Munro

For other uses, see Munro (disambiguation).

Ben Nevis is the highest Munro and highest mountain in Britain

A Munro () is defined as a mountain in Scotland with a height over 3,000 feet (914.4 m), and which is on the Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) official list of Munros; there is no explicit topographical prominence requirement. The best known Munro is Ben Nevis (Beinn Nibheis), the highest mountain in the British Isles at 1,345 metres (4,411 ft).

Munros are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet (1856–1919), who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munro's Tables, in 1891. Also included were what Munro considered lesser peaks, now known as Munro Tops, which are also over 3,000 feet but are lower than the nearby primary mountain. The publication of the original list is usually considered to be the epoch event of modern peak bagging. The list has been the subject of subsequent variation and as of 10 August 2019, the Scottish Mountaineering Club has listed 282 Munros and 227 Munro Tops.

"Munro bagging" is the activity of climbing all the listed Munros. As of 2 July 2020, 6,768 people had reported completing a round. The first continuous round was completed by Hamish Brown in 1974, whilst the record for the fastest continuous round is currently held by Stephen Pyke, who completed a round in just under 40 days in 2010. Furths are mountains in England, Wales or Ireland recognized by the SMC as meeting the Munro classification.

History

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.

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.

197 Munros have a topographic prominence of over 150 m (492 ft) and are regarded by Peakbaggers as Real Munros. 88 Scottish mountains over 1000m, with a topographic prominence of over 200 m (656 ft) have been termed Metric Munros.

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.

During May and July 2009 the Munro Society re-surveyed several mountains that are known to be close to the 3,000 ft figure to determine their height more accurately. 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). Therefore, the Scottish Mountaineering Club removed the Munro status of Sgùrr nan Ceannaichean and this mountain is now a Corbett. 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. On 10 August 2019 the SMC confirmed that Mullach nan Coirean East Top had been added to the list of Munro Tops.

As of 10 August 2019, the Scottish Mountaineering Club lists 282 Munros and 227 Munro Tops. The current SMC list; totals 509 summits.

Notable peaks

See also: List of Munro mountains in Scotland

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 4,411.18 ft (1,344.527 m)

Other well-known Munros include:

• Ben Macdui (Beinn Macduibh), 4,295 ft (1,309 m), is the second highest peak in the British Isles; Braeriach (Am Bràigh Riabhach), 4,252 ft (1,296 m), is the third highest peak in the British Isles and Cairn Gorm (An Càrn Gorm), 4,084 ft (1,244.8 m), 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), in Lochaber is the smallest Munro

• Ben Hope (Beinn Hòb), 3,041 ft (927 m), in Sutherland is the most northerly Munro

• Mount Keen (Monadh Caoin), 3,081 ft (939 m), in Glen Mark is the most easterly Munro

• Ben Lomond (Beinn Laomainn), 3,196 ft (974 m), at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is the most southerly Munro

• Sgùrr na Banachdaich, 3,166 ft (965 m), in the Black Cuillin on the Isle of Skye is the most westerly Munro

• Schiehallion (Sìdh Chailleann), 3,553 ft (1,083 m), 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); Buachaille Etive Mòr (Buachaille Èite Mòr) (Stob Dearg), 3,351 ft (1021.4 m), 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); Aonach Eagach (Sgor nam Fiannaidh), 3,157 ft (967.7 m)/Aonach Eagach (Meall Dearg), 3,124 ft (952.2 m), 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)/Buachaille Etive Beag (Buachaille Èite Beag) (Stob Coire Raineach), 3,035 ft (925 m). These seven Munros are located together in Glen Coe

• Sgùrr Alasdair, 3,255 ft (992 m); Sgùrr Dearg - Inaccessible Pinnacle, 3,234 ft (985.8 m), 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); Sgùrr nan Gillean, 3,170 ft (966.1 m); Bruach na Frìthe, 3,146 ft (958.8 m); Sgùrr Mhic Choinnich, 3,111 ft (948.1 m); Sgùrr Dubh Mòr, 3,097 ft (944 m); Am Basteir (Am Baisteir), 3,064 ft (934 m); Sgùrr nan Eag, 3,039 ft (926.2 m) and Sgùrr a' Mhadaidh, 3,012 ft (918 m). 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), in the Black Cuillin Outlier (Blaven group) on the Isle of Skye

• Liathach (Spidean a' Choire Lèith), 3,461 ft (1,055 m)/Liathach (Mullach an Rathain), 3,359 ft (1,023.8 m); Beinn Eighe (Ruadh-stac Mòr), 3,314 ft (1,010 m)/Beinn Eighe (Spidean Coire nan Clach), 3,258 ft (993 m) and Beinn Alligin (Beinn Àilleagan) (Sgùrr Mhòr), 3,235 ft (986 m)/Beinn Alligin (Beinn Àilleagan) (Tom na Gruagaich), 3,025 ft (922 m). These six Munros are located together in Torridon

• An Teallach (Bidean a' Ghlas Thuill), 3,485 ft (1,062.5 m)/An Teallach (Sgùrr Fiona), 3,473 ft (1,058.6 m). These two Munros are located together in Dundonnell

• Sgùrr na Cìche, 3,412 ft (1,040 m) and Ladhar Bheinn, 3,346 ft (1,020 m). These two Munros are located in Knoydart

• The Saddle (An Dìollaid), 3,318 ft (1,011.4 m), in Glen Shiel

• A' Mhaighdean, 3,173 ft (967 m), and Slioch (Sleaghach), 3,219 ft (981 m). 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), 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

Peak bagging

Ben Hope is the most northerly Munro

Buachaille Etive Mòr's north-east face

The triple buttresses of Coire Mhic Fearchair on Beinn Eighe

Compared with some continental ranges, Scottish mountains might be modest in height, but walking and climbing in them can be treacherous because of their latitude and exposure to Atlantic and Arctic weather systems. 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.

Some hillwalkers aim to climb every Munro, 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.

Notable completions

By 2 July 2020, 6,768 people had completed the Munros. The Scottish Mountaineering Club, who maintain a list of those Munroists who have reported completing the Munros, have attempted to popularise the archaic spelling of compleation.

Hugh Munro never completed his own list, missing out on Càrn an Fhidhleir and Càrn Cloich-mhuillin (downgraded to a Munro Top in 1981). Sir Hugh is said to have missed the Inaccessible Pinnacle of Sgùrr Dearg, on the Isle of Skye, which he never climbed. However the "In Pinn", as it is known colloquially within Scottish mountaineering, was only listed as a Munro Top on his list (despite being several metres higher than Sgùrr Dearg, which was listed as the main Munro Top).

The first "completionist" was to be the Reverend A. E. Robertson, in 1901, later minister at Braes of Rannoch from 1907. However, research has cast doubt on this claim, and it is not certain that he reached the summit of Ben Wyvis. Also it is known that Robertson did not climb the Inaccessible Peak of Sgùrr Dearg. If Robertson is discounted, the first Munroist is Ronald Burn, who completed in 1923. Burn is also (indisputably) the first person to climb all the Munro Tops.

The person with the most rounds of Munros is Steven Fallon from Edinburgh, who has completed 16 rounds as of 1 October 2019.

Chris Smith became the first Member of Parliament to complete the Munros when he reached the summit of Sgùrr nan Coireachan on 27 May 1989.

Ben Fleetwood is probably the youngest person to have completed a round. He climbed the final Munro of his round – Ben More – on 30 August 2011 at the age of 10 years and 3 months. The youngest completionist to have done the round without the presence of a parent or a guardian is probably Andy Nisbet, who finished his round in 1972 aged 18 years and 1 month.

Continuous rounds

Hamish Brown did the first continuous self-propelled round of the Munros (except for the Skye and Mull ferries) between 4 April and 24 July 1974 with 449,000 ft (137,000 m) of ascent and mostly walking 1,639 miles (2,638 km) – just 150 miles (241 km) were on a bicycle. The journey is fully documented in his book Hamish's Mountain Walk. The average time taken to bag all the Munros is eight years.

The first reported completion of all the Munros plus the Munro Tops in one continuous expedition was by Chris Townsend in 1996. His trip lasted between 18 May and 12 September (118 days), he covered a distance of 1,770 miles (2,849 km) (240 miles or 386 kilometres by bicycle) with 575,000 ft (175,000 m) of ascent. The round was broken twice for spells at the office, which could be regarded as stretching the meaning of "continuous".

The first person to complete a winter round (all the Munros in one winter season) was Martin Moran in 1984/85. His journey lasted between 21 December 1984 and 13 March 1985 (83 days), he walked 1,028 miles (1,654 km) with 412,000 ft (126,000 m) of ascent. He used motor transport (campervan) to link his walk.

In the winter of 2005/06, Steve Perry completed a continuous unsupported round entirely on foot (and ferry). He is also the first person to have completed two continuous Munro rounds, having also walked Land's End to John O'Groats via every mainland 3,000 ft mountain between 18 February 2003 and 30 September 2003.

Fastest round

Charlie Campbell, a former postman from Glasgow, held the record for the fastest round of the Munros between 2000 and 2010. He completed his round in 48 days 12 hours, finishing on 16 July 2000, on Ben Hope. He cycled and swam between Munros; no motorised transport was used. His record was broken by Stephen Pyke of Stone, Staffordshire, in 2010 who completed the round in 39 days, 9 hours. Pyke's round started on the island of Mull on 25 April 2010 and finished on Ben Hope in Sutherland on 3 June 2010. He cycled and kayaked between Munros; no motorised transport was used. He was backed by a support team in a motor home, but had to camp out in the more remote areas. The women's self-propelled, continuous record is held by Libby Kerr and Lisa Trollope. They completed their round on 17 September 2017, in 76 days and 10 hours.

On 18 September 2011 Alex Robinson and Tom O'Connell finished a self-propelled continuous round on Ben Hope in a time of 48 days 6 hours and 56 minutes. At the age of just 21, Alex became the youngest person to have completed a continuous round without the use of any motorised transport.

Furths

See also: List of Furths in the British Isles

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. The first recorded Furthist is James Parker, who completed on Tryfan (Snowdonia) on 19 April 1929.

See also

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

References

Notations

• The Munros (SMC Guide), Donald Bennet et al., ISBN 0-907521-13-4

External links

• 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.