Scotland's Best Small Mountains

Walking guidebook to 40 of the best small mountains in Scotland under 3000ft (non-Munros). The best for beauty, views, character, history and location, and all suitable for walkers, the guidebook explores hills in the far north, Torridon, Lochaber, the Great Glen, the Cairngorms, Glencoe, Arrochar, the Trossachs and Skye, Eigg, Mull and Arran.

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Overview

A walking guidebook to 40 of the best small mountains in Scotland under 3000ft, with OS maps and routes described as day-walks with ascents accessible to non-climbers. The guidebook splits Scotland into seven areas - Sutherland and the far north, Torridon, Lochaber, the Great Glen, the Cairngorms, Glencoe, Arrochar, the Trossachs and the islands (Skye, Eigg, Mull, Arran). With routes that range in length and difficulty and alternative options given there is something for walkers of all abilities. The guide also includes background information on the mountains and places of interest, practical advice on each route and how to prepare and make the most out of these small mountains and information on history, geology, flora and fauna. The popularity of Munro-bagging - climbing all the mountains in Scotland over 3000ft - has left many of Scotland's finest mountains overlooked by walkers. What they lack in stature, they often more than make up for in beauty, views and character. This book champions just some of Scotland's best smaller mountains - from the surreal and striking landscape of The Storr in Skye, the pagan festivals of Ben Ledi in the Trossachs to the imposing and rugged ridges of Quinag in the Sutherland.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
Walking in Scotland
Wildlife
The History of Scotland
Getting there
Getting around
Accommodation
Weather
When to go
Winter walking
Mountain safety
Access
Using this guide
Sutherland and the Far North
1 Ben Loyal
2 Quinag
3 Suilven
4 Cul Mor
5 Stac Pollaidh
6 Ben More Coigach and Sgurr an Fhidhleir
Torridon and the Northwest
7 Beinn Ghobhlach
8 Beinn Airigh Charr
9 Baosbheinn
10 Sgurr Dubh
11 Beinn Damh
Lochaber and the West
12 Sgurr Coire Choinnichean
13 Streap
14 Rois-bheinn, An Stac, Sgurr na Ba Glaise and Druim Fiaclach
15 Sgurr Dhomhnuill
16 Beinn Resipol
17 Ben Hiant
The Great Glen to the Cairngorms
18 Creagan a’Chaise and the Hills of Cromdale
19 Meall Fuar-mhonaidh
20 Meall a’Bhuachaille
21 Creag Dhubh and the Argyll Stone
22 Creag Dhubh (Newtonmore)
23 Morrone (or Morven)
Glencoe and Central Scotland
24 Ben Vrackie
25 Leum Uilleim
26 Sgorr na Ciche (Pap of Glencoe)
27 Beinn a’Chrulaiste
28 Beinn Trilleachan
29 Sron a’Chlachain
Arrochar and the Trossachs
30 Meall an t-Seallaidh
31 Ben Ledi
32 Ben A’an
33 Ben Venue
34 The Cobbler (Ben Arthur)
35 Beinn an Lochain
The Islands
36 The Storr (Skye)
37 Glamaig (Skye)
38 An Sgurr (Eigg)
39 Dun da Ghaoithe (Mull)
40 Goatfell (Arran)

Appendix A Useful contacts
Appendix B Bibliography
Appendix C Glossary of Gaelic words for Common Mountain Features
Appendix D Route Summary Table

Maps

Each route is highlighted on the relevant section of Ordnance Survey’s 1:50,000 maps.

The main route described is shown in red, then any alternatives are first blue, then green, then orange, where applicable.

The small section of map provided is not a replacement for carrying the relevant OS map, however. For those who prefer to use the more detailed 1:25,000 maps, the map numbers for these as well as for the 1:50,000 maps are given in the route information box at the beginning of each route description. Too many are referred to in this book to list them all here but they are all widely available in the areas that they cover in Scotland and from map shops.

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Reviews

'As the author of this book rightly points out, the obsession with bagging Munros has meant that many of Scotland's smaller, but no less lovely peaks have been overlooked by many walkers.

With the usual Cicerone attention to detail, OS mapping and a choice of routes for all abilities and right across Scotland, this guide is a worthy additional to the library of Scottish walking books.'

Trek and Mountain magazine, July 2010

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