The Corbetts – Scotland’s mountains between 2500 and 2999ft in height – are less visited but in most cases more accessible than the ever-popular Munros, and frequently offer better views when the 3000ers are shrouded in cloud. Their lower altitude also means the walks tend to be shorter meaning they can be tackled easily between breakfast and dinner and during the short daylight hours in winter.

However, many of the Corbetts are very remote from road access and will still give a demanding hike. What is more, between many of the peaks listed as Munros, there is little drop, so you can often climb several in one day. By contrast, the requirement for a 500ft drop on all sides between listed Corbetts means that there are few occasions where Corbetts can be linked together. Subsidiary summits of Munros and Corbetts between 2500 and 2999ft high with a drop of at least 30m on all sides are known as Corbett Tops.

Also mentioned in the route descriptions are Grahams, which are mountains between 2000 and 2499ft, and Donalds, which are hills over 2000ft in Southern Scotland. The routes described here are not necessarily for the peak bagger who just wants the shortest and easiest way up the mountain; they’re for the walker who wants the best, most interesting route up the wildest glen or along the most dramatic ridges.

This first volume of a two-volume guidebook to all the Scottish Corbetts describes the best ascents of the 112 Corbetts south of the Great Glen, in 95 routes. Volume 2 describes routes on the 109 Corbetts north of the Great Glen.

• includes the Southern Uplands, Southern Highlands, Cairngorms and also the islands of Jura and Arran
• divided into 11 sections, each walkable in a fortnight
• illustrated with 1:100,000 custom mapping based on OS data
  

Navigation

The 1:100,000 maps in this guide are good for planning purposes and will give you a general idea of the route, but they don’t give enough detail for accurate navigation in difficult conditions. For this reason it is essential that you carry the relevant maps.

The Ordnance Survey (OS) 1:50,000 maps, available in paper form or for GPS devices, are very good and should be all you need to follow the recommended routes. In popular areas updated OS 1:25,000 maps are available but not really necessary. Probably the best maps are the Harvey maps (mainly 1:40,000) but they don’t have full coverage of the Scottish Highlands.

The contour lines on all of these maps are remarkably accurate and should be seen as your main navigational tool. Inexperienced walkers going out in good visibility should learn to relate contours to the ground so they are better prepared if they get caught out in mist.

You should always carry a good compass (those produced for orienteering by Silva and Suunto are probably the best). In good visibility it should be sufficient to use the compass to orientate the map, so that north on the map lines up with north on the ground. At present, magnetic north is near enough to grid north not to have to adjust for magnetic variation. Learn to take bearings from a map and follow them using the compass in clear conditions, before you find yourself having to navigate in mist.

The most difficult thing in navigation is knowing how far you have travelled, which can be important when navigating in mist on Scottish hills. In extreme conditions it may be necessary to pace-count to measure distance – practise this skill in good conditions, so that you are prepared.

Probably the most common navigational error is to head in the wrong direction when leaving a mountain summit. It is a good habit to always check your compass when leaving a mountain summit, even in clear conditions.

GPS

If you are experienced at using map and compass, a GPS device is not essential for navigating the Corbetts. However, even experienced mountain navigators will find it can make navigation easier in mist and the less experienced might find that using a GPS device allows them to navigate safely in poor visibility.

July 2016

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.

‘A comprehensive guide that covers ascents of the 112 Corbetts – peaks between 2,500 and 2,999 feet in height – south of the Great Glen. There are 95 routes in all, from the Southern Uplands to the Cairngorms, Jura and Arran, with many likely to convince even the most committed Munroist that there is life below 3,000 feet.’

Scotland Outdoors, Autumn 2012

...This is an excellent guide and would be very useful for both the casual hillwalker visiting Scotland for the first time and the serious Munro bagger looking to broaden his (or her) horizons.

Irish Mountain Log, Autumn 2012

…the guide is as much about exploring the glens as it is about climbing the peaks.

The guide achieves Cicerone’s usual high standard of presentation, with helpful maps and plenty of photographs to whet the appetite.

Mountain Rescue, October 2012

'Detailed route descriptions are backed up with information about the history and environment. Also included is a wealth of practical advice and information about local accommodation and other amenities, to enable one to plan a holiday based on these walks.'

Strider, December 2012