TOP TEN : MOUNTAINS
Thanks to Craig Weldon at www.loveofscotland.com for this set of mountains.
Lists of favourite Scottish hills is always a subject that engenders argument in the pub, and is often based on subjective things like weather, mood, or what hills have been visited. Me, I would have to plump for:
Buachaille
Etive Mor
This is my favourite hill, mainly for the view of it from the Kingshouse
where I have spent many a happy night. I met a biker here once who
informed me that this was his favourite too - he didn't know what
it was called, but
he said "when I see that hill, I know I'm in the Highlands."
Liathach
In my opinion the finest hill in Scotland. Everything about Liathach
is brilliant, from its excellent northern corrie, the scramble along
its main ridge, the exposed but scrambleable northern ridge, the
amazing views over
North Torridon, the amazing views *of* Liathach from anywhere else
- be it Beinn Eighe, Glen Torridon, or the Strathcarron hills. And
the Ben Damph Hotel serves the finest pint of Guinness in Scotland.
Ben Nevis
Bit of an obvious choice, but the Ben really has a lot going for
it. My favourite route is from the roadend at Glen Nevis, past the
Steall flats and onto Carn Mor Dearg, with a return south from the
summit (would never do this in winter or with poor visibility) with
excellent birds eye views up the Nevis Gorge. This hill has a feeling
of height a degree higher than any other Scottish hill.
Ben More
Coigach
Couldn't ask for more from a hill. Complex landforms, a nice ridge,
and several tops. The other hills in this area are great too, but
the advantage of BMC is that you can see Suilven, Stac Pollaidh,
Culs Mor and Beg all in one view from here, with the Summer Isles
and An Teallach, Beinn Dearg and Fannichs, and Western Isles filling
the remaining quarters. I also met Muriel Grey here, proving that
she does not only climb munros...
Rois Bheinn
This is an unassuming looking hill on the edge of Moidart. But it
provides a great walk over three Corbetts, with, in good weather,
probably the best
panoramic view on the entire mainland.
The Black
Corries (Stob a Cruaiche)
The sense of space over Rannoch Moor from this hill is incredible.
Provides a good walk into some remote territory and preferable to
the boggy Kinshouse-Rannoch station path that skirts its flanks.
Beinn Narnain
I suppose this is a bit unusual choice. The Cobbler and even Beinn
Ime are better hills, but there is something about Beinn Narnain
that draws me back again and again. My favourite route is to walk
up the Cobbler path as far as the Narnain Boulders, and head up
the corrie towards Spearhead Arete, which has some good scrambling
on its sides (the direct route is too hard for me), before reaching
the small plateau like summit. From there the rest of the Arrochar
Alps beckon you onwards....
Braeriach
For me this is just the summit of a much wider area, flanked by
the Feshie, Geldie, Dee, and Einich, and with many fine corries
and forests. The summit plateau has a haunted air I haven't felt
on Cairngorm or Ben Macdhui,
despite Macdhui's reputation. You don't need good weather to enjoy
the glens and rivers on this hill, which is a major plus point.
Askival
The traverse of the Cuillin of Rum is one of my favourite ever walks
- in fine visibility, every quarter of the compass is taken up with
mountain, island, and ocean views. The ridge itself is also full
of interest, narrow
with bits of scrambling, but all avoidable. A cracker. I'd really
like to do the round of Dibidil Glen next time I go back. Oh yeah
- the Western Hills on Rum are also worth a look, because not only
do they look over the same area as the Rum Cuillin, they look onto
the Rum Cuillin as well.
Heaval
There's not much to Heaval, but the short steep ascent from Castlebay
is rewarded with one of the finest oceanic panoramas in Scotland.
There's the unusual statue of the Virgin Mary and Child on its flanks,
and if you count the rest of Barra with its beaches and friendly
population as constituting the base of this hill, then you can't
really go wrong!
MORE READERS FAVOURITES
Please tell us about your favourite mountain in Scotland and we'll publish it on the site. Send description to mountains@outdoorscotland.co.uk
QUINAG
FROM TOBY
"I was staying the hostel at Inchnadamph near Lochinver and
discovered a wee gem of a mountain. Quinag at first glance looks
like a fairly innocuos mountain but once you get round to the north
side it causes jaws to drop. It has three seperate tops which can
can be accessed by a good variety of routes. The North side of it
resembles a dinky Buachaille etive Mor with what looks like a challenging
climb. One which I've earmarked for next Summer. Its pretty quiet
too which can definitely be a plus after the bustle of the Munros"
THIS WILD & REMOTE SELECTION OF HILLS IS FROM JAMES MATTHEWS. LOOK AT ALL THOSE SUTHERLAND BEAUTIES IN THIS LIST:
1. Quinag
2. Foinaven
3. Bidean nam Bian
4. Stac Pollaidh
5. Suilven
6. Ben More Assynt
7. Ben More Coigach
8. Ben Lui
9. Cul Mor/Cul Beag
10. Ben Starav
