How To Hike Your First Munro
Getting into Scotland’s great outdoors has never been more popular so now is the time to hike your first Munro!
With tourist hotspots getting busier, I love leaving the bustle of Edinburgh behind and heading out to climb more Munros. If you haven’t heard the term before, a Munro is any distinct Scottish hill over 3000ft and there are 282 of them clumped around the country.
With international travel off the table in 2020, “Munro-bagging” became incredibly popular and the Scottish hills were busier than ever before. I don’t think I have ever seen so many hilltop, Instagram selfies in my life. It’s a common hobby to try and “bag” all 282 Munros and while these aren’t exactly Everest, just heading out to the first one that you see without any preparation could get you in trouble.
This guide will give you an idea of what you’re in for, what you might need to take with you and some of the easier summits to aim for. If you’re looking for an equally challenging but less remote challenge, then how about trying The Seven Hills of Edinburgh?
How Fit Do You Have To Be To Bag A Munro?
First things first, there is no such thing as an easy Munro. Some are definitely easier than others but you will still need to be comfortable walking uphill for at least a couple of hours. Take as long as you need and if you stop for a break every 30 minutes then that just means you’ll have more time to admire the view.
Don’t be put off by hardcore hill runners jogging past you, it’s happened to me many times and that’s just some crazy people’s idea of fun! If you’re in Edinburgh then give Arthur’s Seat a try first. If you can manage that in one go then you will manage one of the easier Munros no problem.
What To Bring When Hiking A Munro?
It might look like beautiful weather but the old expression “Scotland get’s all four seasons in one day” is even more accurate in the hills. Having a glance out the window and deciding to head off in shorts and t-shirt is a recipe for disaster. I’ve started off hiking in glorious sunshine before just to be hit with a bad snowstorm after 3 hours. By that point I had another 3 hours trek to get back to the car and if I didn’t have the right equipment with me then I could have been in big trouble.
As a minimum bring: –
- Rucksack – Nothing crazy if it’s a short hike. A small backpack will do.
- Sturdy footwear – Lightweight is best but you will need ankle support.
- Waterproof clothing – Something you can take off and put on easily. Top and bottom.
- A hat and gloves – The warmer the better.
- Spare socks – If you step in a deep puddle at the start, you don’t want to hike for hours with wet feet.
- Torch – I know you plan on being back during the light but you never know what will happen.
- Whistle – 6 short blasts on a whistle then a minute gap is the international distress signal. 3 blasts back is the response.
- Compass & Map – I like to use GPS on my phone but always carry these in case of emergency.
- Phone Battery Pack – You don’t want to miss that summit picture because your phone died!
- First Aid Kit – Including painkillers. A sprained ankle up here can be bad news.
- Water – I take a water bag so that it’s lightweight and easily refilled. Fancy metal Chilly bottles are just excess weight.
- Food – Lightweight and high energy. Remember to take any wrappers/banana skins home with you.
Which Munro To Hike First?
I haven’t hiked all of these, I had been saving some of the easier and less exciting summits for winter but then travel restrictions came in. Each Munro has its own pros and cons but if you’re nervous about where to start then one of these would be a very good option to build your confidence. All of these are dog friendly routes as well with no rock climbing involved.
Mount Keen
Stats – 11 mile roundtrip – 5-7 hours – 810m climbing
Mount Keen is the most Easterly of the Munros, sitting in the Angus Glens and I would approach from the Glen Esk side. It might sound like a big hike to be counted as easy but it features a long and fairly flat walk in and then a steady climb. The track is very well maintained so there is no real chance of getting lost and there is a nearby phone mast so you should have signal for the majority of your trek just in case you need it.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/angus/mount-keen.shtml
Ben Chonzie
Stats – 7.75 mile roundtrip – 4-5 hours – 712m climbing
Ben Chonzie is the one that I haven’t made it up yet but it’s on every list of beginner Munros. A gentle climb to a humpback of a hill in a fairly flat area you get good views around but not quite the dramatic landscapes from further north. Ben Chonzie is easily accessed from around Edinburgh and good for a half day trip. If you don’t want to spend long in case you don’t enjoy it then this is a good option to bag your first Munro.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/ben-chonzie.shtml
Cairnwell
Stats – 8 mile round trip – 5-6 hours – 595m climbing
The Cairnwell Munros are actually a group of 3 dotted around Glenshee Ski Centre. You start at the car park already 600m up so there is a lot less climbing involved, especially if you just do 1 out of the 3. The downside is that you’ve got ski lifts all around until you get further along the route. Carn Aosda is pretty much straight upwards from the ski centre but I reckon that once you’re up there, you won’t want to leave without doing all three! Just be warned, this is one route where I got caught in a bad September snowstorm. If I hadn’t held on to Molly’s ears then they might have blown off!
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/cairnwell.shtml
Ben Lawers
Stats – 6.75 mile roundtrip – 4-6 hours – 942m climbing
Ben Lawers isn’t a low Munro, in fact it’s the 10th highest! But the car park at 400m means that you don’t have that far to go and you will actually bag a slightly smaller Munro on the way called Beinn Ghlas. It really isn’t too strenuous until you get just below the summit of Ben Lawers itself and then it’s a steep hike up. Don’t worry, there are lots of rocks lying around to lean against if you’re struggling for air at any point. The views from here are great and you pick out many more Munros to try now that you’re no longer a beginner.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/ben-lawers.shtml
Useful Links Before Hiking Your First Munro
These are some very useful sites to help you prepare. None of these are promotions, they are things I genuinely use every time I plan a hike.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ – Always a first stop for route guides and summaries.
https://www.mwis.org.uk/forecasts/scottish – Weather reports on the mountains a few days in advance.
https://www.viewranger.com/en-gb – An incredibly useful GPS app where you can upload routes.
A Final Note For Munro Bagging
The important thing to remember when climbing Munros is that you’re not competing with anybody but yourself. It’s not about trying to climb as many in one day as possible or as fast as possible so don’t be concerned if somebody storms past you in either direction.
Say hello, comment on the weather and if you need advice on which way to go then just ask! You’ll find that Munro Baggers are generally friendly and happy to stop and help if you need it. It’s all about enjoying yourself and challenging your own fitness. That and Munro summit selfies for Instagram of course.
Good luck with the hiking, give yourself a massive pat on the back once you’re up there and please let me know if this guide was of any help to you!
2 Comments
Marianne · April 20, 2021 at 12:47 am
Hi. So what is one to do just to get the feel for it ? Awesome views , and 5-6 hrs ? No chance of getting lost ??? But not too easy ? From Edinburg but not too touristy? And not summer time ! More like fall . With all 4 seasons in one day ( have experienced that ) ? Obviously with Molly along 😂😂🐕
Graeme · April 20, 2021 at 10:21 am
Mount Keen is the best option for one to get a feel for it I think. And if you want to step it up a gear then Mayar and Dreish via Corrie Fee has a bit more climbing involved but you shouldn’t get lost! Molly has scoped out both already!