10 of the Best Munros in Scotland you Might Not Know About

Scotland is absolutely chock full of hills, from the Cairngorms to the north of Assynt, there are Munros everywhere. With 282 to choose from, picking the best munros in Scotland isn’t exactly easy, and if you’re not sure where to start it’s even harder. That’s why I sat down one evening and picked out my top 10 favourites, trying to avoid the obvious answers, to give you some great options to add to your ‘to-do-list’ that you perhaps just might not have heard of before. 

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I’ve slotted two hills into each category; the best for beginners, the best scenery, the best for adventure, the best for being remote and the best overall. Let’s begin!

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Best Munros in Scotland for beginners: 

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Ben Chonzie, 3054ft

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While not the most dramatic or tallest hill on this list; just clipping the munro limit at 3054ft, for those of you who’ve never bagged a Munro before, or those of you on a short city break in Edinburgh, Ben Chonzie is a great introduction to the Scottish hills. Being only an hour and a half drive from the capital, it’s very easily accessed, and the walk is nothing too strenuous. With only around 700m of height gain from the car park to the summit and absolutely nothing technical whatsoever. At the top you’re rewarded with great views over Glen Turret to the south, and Ben Lawers to the north. If you’re visiting Edinburgh and looking to bag a Munro, don’t hesitate to check out our guide on Ben Chonzie.

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Related: The Nearest Munro to Edinburgh

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Mount Keen, 3081ft

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An munro with an incredibly gradual slope, Mount Keen is located in royal Aberdeenshire, in the moorlands south of Ballater and Dinnet, and north of Glen Esk. It can be tackled from either side, starting in either Glen Tanar in the North, or Glen Esk in the south, with the northern route being relatively flat for roughly the first 7 miles through the glen, before climbing sharply for the last 2 miles. This is by far the nicest route, however the southern route is shorter and overall much easier, with only 681m of ascent and 11 miles of walking (versus 18 miles and 896m of climbing). Parking just before Invermark castle, the path is very easy to follow and great underfoot, however the cleared moorlands can be rough in bad weather, so be aware of strong winds and rain.

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Best Munros in Scotland for the scenery: 

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Blà Bheinn, 3048ft

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A rocky crag of a hill, Blà Bheinn lies just east of the Cuillin ridge on the Isle of Skye, but don’t let its brutish appearance fool you, from the summit it holds one of the greatest views in the British Isles. It’s position and solitude gives it a great outlook over the entire Cuillin ridge, as well as out to sea towards the small isles of Rùm, Canna and Eigg, and back inland towards the rest of Skye, Knoydart and beyond. While nearly all of the munro’s provide exceptional vistas, Blà Bheinn gives an incredibly varied and unique view unlike no other. The climb itself is also very enjoyable, with some slightly challenging rocky sections, and a lovely approach in the shadow of its cliffs.

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Slioch, 3218ft

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Situated in Torridon above the shores of Loch Maree, Slioch offers a relatively simple (but steep) summit route despite its imposing appearance, to provide an incredible spot to sit and enjoy the views over some of the most beautiful locations in the country. With the Fisherfield Forest to the north, Loch Maree to the west and the Torridon hills to the south, you really aren’t short of scenery whatever direction you face. 

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Best Munros in Scotland for the adventure: 

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The Saddle (The Forcan Ridge), 3318ft

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Our highest Munro on this list so far, the Saddle lies at the end of Glen Shiel, opposite the Five Sisters of Kintail. The standard route is a great day out, with stunning views down the Glen, and the wilderness of Knoydart to the south, but the real excitement comes from its alternative route; its rocky, narrow eastern side called the Forcan Ridge. The ridge starts about halfway up the main path, and promises an amazing (but safe enough) scramble that ticks all the boxes while still providing plenty of routes to avoid the hairy bits! It’s also long enough that you can really enjoy the experience without feeling like it’s cut short, and provides great opportunities for some incredible photos.

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Liathach, 3461ft

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An absolute beauty of a mountain ridge that dominates the Torridon hills, a full traverse of Liathach is an incredible day of airy walking and some slight scrambling. Best done with two cars (to avoid the road walk at the end) and starting from the east and crossing to the west, you’ll pass over the airy summit of Spidean a'Choire Lèith, the highest point on the ridge, which provides an incredible view of both what you’ve already achieved and the further adventure to come. This is considered by many to be one of Scotland's finest hill days, and I’d most definitely agree!

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Best Munros in Scotland for being remote: 

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Sgùrr na Cìche, 3410ft

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Requiring an absolutely epic walking day to summit, Sgùrr na Cìche is located in the region of Knoydart, at the end of Glen Dessary and Loch Arkaig. A long, 16 mile day, starting from a small car park at Kinlocharkaig takes you over three different munros, culminating in the summit of this incredibly dramatic peak. Its pointed, arrowhead-like shape cuts into the sky, and the rugged, rocky terrain around these hills feels incredibly remote. If you’re looking for a unique option, seldom travelled by others, this is an amazing choice, with exceptional views rewarded only to the most committed. 

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Sgùrr na Lapaich, 3770ft

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On the northern banks of Loch Mullardoch lies a group of remote munro’s, the crowning jewel of which is Sgùrr na Lapaich. After a 30 minute drive down a single track road from Cannich, you’ll reach Mullardoch dam, the starting point for this mountain epic. Here you can potentially bag 4 different munros over a long 18 mile day, with around 1900m of elevation gain. Definitely not one for the faint of heart, but the views from the summits across some of Scotland’s most wild and empty terrain definitely make it worth your while.

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The best Munros in Scotland overall: 

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Stob Ban, 3278ft

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A real jack of all trades but master of none, Stob Ban is a truly incredible hill. While it doesn’t have the adventure of the Forcan ridge, or the Summit views of Blà Bheinn, it’s just an absolutely great day out. The paths and routes are exceptionally enjoyable at just about every moment, with great views at every turn, a perfect saddle resting point and a fun little summit ridge to top it off. It’s also a great hill to turn into a loop walk, taking in another Munro in the process; Mullach nan Coirean,  and finishing right in the same car park you started in without retracing your steps once! If you haven’t already, go out and climb this hill; you won’t regret it.

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Ladhar Bheinn, 3350ft

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Saving one of the best for last, as the highest peak of the Knoydart peninsula, summiting Ladhar Bheinn is a real treat of a day. Your climb of this epic munro doesn’t just start at the car park, the Knoydart peninsula isn’t accessible by road, so your walk begins with either a short boat ride from Mallaig, or a potential 2 day hike across the hills from the nearest parking area. This extra level of adventure is what makes this hill so special. On-top of that it’s no chore either, with some exciting scrambles, an airy ridge and exceptional summit views out towards Skye and over Loch Hourn.

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And there you have it! My top 5 best munros in Scotland that you probably haven’t heard of. If you’re looking to begin your munro bagging journey or have already started, consider putting some of these early onto your list, they really are amazing and if you’re not already hooked onto hill-walking, you will be after just one of these experiences.

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