Munro

Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet, creator of Munro's Tables

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 six inches to the mile (1:10,560) and one-inch to the mile (1:63,360) maps.[4][5]

Munro researched and produced a set of tables that were published in the Scottish Mountaineering Club 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 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 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 500 feet (152.4 m). Given this they would have qualified as Corbett summits had they been under 3,000 feet. In the 1997 tables these three Munro Tops, on Beinn Alligin, Beinn Eighe and Buachaille Etive Beag, gained full Munro summit status. Dawson's book also highlighted a number of significant Munro Tops with as much as 197 feet (60 m) of prominence which were not listed as Munro Tops. The 1997 tables promoted five of these to full Munro status.[6]

A total of 197 Munros have a topographic prominence of over 150 m (492 ft) and are regarded by peakbaggers as Real Munros.[7] 130 Scottish mountains over 1000m, with a topographic prominence of over 100 m (328 ft) have been termed Metric Munros.[8]

Other classification schemes in Scotland, such as the Corbetts 2,500 to 3,000 ft (762–914 m) and Grahams 2,000 to 2,500 ft (610–762 m), require a peak to have a prominence of at least 500 feet (152 m) 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.

Between April 2007 and July 2015 the Munro Society re-surveyed twenty mountains and tops that were known to be close to the 3,000 ft figure to determine their height more accurately.[9] On 10 September 2009 the society announced that the mountain Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean, south of Glen Carron, had a height of 2,996 feet 10 inches (913.43 m).[10] Therefore, the Scottish Mountaineering Club removed the Munro status of Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean and this mountain is now a Corbett.[11] In a Summer 2011 height survey by The Munro Society, Beinn a' Chlaidheimh was found to be 2,998 feet 8 inches (914 m) and thus short of the Munro mark. On 6 September 2012, the Scottish Mountaineering Club demoted it from Munro to Corbett status.[12][13] 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 was also changed to 941.4m.[14] As of 10 December 2020, there were 226 Scottish Munro Tops after Stob Coire na Cloiche, a Munro Top to Parent Peak Sgùrr nan Ceathramhnan, was surveyed at 912.5m and was deleted as a Munro Top and downgraded to a Corbett Top.[15]

As of 10 December 2020, the Scottish Mountaineering Club lists 282 Munros and 226 Munro Tops. The current SMC list; totals 508 summits.

The most famous Munro is Ben Nevis (Beinn Nibheis) in the Lochaber area. It is the highest peak in the British Isles, with an elevation of 4,411 ft (1,345 m)[16]

Other well-known Munros include:

• Ben Macdui (Beinn Macduibh), 4,295 ft (1,309 m),[17] is the second highest peak in the British Isles; Braeriach (Am Bràigh Riabhach), 4,252 ft (1,296 m),[18] is the third highest peak in the British Isles and Cairn Gorm (An Càrn Gorm), 4,084 ft (1,244.8 m),[19] is the sixth highest peak in the British Isles. These three Munros are located together in the Cairngorms
• Beinn Teallach, 3,001 ft (914.6 m),[20] in Lochaber is the lowest Munro
• Ben Hope (Beinn Hòb), 3,041 ft (927 m),[21] in Sutherland is the most northerly Munro
• Mount Keen (Monadh Caoin), 3,081 ft (939 m),[22] in Glen Mark is the most easterly Munro
• Ben Lomond (Beinn Laomainn), 3,195 ft (973.7 m),[23] at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is the most southerly Munro
• Sgùrr na Banachdaich, 3,166 ft (965 m),[24] in the Black Cuillin on the Isle of Skye is the most westerly Munro
• Schiehallion (Sìdh Chailleann), 3,554 ft (1,083.3 m),[25] in Perth and Kinross, is a Munro often described as lying at the centre of Scotland
• Bidean nam Bian, 3,771 ft (1,149.4 m);[26] Buachaille Etive Mòr (Buachaille Èite Mòr) (Stob Dearg), 3,351 ft (1021.4 m),[27] at the entrance to Glen Coe, is the most photographed mountain in the British Isles/Buachaille Etive Mòr (Buachaille Èite Mòr) (Stob na Bròige), 3,128 ft (953.4 m);[28] Aonach Eagach (Sgor nam Fiannaidh), 3,175 ft (967.7 m)[29]/Aonach Eagach (Meall Dearg), 3,124 ft (952.3 m),[30] 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 and An Teallach for this title; and finally Buachaille Etive Beag (Buachaille Èite Beag) (Stob Dubh), 3,143 ft (958 m)[31]/Buachaille Etive Beag (Buachaille Èite Beag) (Stob Coire Raineach), 3,033 ft (924.5 m).[32] These seven Munros are located together in Glen Coe
• Sgùrr Alasdair, 3,255 ft (992 m);[33] Sgùrr Dearg – Inaccessible Pinnacle, 3,234 ft (985.8 m),[34] 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);[35] Sgùrr nan Gillean, 3,170 ft (966.1 m);[36] Bruach na Frìthe, 3,146 ft (958.8 m);[37] Sgùrr Mhic Choinnich, 3,111 ft (948.1 m);[38] Sgùrr Dubh Mòr, 3,097 ft (944 m);[39] Am Basteir (Am Baisteir), 3,064 ft (934 m);[40] Sgùrr nan Eag, 3,039 ft (926.3 m)[41] and Sgùrr a' Mhadaidh, 3,012 ft (918 m).[42] These ten Munros including one other (Sgùrr na Banachdaich, 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 on the Isle of Skye
• Blà Bheinn (Blaven), 3,048 ft (929 m),[43] in the Black Cuillin Outlier (Blaven group) on the Isle of Skye
• Liathach (Spidean a' Choire Lèith), 3,461 ft (1,054.8 m)[44]/Liathach (Mullach an Rathain), 3,359 ft (1,023.8 m);[45] Beinn Eighe (Ruadh-stac Mòr), 3,314 ft (1,010 m)[46]/Beinn Eighe (Spidean Coire nan Clach), 3,258 ft (993 m)[47] and Beinn Alligin (Beinn Àilleagan) (Sgùrr Mhòr), 3,235 ft (986 m)[48]/Beinn Alligin (Beinn Àilleagan) (Tom na Gruagaich), 3,025 ft (922 m).[49] These six Munros are located together in Torridon
• An Teallach (Bidean a' Ghlas Thuill), 3,486 ft (1,062.6 m)[50]/An Teallach (Sgùrr Fiona), 3,473 ft (1,058.7 m).[51] These two Munros are located together in Dundonnell
• Sgùrr na Cìche, 3,413 ft (1,040.2 m)[52] and Ladhar Bheinn, 3,346 ft (1,020 m).[53] These two Munros are located in Knoydart
• The Saddle (An Dìollaid), 3,318 ft (1,011.4 m),[54] in Glen Shiel
• A' Mhaighdean, 3,173 ft (967 m),[55] and Slioch (Sleaghach), 3,219 ft (981 m).[56] These two Munros are located together in Wester Ross between the Fisherfield Forest and Letterewe Forest
• Ben Cruachan (Cruach na Beinne), 3,698 ft (1,127 m),[57] at Loch Awe, gives its name to the Cruachan Power Station (also known as the Cruachan Dam), a pumped-storage hydroelectric power station located in a cavern inside the mountain

• Carn an Fhidhleir, 3,261 ft (994 m), from Linn of Dee via White Bridge has a distance of 11.40 miles
• A' Mhaighdean, 3,173 ft (967 m), from Incheril via Gleann Bianasdail has a distance of 10.98 miles
• Beinn Bheoil, 3,343 ft (1,019 m), from Rannoch Lodge via Ben Alder Cottage has a distance of 10.46 miles
• Ruadh Stac Mor (Ruadh-Stac Mòr), 3,014 ft (918.7 m), from A832 near Corrie Hallie via Shenavall has a distance of 10.37 miles
• Ben Alder (Beinn Eallair), 3,766 ft (1,148 m), from Corrour railway station via Loch Ossian has a distance of 10.34 miles
• Mullach na Dheiragain, 3,222 ft (982 m), from A87 near Cluanie Inn via Alltbeithe has a distance of 10.25 miles
• An Sgarsoch, 3,302 ft (1,006.5 m), from Linn of Dee via White Bridge has a distance of 10.16 miles

Ben Hope is the most northerly Munro

Buachaille Etive Mòr's north-east face

The triple buttresses of Coire Mhic Fearchair on Beinn Eighe

When compared to continental ranges, such as The Alps, Scottish peaks are generally lesser in height. However, walking and climbing in them can still be dangerous due to their latitude and exposure to Atlantic and Arctic weather systems.[58][59] 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.

The activity of attempting to climb every Munro is known as "Munro bagging". Munro-bagging is a form of peak bagging. A walker who has climbed all Munros is entitled to be called a Munroist. Descending a Munro by funicular is known as de-bagging.

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 Munros, i.e. the Munros furth of Scotland.[83] The first recorded Furthist is James Parker, who completed on Tryfan (Snowdonia) on 19 April 1929.[84]

• List of mountains of the British Isles by height
• List of Munros and Munro Tops in Scotland
• List of Munros in Scotland by Section
• List of Murdos (mountains)
• Lists of mountains and hills in the British Isles
• Mountains and hills of Scotland

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Munros.

• 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.
• The Munros and Tops 1891–1997 – 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.
• The Munro Society "Founded in 2002 membership is open to anyone who has climbed all the Munro summits as listed in Munro's Tables at the time of compleation".