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Walking the Corbetts Vol 1 South of the Great Glen - Front Cover
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Walking the Corbetts Vol 1 South of the Great Glen

Walking the Corbetts describes routes up all 112 Scottish Corbetts (Scotland's 2500-2999ft mountains) south of the Great Glen, covering the Southern Uplands, Southern Highlands, Cairngorms, Jura and Arran. These Scottish hills are every bit as interesting as the Munros, and often clear when the Munros are in cloud. Part of a 2-volume set.

The eBook is also sold by Amazon Kindle, Rakuten Kobo, Google Play Books and Apple Books.

Quick facts

  • Series: Walking the Corbetts (volume 1 of 2)
  • Area: South of the Great Glen, Scotland
  • Regions covered: Southern Uplands, Arran, Jura, Arrochar Alps, Trossachs, Grampians, Cairngorms, Badenoch
  • What are Corbetts: Scottish mountains between 2500ft and 2999ft (762m–914m) with a re-ascent of at least 500ft on all sides
  • Summits covered: 112 Corbetts
  • Routes: 95
  • Route distances: 5 to 41km (3 to 25 miles)
  • Highlights: Merrick, The Cobbler, Goatfell, Morven, Ben Vrackie, Beinn an Oir
  • Difficulty: Demanding — requires good fitness, navigation skills and experience in remote mountainous terrain
  • Terrain: Moorland, remote glens, steep slopes, some scrambling and river crossings
  • Navigation: Map and compass essential; 1:100,000 mapping included in guide; OS 1:50,000 or Harvey maps recommended on the hill
  • Best season: Spring to autumn; the guide assumes snow-free conditions
  • Companion volume: Walking the Corbetts Vol 2 – North of the Great Glen
  • Total Corbetts across both volumes: 222

Detailed overview

Explore 112 Scottish Corbetts across some of Scotland's most rewarding and least-crowded mountain terrain, from the island summits of Goatfell on Arran and Beinn an Oir on Jura to the rugged Arrochar Alps, the sweeping Cairngorms and the remote hills of Badenoch. The Corbetts, Scotland's mountains between 2500 and 2999ft, are every bit as dramatic and satisfying as the Munros, and have the added appeal of often being clear when higher peaks are buried in cloud.

Aimed at experienced hillwalkers with good navigation skills and a taste for wild, remote terrain, this trusted Cicerone guidebook by Brian Johnson gives you everything you need to walk the Scottish Corbetts south of the Great Glen with confidence. It combines clear route descriptions with 1:100,000 mapping and honest difficulty notes, helping you plan each outing thoroughly and navigate safely once you're on the hill.

  • 95 routes covering all 112 Scottish Corbetts south of the Great Glen, spanning the Southern Uplands, Arrochar Alps, Trossachs, Grampians and Cairngorms, with distances ranging from 5 to 41km to suit a variety of days out
  • Clear route descriptions with 1:100,000 mapping for every route, alongside detailed difficulty notes covering terrain, challenges, hazards and any scrambling or river crossings involved
  • Highlights include Merrick, The Cobbler, Goatfell, Morven and Ben Vrackie, alongside dozens of rarely climbed summits that reward the effort with outstanding solitude and views
  • Practical information on maps, parking, local bases and facilities for each area, making it straightforward to plan a day in the Southern Uplands as easily as a remote Cairngorms ascent
  • An alphabetical list of all Corbetts covered in the volume, allowing summit-baggers to track their progress and plan future outings efficiently

Together, the route descriptions, mapping, difficulty notes, and navigation advice provide a thorough, reliable companion for walking the Corbetts across Scotland's most varied mountain landscapes. Tackle 112 Scottish summits with the knowledge, confidence and inspiration to make every ascent one to remember.

Walking the Corbetts Vol 1 South of the Great Glen is one half of a two-volume set — pair it with Walking the Corbetts Vol 2 North of the Great Glen for complete coverage of all 222 Scottish Corbetts.

Where and when to go

Seasons

The Corbetts can be climbed at any time of year, but this guide assumes readers are climbing when the hills are free of snow.

Centres

Southern Uplands, Southern Highlands, Cairngorms, Jura and Arran

Difficulty

Many of the Corbetts are rarely climbed which means that often the only paths are animal tracks. This does mean that the going can be relatively tough and navigation can be demanding in mist. Very few of the Corbetts in this volume involve any scrambling, but many involve ascents and descents on steep slopes.

Must See

112 highlights in 95 routes, including Merrick, The Cobbler, Goatfell, Morven and Ben Vrackie

Table of contents


Preface


Overview maps


Map key


Introduction


What are the Corbetts?


Geology


Human history in the Highlands


The natural environment


Walking the Corbetts


When to go


The terrain


Weather


Access


Mountain bothies


Navigation


Safety


Areas in this guide


Using this guide


1 The Southern Uplands


Route 1 Merrick


Route 2 Shalloch on Minnoch


Route 3 Corserine


Route 4 Cairnsmore of Carsphairn


Route 5 Hart Fell


Route 6 White Coomb


Route 7 Broad Law


2 Arran and Jura


Route 8 Goatfell


Route 9 Beinn Tarsuinn, Caisteal Abhail and Cir Mhor


Route 10 Beinn an Oir


3 West of Loch Lomond (Arrochar Alps)


Route 11 Beinn Bheula


Route 12 Ben Donich and The Brack


Route 13 The Cobbler


Route 14 Beinn Luibhean


Route 15 Beinn an Lochain


Route 16 Stob Coire Creagach (Binnein an Fhidhleir)


Route 17 Meall an Fhudair


4 East of Loch Lomond (The Trossachs)


Route 18 Beinn a’ Choin


Route 19 Ben Ledi and Benvane


Route 20 Beinn Each


Route 21 Stob a’ Choin


Route 22 Stob Fear-tomhais


Route 23 Meall an t-Seallaidh and Creag MacRanaich


Route 24 Meall na Fearna


Route 25 Creag Uchdag


Route 26 Auchnafree Hill


5 South-West Grampians


Route 27 Beinn a’ Bhuiridh


Route 28 Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh


Route 29 Beinn Udlaidh and Beinn Bhreac-liath


Route 30 Beinn Chuirn


Route 31 Beinn Odhar , Beinn Chaorach , Cam Chreag , Beinn nam Fuaran and Beinn a’ Chaisteil


6 The Southern Grampians


Route 32 Beinn nan Imirean


Route 33 Meall nan Subh


Route 34 Sron a’ Choire Chnapanich and Meall Buidhe


Route 35 Beinn nan Oighreag


Route 36 Meall nam Maigheach


Route 37 Cam Chreag


Route 38 Beinn Dearg


Route 39 Creagan na Beinne


7 The Western Grampians


Route 40 Creach Bheinn


Route 41 Fraochaidh


Route 42 Meall Lighiche


Route 43 Beinn Trilleachan


Route 44 Stob Dubh


Route 45 Beinn Maol Chaluim


Route 46 Beinn Mhic Chasgaig


Route 47 Beinn a’ Chrulaiste


Route 48 Garbh Bheinn


Route 49 Mam na Gualainn


Route 50 Glas Bheinn


8 The Central Grampians


Route 51 Leum Uilleim


Route 52 Meall na Meoig of Beinn Pharlagain


Route 53 Stob an Aonaich Mhoir


Route 54 Beinn a’ Chuallaich


Route 55 Meall Tairneachan and Farragon Hill


Route 56 Ben Vrackie


Route 57 Ben Vuirich


Route 58 Beinn Mheadhonach


Route 59 Beinn Bhreac


Route 60 An Dun and Maol Creag an Loch (A’ Chaoirnich)


Route 61 Meall na Leitreach


Route 62 Beinn Mholach


Route 63 The Sow of Atholl


Route 64 The Fara


9 Badenoch


Route 65 Sgurr Innse and Cruach Innse


Route 66 Beinn Iaruinn


Route 67 Carn Dearg (Glen Roy)


Route 68 Carn Dearg (N of Gleann Eachach) and Carn Dearg (S of Gleann Eachach)


Route 69 Carn a’ Chuillinn


Route 70 Gairbeinn


Route 71 Meall na h-Aisre


Route 72 Carn an Fhreiceadain


Route 73 Meallach Mhor


Route 74 Leathad an Taobhain and Carn Dearg Mor


10 The Southern Cairngorms


Route 75 Mount Battock


Route 76 Ben Tirran


Route 77 Monamenach


Route 78 Ben Gulabin


Route 79 Creag nan Gabhar


Route 80 Morrone


Route 81 Sgor Mor


Route 82 Carn na Drochaide


Route 83 Carn Liath and Culardoch


Route 84 Conachcraig


Route 85 Morven


11 The Northern Cairngorms


Route 86 Brown Cow Hill


Route 87 Carn Ealasaid


Route 88 Carn Mor


Route 89 Corryhabbie Hill


Route 90 Ben Rinnes


Route 91 Geal Charn


Route 92 Meall a’Bhuachaille


Route 93 Creag Mhor


Route 94 Geal-charn Mor


Route 95 Carn na Saobhaidhe

Appendix A Alphabetical list of the Corbetts

Appendix B Useful information

Which format is best for me?

Printed book

A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps — everything you need on the trail.

ISBN9781852846527
AvailabilityPublished
Published6 August 2025
Reprinted31 January 2029
Weight 350g

eBook

The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.

Updates

  1. Updated

    Update

    Following a survey by John Barnard and Graham Jackson, Cnoc Coinnich has been upgraded from Graham to Corbett status. The new height has been accepted by the Scottish Mountaineering Club, the guardians of the tables, and by the Ordnance Survey.

    Cnoc Coinnich NN 22346 00772): Formerly 761m, now 764m. It is situated about 3km E of Lochgoilhead which provides the easiest approach to the mountain. It is joined to the Brack by a saddle at about 476m and a strong walker could combine it with Ben Donich and The Brack using the route described in the Route 12 of the guide.

Meet the author

Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson

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After taking early retirement from his career as a physics and sports teacher, Brian Johnson found time for three thru'-hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2700-mile round-Britain walk, six hikes across the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, a hike along the Via de la Plata from Seville to Santiago, and a single summer compleation of the Munros (Scotland's 3000ft mountains), as well as climbing all the Corbetts (Scotland's 2500-3000ft mountains) and the Grahams (Scotland's 2000-2500ft mountains).

He completed a 2200-mile cycle tour of Spain and France and multi-week canoe tours in Sweden, France, Spain and Portugal.

In his younger days, Brian's main sport was orienteering. He competed at a high level and coached both Bishop Wordsworth's School and South-West Junior Orienteering squads. He also surveyed and drew many orienteering maps. He walked and climbed extensively in Britain, the Alps, the Pyrenees and California, often leading school groups.

As a fanatical sportsman and games player, Brian competed to a high standard at cricket, hockey, bridge and chess. His crowning achievement was winning the 1995/96 World Amateur Chess Championships.

Brian hiked under the trail name of Ancient Brit.

Sadly, Brian passed away in 2021.