6 Scottish Munros for Beginners

6 Scottish Munros for Beginners

At over 3000 feet these are not easy walks for the faint hearted but they are not unachievable for those with a reasonable level of fitness. Before you embark on your very first Munro climb be sure to get out and do some walking, break in those boots and refresh your map reading skills as these are essential. The walking highlands website (Walkhighlands: Scotland walks and accommodation) and mountaineering Scotland (Hillwalking | Mountaineering Scotland )have lots of useful information, routes and safety tips for anyone looking to bag their first Munro. 
1.    Ben Lomond is located in the Trossachs National Park and it stands at its peak 3195feet. This is an ideal Munro due to the path leading to its summit. It has a clear path which gradually rises to the summit. You will gain on a clear day some outstanding views of Loch Lomond. The walk itself is around 7 miles and will take the average climber 4-5 hours to complete. 

2.    Schiehallion located in Perthshire and close to our Scottish Tourer depot is a Munro standing at 3547feet at its summit. Making itself slightly bigger than Ben Lomond. The path here is not as easy as Ben Lomond in that there are some very rocky boulder fields located on the way up which may be more challenging for the beginner climbers. The hike itself though will take you around 3-4 hours in total and the views are worth climbing over all the rocks for. 
 
3.    Ben Chonzie again located in Perthshire stands at 3054 feet making it just a munro and no more! From the top here you can gain some amazing views of Loch and Glen Turret. This is a popular route for many first time climbers and it has a decent path with very little challenges other than the height itself which is to be expected. 

4.    Ben Vorlich is back to the Trossachs and stands at 3231feet with what we would say as a good walk up, it is an excellent starting point and some spectacular views over the Loch Earn. There is a further Munro from the first called Stuc a Chroin if you’re feeling up to bagging two in one day! Choosing to do both will see you climb 4100 feet in total. It’s around 12.5miles and will take you a full day of around 7 hours walking not including stops so it is one to really plan for if you want to do both. 

5.    Mayar and Driesh by Glen Clova is another day where you can bag 2 Munros. The Mayar is 3044 feet with Dreish being 3106feet so quite a challenge should you accept it. This walk is popular for bird spotting and in particular Golden Eagles so ensure you pack your camera. The initial walk here is clear and well laid out, you then walk a part which is pathless followed by a relatively rough path to the Driesh. The whole walk is around 9 miles in total and will be another days’ worth of walking of around 5hours or so. This of course depends on pit stops and refreshments. On a clear day the views here are simply Scotland at its best and the beauty is magnificent. 
 

6.    Ben Lawers is the highest of the ones we have chosen here at 3983ft. There is a car park for this one with a small parking charge. This route is very popular and many experienced climbers choose to do the route of no less than 7 Munros which can all be linked together from this starting point. This is a fair climb however it has utterly outstanding views and you will not be disappointed. 
 
These are but a few of the many Munros that you can choose to explore whilst in Scotland however we have tried to pick those that are slightly easier and more accessible for beginners. If you choose to climb whilst on holiday with Scottish Tourer, please share your experiences and any tips for our future customers.