more recognisable to a Gaelic speaker than it is to an English speaker.
Putting these names into phonetic spellings presents other difficulties too. Gaelic has a number of sounds which have no equivalent in English, for example the Gaelic sound ‘ch’ (as in the word ‘loch’) is always a soft sound produced in the back of the throat, not the harder English sound of ‘lock’ or the ‘ch’ sound produced in the front of the mouth (as in ‘chalk’). Moreover Gaelic has distinct regional differences in pronunciation, and in some areas where Gaelic is no longer spoken the local pronunciations of mountain names may not accord with received wisdom about the ‘correct’ pronunciation.
Aonach Dubh from the lip of the upper corrie of Coire nan Lochan (Route 32)
Many people regard it as a form of vandalism to change old names in any way, and whilst I have a lot of sympathy with this view I am also aware that language can never be frozen in time. The historical evidence shows clearly that, like all other place names, the names of Munros have changed and evolved over time. There is nothing inherently wrong with modern usage bringing new changes to these words. There is no one period in history to which the ‘correct’ pronunciation should be attributed.
Maps
The route mapping in this edition is at a scale of 1:100,000. The maps are based on open-source material derived from publicly available data, databases and crowd-sourced data and are designed to offer quick help with routefinding. They don’t however remove the need to use the relevant OS map of 1:50,000 scale or greater when doing the walks.
The box at the start of each route makes reference to the 1:50,000 OS maps. With the notable exception of one or two areas, such as the Black Cuillin on Skye, this is the scale of map that I personally prefer for climbing the Munros, and it is widely recognized as being a suitable scale for the hillwalker.
The relevant OS Explorer maps, which some prefer, are also listed. These 1:25,000 maps give much more detail. This can be advantageous, but it can also complicate the process of route-finding – particularly on steep ground where a lot of contours are packed very close together, or in areas where there is a lot of exposed rock. Additionally, sometimes more than one map is needed to cover the walk in question.
The ‘area maps’ referred to in the box at the start of each route correspond to those at the start of the book; these are designed to give a broad view of where each Munro lies in relation to major roads and also to neighbouring Munros. The overview map of Scotland provided just before these area maps shows the location of each area within Scotland as a whole.
The 1:100,000 maps accompanying each route description in this guide are designed to assist in planning your route and are not intended to be a replacement for the appropriate OS map for the purposes of navigation: it is strongly recommended that the appropriate OS map is carried at all times. Harvey also make an excellent series of maps for some of the areas described, particularly for Skye.
Glas Bheinn Mhor from Stob Coire Dheirg (Route 38)
If you are using different maps, or an older edition of the OS maps, you should bear in mind that spot heights and names may vary from those in the text.
There is also some confusing variation in Munro heights between the OS maps, the SMC official list and the Munro Society list.
Grid References
As an aid to navigation, grid references have been given for summits and for other key features and descent points on all the routes. These are all 10-figure readings taken on the walk itself with a GPS. Whilst technology can fail or be unreliable at times, GPS readings are nearly always close enough for hillwalking purposes. (In a number of recent mountain rescue exercises small canes were planted in rough ground in a mountain area of several square miles and were found without much difficulty from their grid reference using a GPS, even in poor visibility.) The latest generation of GPSs is generally very accurate and reliable. Many walkers now carry a GPS and it can be a useful navigational tool, especially if you need to establish your exact position in poor visibility. This does not obviate the need for a map and compass, however, and great care needs to be taken if you are navigating from one waypoint to another in poor visibility, as a straight line between the two may well take you over a cliff.
Brocken spectre on the ridge between Creise and Meall a’ Bhuiridh (Route 40)
Distance and Ascent
The distances given in the information box at the start of each walk are always from the car park and back to the car park unless otherwise stated. The ascent for each route includes the cumulative height gained over undulating ground.
Difficulty
Climbing any Munro involves a degree of difficulty. A fair level of fitness, an ability to navigate using a map and compass in poor visibility and an understanding of the mountain environment are all necessary qualities for anyone attempting to climb a Munro, and it is assumed that anyone using this guide will have these minimum skills.
In certain walks, additional skills are required for activities such as scrambling on rock, dealing with exposure or crossing rivers. Notes on ‘difficulty’ appear in the preface to such walks. However, the absence of any mention of specific problems does not imply that a walk is necessarily ‘easy’ or to be taken lightly. The usual grading system for scrambling has been used, that is from grade 1 for relatively simple scrambles to grade 3 for relatively hard ones.
There are certain ranges of Scottish mountains that pose special difficulties or dangers for the walker or climber and I have written special introductions for the Munros on the Isle of Skye, and for those in the Cairngorms, to highlight these dangers. These area observations (which both occur in Volume 2) precede the relevant routes and should be read before attempting any of the walks in these areas.
The following books may be useful for developing mountain skills:
Terry Adby and Stuart Johnston, The Hillwalker’s Guide to Mountaineering (Cicerone Press, 2007)
Eric Langmuir, Mountaincraft and Leadership (Scottish Sports Council – SportScotland, 1995)
The rocks of Stob Coire Dhoire looking towards Ghlas Bheinn Mhor (Route 38)
Times
Approximate route times are given in the information box for each route. These have been worked out using an adapted version of Naismith’s rule, combined with common sense and my own experience of the character of the route. Some walkers will consistently achieve faster times; others will be slower. It really doesn’t matter which, except on very long routes where you may run the risk of benightment if you take too long. Above all, every effort has been made to be consistent so that each walker can get used to the values given in relation to their own speed. Bear in mind that the times given do not include elements for stoppages, lunch breaks, etc, which should be added on.
Parking and Starting the Walk
Details are given in the walk information box about the best places to park for each walk and how to access the hill from these points. It should be borne in mind, however, that
