 284 Munros and a further 511 'Tops' (those peaks above 3000 feet which are part of a range or ridge but which are judged not to be a separate mountain). Climbing all the Munros, or Munro-bagging as it's usually called, is a very popular pursuit amongst the climbing and hillwalking fraternity. The first recorded Munro-bagger to climb all the 3000-feet peaks was the Rev. A. E. Robertson in 1901 and since then, the Scottish Mountaineering Club has recorded over 2800 intrepid souls who have 'compleated'.

The Top Ten Munros are:

1. Ben Nevis  (4409 ft/ 1344 m; Ben Nevis Range)
2. Ben Macdui  (4295 ft/ 1309 m; Cairngorm range)
3. Braeriach  (4252 ft/ 1296 m; Cairngorm range)
4. Cairn Toul  (4236 ft  1291 m; Cairngorm range)
5. Sgor an Lochain Uaine (4236 ft/ 1258 m; Cairngorm range)
6. Cairngorm  (4081 ft/ 1244 m; Cairngorm range)
7. Aonach Beag  (4049 ft/ 1234 m; Nevis & Grey Corries range)
8. Aonach Mor  (4006 ft/ 1221 m; Nevis & Grey Corries range)
9. Carn Mor Dearg  (4003 ft/ 1220 m; Ben Nevis range)
10. Ben Lawers  (3983 ft/ 1214 m; Ben Lawers range)

The Corbetts
The Corbetts is the collective name given to the 221 distinct mountains in Scotland which are between 2500 (762 m) feet and 2999 (914 m) feet, and which have a re-ascent of 500 feet on all sides. They are named after John Rooke Corbett who in 1930 became the first person to climb all the 2000-feet-high peaks in Scotland. (He was also only the second person ever to complete all the Munros and Tops and the fourth to complete only the Munros). Like Munro-bagging, Corbett-bagging is a very popular pursuit. It has its own dedicated followers who claim that, in general, the Corbetts provide a better day's walking than the higher peaks.

The Top Ten Corbetts are:

1. Beinn Dearg  (2999 ft/ 914 m; Glen Tromie to Glen Tilt)
2. Foinaven  (2999 ft/ 914 m; Coigach and Cape Wrath)
3. Sgurr 'Choire-bheithe (2995 ft/ 913 m; Glen Etive to Glen Lochy)
4. Beinn 'Bhreac  (2992 ft/ 912 m; Loch Rannoch to Glen Lyon)
5. Leathad an Taobhain  (2992 ft/ 912 m; Loch Rannoch to Glen Lyon)
6. The Fara  (2989 ft/ 911 m; Inveraray to Crianlarich)
7. Beinn Dearg Mor  (2986 ft/ 910 m; Pitlochry to Braemar and Blairgowrie)
8. Meall Buidhe  (2986 ft/ 910 m; Strathyre to Strathallan)
9. Beinn nan Oighreag  (2982 ft/ 909 m; Strathyre to Strathallan)
10. Leum Uilleim  (2982 ft/ 909 m; Inveraray to Crianlarich)

The Grahams
The Grahams are those mountains in Scotland with heights between 2000 m (610 m) and 2499 m (761 m). Originally known as Elsies ('LCs' or Lower Corbetts), the 224 peaks were renamed in memory of Fiona Torbet (nee Graham) who published her own list of these peaks in the early 1990s.

The Top Ten Grahams are:

1. Beinn Talaidh  (2497 ft/ 761 m; Mull)
2. Cnoc Coinnich  (2497 ft/ 761 m; Loch Goil to Long Long)
3. Sgurr 'Chaorainn  (2497 ft/ 761 m; Strontian, Lochaber)
4. Beinn 'Chapull  (2490 ft/ 759 m; Inverinan Forest, Argyll)
5. Carn an Tionail  (2490 ft/ 759 m; Carn Dearg, Sutherland)
6. Shee of Ardtalnaig  (2490 ft/ 759 m; Loch Tay, Perthshire)
7. Beinn Shiantaidh  (2484 ft/ 757 m; Jura)
8. Creag Dubh  (2480 ft/ 756 m; Monadhliath range)
9. Cook's Cairn  (2477 ft/ 755 m; Blackwater Forest, Moray)
10. The Stob  (2470 ft/ 753 m; Braes of Balquhidder)