Summits of Great Britain

Some Mountains, Hills and Summits of Great Britain

These pages feature some of the many mountains, hills, fells, summits and high points in Britain. The criteria for inclusion are that (1) I've climbed the hill in question, and (2) that I've taken a photo at the summit. Wherever possible there is also a picture of the hill from a neighbouring summit or adjacent valley, or a picture of the view from the top.

See the home page for an explanation of the status terms (Munro, Corbett, Marilyn, Hewitt, et al).

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	Allen Crags Location: Lake District, Southern Fells Grid Ref: NY 236085 Height: 2575 ft (785 m) Status: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall Notes: Although it's one of the principal summits of the Scafell massif, Allen Crags is curiously unregarded, often described as "that one you have to climb before you get to Glaramara". This lack of fame is undeserved, for Allen Crags is really in the heart of things. It stands immediately north of the path crossroads of Esk Hause, and commands glorious views of Bowfell, Esk Pike, Great End, the Gables and the Langdale Pikes, together with more distant views of Borrowdale and its surrounding fells. Its most obvious route of ascent is from Seathwaite via Grains Gill, and is usually climbed together with Glaramara, further north along the same ridge.

	Allermuir Hill Location: The Pentlands Grid Ref: NT 227661 Height: 1617 ft (493 m) Status: Marilyn, Yeaman Notes: A hill situated towards the northeastern tip of the Pentlands, Allermuir Hill enjoys a superb view over the city of Edinburgh immediately to the north. It's about a mile west of Caerketton Hill, easily accessible from the Hillend dry ski slope. Several paths radiate from the summit and Allermuir can be visited as part of an extended trek across the northern Pentlands.

	Aonach air Chrith Location: Scottish Highlands, Kintail Grid Ref: NH 051083 Height: 3350 ft (1021 m) Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn Notes:Aonach air Chrith is the third and highest Munro of the South Glenshiel ridge (if you're traversing from the east to the west, as most guidebooks would have you do). It can be reached in less than an hour from Druim Shionnach, the previous summit on the ridge. The hill has splendid views down into Glen Shiel, westwards to the Five Sisters, southwards to the peaks around Loch Quoich and northwards to the many mountains bordering Kintail and Affric. The west ridge onwards to Maol Chinn Dearg falls in a steep gradient to the intervening col and the descent requires care, though it is not hazardous.

	Aonach Beag Location: Scottish Highlands, Lochaber Grid Ref: NN 197715 Height: 4049 ft (1234 m) Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn Notes: Britain's seventh highest mountain. The name means "little ridge". Aonach Beag lays immediately south of Aonach Mor (great ridge) and despite the name it is actually higher. The names are believed to refer to the relative bulk of the two summits rather than their respective elevations. The classic route to Aonach Beag is from Steall, in Glen Nevis to the southwest, but a far easier route is from the Nevis Range gondola to the north, via Aonach Mor. There is a very simple ridgewalk between the two. Aonach Beag has a much rockier summit than Aonach Mor but there is still more vegetation growing here than on any comparable height in the UK. Views are extensive, encompassing much of the Western highlands, with the Mamores, Grey Corries and Glencoe ranges well seen. Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis lay immediately to the west.

	Aonach Mor Location: Scottish Highlands, Lochaber Grid Ref: NN 193729 Height: 4006ft (1221 m) Status: Munro, Murdo Notes: The eighth highest mountain in the UK and one of the select few to rise above 4000 ft, Aonach Mor (The Great Ridge) is more characteristic of a Pennine fell than one of the great Scottish mountains. It is distinctly odd to find grass growing and sheep grazing at 4000 ft, though possibly this is because Ben Nevis, immediately to the west, acts as a wind shelter. The top of Aonach Mor is an elongated flat plateau from which the mountain's most exciting features - the dramatic cliffs on the east and west flanks - are hidden. It can be climbed in about 90 minutes from the top of Britain's only cabin lift (Nevis Range), which rises to 2000 ft on the northern slopes; from there a stroll to the western viewpoint followed by a steady climb up the western lip of the mountain will get you to the summit. A path is gradually beginning to appear.

	Arant Haw Location: Howgill Fells Grid Ref: SD 662946 Height: 1985 ft (605 m) Status: Dewey Notes: Arant Haw is a southern outlier of Calders, in the Howgill Fells near Sedbergh. It can easily be mistaken for Calders itself on the approach from the southwest as, curiously, it looks insignificant on the 1:25000 maps. A rounded, grassy fell, it has little intrinsic interest. It can be climbed in an hour from Sedbergh by the Settlebeck Gill track. The view consists mainly of other gently rolling fells, notably Calders to the northeast, while some of the Lakeland fells can be seen to the far northwest and the main Pennine ranges to the east.

	Arnside Knott Location: Morecambe Bay, Cumbria Grid Ref: SD 456774 Height: 522 ft (159 m) Status: Marilyn Notes: Situated just outside the southeastern edge of the Lake District and overlooking the Kent estuary from the east, Arnside Knott has the distinction of being England's lowest Marilyn. Its status was only recently discovered and it qualifies by only a whisker. A wholly straightforward and largely effortless ascent from the vilage of Arnside, the pleasant heathland summit has views along the northern shore of Morecambe Bay towards Grange, and into the southeastern corner of the Lakes.

	Arthur's Seat Location: Edinburgh Grid Ref: NT 275729 Height: 822 ft (251 m) Status: Marilyn Notes: There are very few capital cities in the world that can boast extinct volcanoes barely a mile from their centres. Edinburgh has two. The greater of these is Arthur's Seat and is part of Holyrood Park, the outer grounds of the royal palace. Arthur's Seat is ringed on the city side by Salisbury Crags, a sill of volcanic rock. A road goes right around the hill and the summit is most easily ascended from the road's highest point on the east side, from where a broad grassy rake goes most of the way to the top. The views are glorious, ecompassing the city, the Firth of Forth, the Pentlands, Fife and the Ochils, as well as Ben Lomond and other mountains on the edge of the Highlands.

	Atkinson Pike Location: Lake District, Northern Fells Grid Ref: NY 324282 Height: 2772 ft (845 m) Status: Nuttall Notes: The north top of Blencathra, in the north of the Lake District. If you recognise Blencathra by its popular but incorrect name of Saddleback, then Atkinson Pike is the rear end of the saddle. It's a fearsome looking pyramid when seen from the outliers of Bannerdale Crags or Bowscale Fell, buttresed to the left by Sharp Edge and to the right by Foule Crag. Wainwright does not refer to the summit by name. Most approaches will be from Blencathra itself, from which it's but a ten minute stroll across the grassy col. There are two cairns, of which the northern one appears to be a shade higher. The best views are those of Skiddaw and across the vale of Eden to the east.

	Auchnafree Hill Location: Scottish Highlands, Perthshire Grid Ref: NN 808308 Height: 2589 ft (789 m) Status: Corbett, Marilyn Notes: Auchnafree Hill stands on the opposite side of Glen Turrett from Ben Chonzie, about 7 miles northwest of Crieff. The most straightforward access is from the Loch Turrett dam, where either of two tracks will get you to NN808300, from where a path (sketchy in parts) rises to the summit cairn. There's also a track up the north side of the hill, from Larichfraskhan in Glen Almond. Don't attempt to cross the summit plateau from Choinneachain Hill; the path shown on the 1:25000 map doesn't exist and the col is rent with peat hags that make progress extremely tedious. The view is not disimilar to that of neigyhbouring Ben Chonzie; the highlight is undoubtedly the view of the Ben Lawers group to the northwest.

	Bannerdale Crags Location: Lake District, Northern Fells Grid Ref: NY 335290 Height: 2241 ft (683 m) Status: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall Notes: Part of the Blencathra massif in the northern part of the Lake District, Bannerdale Crags is a grassy top that falls away to the northeast in an impressive series of cliffs. These are only seen from the eastern approach, from Mungrisedale village via Bannerdale (which is probably the easiest approach). On the other side the fell slopes down to the infant Glenderamackin river, across which Blencathra itself looks daunting. The cairn (pictured) is not actually at the highest point, which is some 100 metres to the west and is unmarked. The moors to the rear of Skiddaw are well seen, though the bulk of Blencathra shuts out the view of most of the main Lakeland fells.

	Bardon Hill Location: Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire Grid Ref: SK 459131 Height: 912 ft (278 m) Status: Marilyn, County Top (Leicestershire) Notes: Bardon Hill is the highest point of Charnwood Forest, a hilly area in northwest Leicestershire composed of ancient volcanic outcrops. The wooded top lays within the boundaries of Bardon Hill Quarry and the whole eastern side of the hill has been quarried away. Access is easy, via a series of footpaths leading up from the Fying Horse roundabout on the A50, just a mile away. Views are extensive and include Leicester, Coalville, Castle Donnington, and Cannock Chase out to the west.

	Base Brown Location: Lake District, Western Fells Grid Ref: NY 225114 Height: 2119 ft (646 m) Status: Wainwright, Nuttall, Hewitt Notes: Base Brown is an outlier of Great Gable and is often overlooked, sitting by itself out on a limb from the main Gable - Brandreth ridge. It overlooks Seathwaite and Stockley Bridge and can be climbed from the former by way of Gillercombe. For those already up on the ridges it's a short and easy stroll from Green Gable. With high fells closing in the view in most directions the best panorama is to the north and northeast over Borrowdale.

	Baystones (Wansfell) Location: Lake District, Far Eastern Fells Grid Ref: NY 403051 Height: 1601 ft (488 m) Status: Wainwright, Marilyn Notes: Many walkers climb Wansfell Pike, a kilometre to the southeast, but relatively few walk along the ridge to Baystones (which, confusingly, Wainwright names as Wansfell). Baystones is the true summit of Wansfell and is a little higher. It's unfortunate that its situation is inferior to that of its smaller brother, either as a viewpoint or as a place to be. It is almost always climbed from Ambleside by way of Wansfell Pike and there are no paths to or from the summit in any other direction. In only one respect does Baystones score over Wansfell Pike and that's the view northwards towards Kirkstone Pass, with Red Screes and Stony Cove Pike crowding in from either side.

	Beinn Alligin (Sgurr Mhor) Location: Scottish Highlands, Torridon Grid Ref: NG 865612 Height: 3235 ft (986 m) Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn Notes: Beinn Alligin, the Jewel Mountain, is one of the three superb mountains that stand to the north of Loch Torridon in Wester Ross. Of the three, Alligin is the easiest to climb, there being a decent path from the Coire Mhic Nobuill car park (although it's unpleasanly steep in parts). Sgurr Mhor is the principal summit of the mountain, a shapely peak rent by the great vertical gash known as the Eag Dubh (Black Notch). The ridge of the mountain is quite spectacular, and features the famous Horns of Alligin to the northeast of the main peak. The ridge between Sgurr Mhor and the southern top of Tom na Gruagaich is airy but has no difficulties save one awkward rockstep that can be bypassed. The Horns require some scrambling but do not have to be climbed if you don't like the look of them. Views from the top are awesome, taking in the other Torridon hill such as Liathach, Beinn Eighe, Baosbheinn and Beinn Dearg, as well as the vast sweep of Wester Ross and the west coast with Skye beyond. The summit picture shows the view to the east; the Horns in front, Beinn Dearg beyond, and Beinn Eighe behind Dearg. Photo by Graham Jackson.

	Beinn Dearg Location: Scottish Highlands, Perthshire Grid Ref: NN 852777 Height: 3307 ft (1008 m) Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn Notes: Pertshire's Beinn Dearg is a somewhat shy Munro, laying deep within the wild country eastwards of Drumochter. The best access is from Blair Atholl, from where it's a ten mile walk to the top with tracks and paths all the way. The actual ascent path is one of the most benign and easily graded in the district. The massive, stony summit carries a wind shelter (pictured). No roads, towns or villages can be seen from the top, just a magnificent 360-degree panorama of mountains in which the Cairngorms, the Mounth, the Glen Tilt hills, the Drumochter hills and the Ben Lawers group are all prominent.

	Beinn Narnain Location: Scottish Highlands, Arrochar Alps Grid Ref: NN 271066 Height: 3041 ft (927 m) Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn Notes: Standing adjacent to the lower but craggier Ben Arthur ("The Cobbler"), Narnain is one of three mountains overlooking Arrochar and the head of Loch Long from the north. A pathway that formerly served the construction of a nineteenth century water supply gives access to Narnain's slopes and continues to the summit, but above the middle terrace there are a number of awkward places and mild scrambles that require care, and are cumulatively tedious. A steep gully rises past a fearsome rock formation called the Spearhead to gain the broad, flat summit plateau. An easier way up is from the col to the rear, between Narnain and Ben Ime. The stony summit rewards you with excellent views along Loch Long, over to Ben Lomond, and northwards towards Ben More.

	Bellever Tor Location: Dartmoor Grid Ref: SX 644764 Height: 1453 ft (443 m) Status: Clement Notes: A pleasing little top, Bellever Tor is one of Dartmoor's many granite outcrops and is a neighbour of Laughter Tor (q.v.). A forest path from Postbridge will get you there in about 45 minutes. Pretty much all of the panorama is of wild moorland though both the Dart valleys are prominent.

	Ben Chonzie Location: Scottish Highlands, Perthshire Grid Ref: NN 773308 Height: 3054 ft (931 m) Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn Notes: Ben Chonzie stands some 8 miles northwest of the town of Crieff, close to the highland boundary fault. Most guidebooks would have you believe that Ben Chonzie is Scotland's most boring Munro but I beg to differ. It's an exhilarating climb and the view is lovely. The easiest access is via its western flanks, where there is a path up to the summit ridge from Invergeldie. A wind shelter adorns the summit, from where you can see the Ochils to the south, Ben Vorlich to the southwest, Ben More and Stobinian to the west, the Ben Lawers group broadside-on to the northwest, Schiehallion to the north and the Glen Garry / Glen Tilt hills to the northeast.

	Ben Cleuch Location: The Ochils Grid Ref: NN 902006 Height: 2365 ft (721 m) Status: Graham, Donald, Marilyn Notes: Ben Cleugh is the highest summit in the Ochils, a range of hills lying north of the Forth between Stirling and Perth. Its situation makes it one of the best viewpoints in Scotland: the view ranges to Glas Maol and Ben Macdui in the north, Ben Lomond and the Arrochar Alps in the west, North Berwick Law to the east and far into the Southern Uplands to the south. The northwestern arc includes Stuc a' Chroin, Ben Vorlich, the Glen Falloch Munros, Ben More and Ben Lawers, and it's the one place from which Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Stirling and Falkirk can all be seen at once. The sprawling, grassy top can be approached on paths from Alva or from Tillicoultry; the latter approach includes the spectacular start of Mill Glen though the ascent is steep in parts.

	Ben Ever Location: The Ochils Grid Ref: NN 893001 Height: 2041 ft (622 m) Status: Graham Top, Donald Notes: A southwestern outlier of Ben Cleuch, the highest top in the Ochils. The broad grassy ridge is windswept and largely featureless, and Ben Ever is not a particularly rewarding top save that its ascent is either a preamble or a postscript to that of Ben Cleuch itself. A good path goes up from Alva, nar Stirling. The view is interesting, taking in much of the Forth valley, but the view from nearby Ben Cleuch is much better.

	Ben Ledi Location: Scottish Highlands, The Trossachs Grid Ref: NN 562098 Height: 2883 ft (879 m) Status: Corbett, Marilyn Notes: Bed Ledi is one of Scotland's easiest Corbetts, situated a handful of miles west of Callander within the boundaries of the recently created Loch Lomond National Park. A path rises through forest plantations to gain Ben Ledi's eastern ridge, from which the climb to the summit is not much more than a stroll. Ledi can be seen across the plains of Stirlingshire from much of Scotland's central belt, and the view across this region from Ledi's summit is magnificent. Through the north and west there is a vista of mountains too numerous to count, though they include Ben Lomond, the Arrochar Alps, Ben More, Stobinian and the Ben Lawers group.

	Ben Lomond Location: Scottish Highlands, Loch Lomond Grid Ref: NN 367028 Height: 3196 ft (974 m) Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn Notes: The most southerly Munro, and one of the easiest to ascend. An excellent path from Rowardennan on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond will get the average walker to the summit in two hours. Views are glorious and include the Trossachs, the Arrochar Alps, the Glen Falloch and Ben Dubhcraig groups, Ben More and Stobinian, and Ben Lawers and its neighbours. To the south and southeast, parts of the central lowlands are visible and on the clearest days it should be possible to spot Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. An alternative descent by way of the Ptarmigan ridge (steeper and rockier than the main path) could be used to make the expedition a circular walk.

	Ben Macdui (Beinn Macduibh) Location: Scottish Highlands, Cairngorms Grid Ref: NN 989989 Height: 4295 ft (1309 m) Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn, County Top (Aberdeenshire, Banff) Notes: The second highest mountain in Britain, and situated in a remote spot at the centre of the Cairngorms massif, Macdui unfortunately has little aesthetic appeal. It is only really visible from tops of other mountains in the range, and from almost every direction it appears as a shapeless lump. The top picture shows Macdui seen from Cairn Gorm. The summit is a stony, frost-shattered wilderness though it features a well-built shelter and a topograph. Macdui is reasonably easy to ascend from the base station of the Cairngorm mountain railway, by way of the spur between Coire Cas and Coire an t-Sneachda and then across the plateau, though this is an expedition to be undertaken only in fine, settled weather. It can also be climbed from Braemar via Glen Derry, but the distances involved are daunting. The name probably means "MacDuff's Mountain".

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This page last updated 10th July 2008

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