How to plan your Munro bagging adventure in the Scottish Highlands

Hi! I’m Nic. Back in 2017, I took up mountain hiking. At 32, I wasn’t exactly what you’d call a natural-born adventurer – I’d barely set foot on a hill before then – but after a couple of trips to the Lake District I was introduced to ‘peak bagging’: hiking up mountains and ticking them off a list. It turned out to be the perfect hobby for someone like me – a self-confessed nerd who worked in IT and who (not so secretly) loved Excel spreadsheets.

I started by hiking the ten highest mountains in England, followed by the 214 Lake District Wainwrights. By spring 2019, I was ready to take on the peak bagging list of all lists….the 282 highest mountains in the Scottish Highlands known as the Munros.

Now, I’d love to tell you I planned everything flawlessly, never got lost, fuelled my body like a pro and smiled on the way to every summit…but I’d be lying. While I was a meticulous planner, I simply didn’t have enough experience at the start. I made a lot of mistakes but I was a fast learner. I upskilled myself, gained confidence and eight years later (once I finally knew what I was doing) I collected my favourite Munro bagging routes together into a guidebook – written with care, attention to detail and a healthy dose of hindsight – so the next person gets a bit of a leg up.

Why try Munro bagging?

Munro bagging is a brilliant excuse to explore the soul-stirring beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Just don’t expect to stand and admire the view for long thanks to Scotland’s infamous midges. The trick? Keep moving. The higher you go, the fewer the midges and the better the view.

The trail options are wildly varied from the rockiest ridges to rolling grassy plateaus and you’ll encounter bogs so deep your knees will develop trust issues. Add in an average of seven false summits per Munro, a weather forecast that leans heavily towards ‘rain again’ and the inevitable thigh burn and you’ll start to question your life choices. But once you’re back at sea level with a cuppa or a glass of wine in hand you’ll already be planning your next round of Type 2 fun. Keeping a Munro tick list ensures you’ve always got a reason to return (again and again).

Let’s talk Munro bagging readiness (no judgement here)

Munro bagging is a wonderfully rewarding pursuit but it’s not without its risks, so it’s best to head out with a healthy dose of respect for the mountains. You don’t need to be superhuman but a bit of preparation goes a long way. The Scottish Highlands can throw just about anything at you – steep scree slopes, narrow ridges, sudden whiteouts, sideways rain, scorching sun and wide-open moorland with no path in sight (often all in one day).

Before setting out, it’s worth asking yourself a few honest questions:

• How do you feel about steep, rocky terrain?
• Could you navigate if visibility dropped to just ten metres?
• Do you have the right clothing and gear for mountain conditions?
• Are you feeling fit, well and ready for a full day out?

If you’re not quite there yet, that’s OK, there’s plenty of help available. I found a National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) course hugely boosted my navigation skills. If scrambling in exposed positions feels intimidating, there are great introductory courses that teach safe movement on rocky ground and help you understand the best ways of overcoming difficulties on rocky ascents. The Scottish Mountain Rescue website is full of useful advice too. Being well-prepared helps you enjoy the journey – not just endure it.

Planning a Munro route

When choosing a Munro bagging route, I look primarily at three things: terrain, distance and how tricky the navigation might be. After heavy rain I steer clear of routes with river crossings. In strong wind, I avoid narrow ridges. When hiking with a friend, I aim for clear, well-trodden paths so good conversation isn’t stifled by the need to be constantly checking the map. If the forecast says rain at 5pm, I want to be off the hill and into the pub by 4pm – no faffing.

In my guidebook, Peak Bagging Munros: Volume 1, I include my take on the terrain, distance and navigational challenges for each of the 64 routes – along with the sort of practical info I always wanted when I was starting out. Stuff like where to park, what the views might look like, how long it might take to walk, whether or not it’s possible to get there by bus or train and how to shorten the walk if the weather turns or your knees decide to give up on you.

Nic ascending Meall-nan-Tarmachan

If you’re new to Munro bagging, start with the friendly ones. Ben Lomond and Mount Keen both have great paths, as does Meall nan Tarmachan when hiked from the car park south of Lochan na Lairige as an out-and-back. Shorter walks like Meall Ghaordaidh and Ben More (Mull) are great confidence-builders before tackling more complex hills.     

Where to find good info

You don’t need to figure it out alone. There are some brilliant online resources –Walkhighlands offers thousands of walk ideas coupled with user reviews. Facebook groups like I am bagging the Munros are fantastic for hearing from people who’ve just hiked the routes you’re eyeing up.

Don’t underestimate the joy of a good guidebook (or three). Different authors bring different styles: some focus on efficiency, others keep things short and sweet, and a few go all out with multi-day Munro link-ups. My own guidebook? It’s written by a proud female author (hi!) who loves detail and believes information shouldn’t be gatekept. I wanted to create a resource that feels like getting advice from a well-prepared mate – who’s already made the mistakes and can help you skip a few of them. I also include the most important advice of all – where to get good cake afterwards.

Ready to give it a go?

If Munro bagging has been on your bucket list consider this your gentle nudge. You don’t have to tick them all and you don’t need to be the fastest. But if you’re craving a new adventure, some big skies and the kind of challenge that makes you feel gloriously alive, the Highlands are calling.

And when you do start, know that there’s a whole sisterhood of women out here doing it too. You’ve got this! See you on the summits, Nic.

About our author, Nicola Hardy

komoot and INOV8 ambassador Nicola Hardy worked in IT for a decade before becoming an adventurer and outdoor writer. In 2019, she became Munroist #6765, having climbed all 282 of Scotland’s Munros. She regularly returns to the Highlands to revisit favourite routes and explore new ones. Her debut guidebook, Peak Bagging Munros: Volume 1, features 64 hiking routes covering the southernmost 141 Munros from ‘hubs’ including Glencoe, Fort William, Pitlochry, and Braemar.