Easiest Munros Scotland: 12 Beginner Friendly Scottish Munros
New to Munro bagging but not sure where to start? I’ve been Munro bagging for years, and over that time I’ve learnt a lot about walking Scotland’s mountains. In this guide, I’ve rounded up the easiest Munros in Scotland - and the best Munros for beginners. Updated for 2024.
Scotland is renowned for its incredible mountains.
The biggest, and most challenging, are the 282 Munros scattered across the Scottish Highlands. But with so many of these soaring peaks to choose from, the biggest problem for beginners is knowing which are the easiest Munros to tackle first.
These Scotland mountains are frequently bucket list items for travellers from the UK and beyond, like this iconic Glencoe summit and Scotland’s highest mountain.
With summits over 3,000ft/914m, climbing any of the Munros in Scotland is not for the faint hearted. Even the easiest Munros can mean 8-hours of walking and steep uphill climbs.
But you’ll always be rewarded for the effort - with breathtaking landscapes and awe-inspiring vistas.
Planning a weekend of Munro bagging?
Here are my top picks for hotels close to the easier Munros in Scotland:
Brevins Guest House: highly rated and cosy small stay very close to Ben Nevis (Fort William).
The Garrison; located in the town centre, this is a great option for Ben Nevis (Fort William).
Oak Tree Inn: popular and lively small hotel incredibly close to Ben Lomond (Loch Lomond).
Mhor 84: one of my personal favourite stays, close to Ben Vorlich (Perthshire).
The Royal Hotel: cosy small stay close to Ben Chonzie (Comrie).
I’ve been hiking Munros in Scotland for over five years, both solo and with friends, and I’ve learnt a lot during that time. So, in this guide I’m sharing the easiest Munros, those Scotland mountains that are best for beginners.
And just so you know, the mountains in this guide are considered easiest in the spring to autumn months. Personally, I recommend you avoid winter conditions until you have the necessary skills and equipment to tackle snowy peaks.
Different types of Munros
Whilst some Munros are relatively easy, others are technically challenging.
Some only take a long morning; others might involve an overnight wild camp and two days of walking. Some have well-worn paths across grassy moorland, whilst others are full of narrow ridges and exposed scrambles.
Distance and height are not always to be trusted either – some of the highest Munros are the easiest, like Ben Nevis. Yet some of the smallest Munros have the trickiest scrambles.
Of course, some Munros are technically difficult, like the Aonach Eagach Ridge. And trust me, those are to be avoided until you have heaps of walking experience and the necessary skills.
What are the easiest Munros?
The easiest Munros are the ones with easy to follow, clear trails where it’s unlikely (though not impossible) you’ll get lost. And the best Munros for beginners are straight-forward walking routes with reasonably easy trails.
Plus, all of the Munros listed here are one day hikes, so you can summit and get back to the car in the same day.
Once you have experience of the easier Munros you’ll feel confident enough to tackle a more challenging mountain, like Buachaille Etive Mòr. But at this stage in your Munro bagging journey, its best to avoid mountains with ridges and scrambles,
A word of warning on the ‘easiest’ Munros
Whilst you’ll find the ‘easiest’ Munros listed here, it’s important to be aware that no Munro is truly easy. They involve long days, finding your way across remote landscapes, dealing with the unpredictable Scottish weather, and the need for good quality clothing like boots and waterproofs (at the very least).
You’ll find a note on safety in the mountains below: please take time to read it and only walk within your capabilities. Safety first in the outdoors, always.
What is Munro bagging?
As you hike Scotland’s highest mountains, one thing you’ll hear about is Munro bagging.
Simply put, once you reach the summit of a Scottish mountain on the Munro list, you’ve bagged yourself a Munro. There’re people who seek out Munros, in an effort to bag them all and it can become an addictive hobby! But with 282 mountains in Scotland falling into the Munro bracket, bagging all of them can take a lifetime.
The next challenge is keeping track of those hard-won summits. The easiest options are a digital record like this one. Or an NTS map, where you can scratch off the peaks.
The Easiest Munros: Best Munros for beginners
These are the easiest Munros, and perfect Scottish mountains for beginners. Each has a relatively clear mountain path and is a reasonably straight forward 1-day hike. There’s incredible views from each of these easy Munros too and you’ll be rewarded with spectacular vistas. Plus, a well-deserved sense of satisfaction!
Let’s get to it - these are the 12 easiest, and best, Munros for beginners:
1. Ben Lomond, Loch Lomond
Distance | 12km / 7.5 miles
Time | 4 – 6 hours
Route | find details and map of the route here
Stay | Popular Oak Tree Inn is most definitely best hotel near Ben Lomond. This small stay is always lively, has a great bar, and is frequently packed with walkers. Highly recommend!
Not only is Ben Lomond one of the easiest Munros, it’s also one of Scotland’s most popular mountains - and with good reason. The views over Loch Lomond are ridiculously good and when you eventually reach the summit there are 360 views over the Trossachs National Park.
It’ll take around 5 hours to summit and then get back to your car, with a clear trail the entire way.
Be prepared for the carpark at Rowardennan (£3 charge) to be jam-packed at the weekend; this hike sees around 30,000 visitors each year and is the first Munro for a lot of walkers.
This famous Scottish mountain was my first Munro and let me tell you, I was not prepared for it! If you, like me, decide Ben Lomond is your first Munro then be prepared for stunning views over Loch Lomond. But also a steep hike with false summits and plenty of snack stops!
2. Ben Vorlich, Loch Earn
Distance | 14km / 9 miles
Time | 4 – 6 hours
Route | find details and map of the route here
Stay | The absolutely excellent motel Mhor 84. Rooms are lovely, food excellent, and bar lively.
There are two Ben Vorlich’s in the Trossachs, and both are great Munros for beginners. Ben Vorlich at Loch Earn is one of the easiest Munros, with a clear path to the top and the hike is a straightforward one.
More experienced hillwalkers can add on the next Munro – the far trickier, and exposed, Stuc a’ Chroin. But in my experience, beginners should skip this and follow the path back to the carpark.
Personally, I found second peak Stuc a’ Chroin a difficult scramble when I was a Munro bagging beginner and was glad to have my Mountain Leader partner on hand to give advice.
From the summit of Ben Vorlich, the views over Loch Earn and the surrounding Perthshire countryside all the way to the Ben Lawers range are absolutely stunning. Easily accessible from the cities, this is also (I think) the closest Munro to Edinburgh.
Afterwards, head to nearby Mhor 84. They serve much needed tea & cake (I recommend the giant meringues), local beers, and have great rooms.
3. Schiehallion, Perthshire
Distance | 10km / 6 miles
Time | 4 – 6 hours
Route | find details and map of the route here
At 1,083m, Schiehallion is a long walk but is still a great Munro for beginners.
One of the easiest Munro due to the well-made path most of the way up the mountain - until you reach the rather legendary boulder field near the top. You’ll need good study boots to handle the giant boulders and although it’s tough going, this section is thankfully short.
Translated as the Fairy Hill of the Caledonians, the conical peak is one of Scotland’s most climbed hills and the views over to Rannoch Moor and the Glencoe mountain range on a clear day are incredible.
4. Ben Chonzie, Glen Lednock
Distance | 12.5km / 8 miles
Time | 4 – 5 hours
Route | find details and map of the route here.
Stay | Cosy small stay The Royal Hotel in Comrie.
Being mainly heathery moorland, Ben Chonzie might not be the most exciting mountain – but it is one of the easiest Munros. Expect a quick and easy ascent, on what is a straight-forward mountain trail (for most of the way).
Plus, being such a small Munro at 931m, it’s also one of the quickest Munros to climb.
However, be mindful that the summit is pretty featureless and you’ll need to pay VERY close attention when returning from the summit cairn. There is a line of old fence posts that help with navigation, but I found that I needed my map in order to find my way back. This is especially true if visibility is poor.
After, pop into nearby Comrie Croft cafe for delicious lunches, coffee, and sweet treats.
5. Ben Vane, Loch Lomond
Distance | 11km / 7 miles
Time | 5 – 7 hours
Route | find details and map of the route here.
Stay | The cute Village Inn at nearby Arrochar has simple but comfy rooms and a cracking restaurant/bar.
Ben Vane is the smallest of all the Munros at just 914m – but what it lacks in height it makes up for in character, with a steep uphill climb that’ll get your legs burning, a few (very simple) scrambly bits and the most incredible views over Loch Lomond and the Arrochar Alps from the summit. A great beginner mountain, Ben Vane is one of the easiest Munros.
For food and beers, the nearby Drovers Inn. Or slightly further away, The Village Inn at Arrochar serves great food and has a lively bar.
6. Ben Vorlich, Loch Lomond
Distance | 13.5 km / 8.5 miles
Time | 5 – 6 hours
Route | find details and map of the route here.
Stay | As above, the Village Inn at nearby Arrochar has simple but cosy rooms and a cracking restaurant/bar.
Not to be confused with the Ben Vorlich at Loch Earn, this Ben Vorlich is part of the Arrochar Alps range and is another of the easier Munros.
It shares part of its walk in in with neighbour Ben Vane, but you’ll branch off to the hydroelectric dam at Loch Sloy to climb Ben Vorlich.
The walk is a steep one and there are a few false summits along the way. But your hard work will be rewarded with stunning views across Loch Lomond to the mighty Ben Lomond in the distance from the real summit at 943m.
Easily accessible from Glasgow and Edinburgh, this Munro has an easy to follow path all the way to the summit.
7. Ben Nevis, Fort William
Distance| 17km / 10.5 miles
Time | 7 - 9 hours
Route | find details and map of the route here.
Stay | Either Brevins Guest House near the start of the trail. Or the more modern small hotel The Garrison in the town centre.
Britain’s highest summit and Scotland’s most popular mountain - Ben Nevis is, surprisingly, one of the easiest of all the Munros.
The trail from the Glen Nevis car park is so well-worn that it’s incredibly straight-forward. With cairns to help with navigation on the higher sections. There’s also tons of people hiking Ben Nevis, no matter the day, and it’s by far the friendliest mountain I’ve ever climbed!
A word of warning though: Ben Nevis is of course high and the walk uphill is unrelenting steep. You’ll need a good level of fitness to have the best experience on Ben Nevis. The trial is also incredibly rocky, and whilst not difficult to walk on, you will need hiking boots to protect your feet.
To celebrate summiting the highest of all the mountains in the UK head to Fort William and its numerous delicious restaurants and lively pubs.
8. Beinn Ime, Arrochar Alps
Distance | 9km / 5.5 miles
Time | 6 - 7 hours
Route | find details and map of the route here.
Stay | The previously mentioned Village Inn at nearby Arrochar, which has simple but comfy rooms and a cracking restaurant & lively bar.
There are five Munros in the Arrochar Alps, with Ben Ime one of the easiest Munros on our list.
This mountain is climbed from the village of Arrochar and easily accessible from Glasgow by car and bus. An extremely popular mountain, there’s a clear path to the summit and in my experience, there’re usually heaps of other walkers on the trail.
In fact, alongside Ben Nevis, this easy Munro ranks as one of the friendliest trails I’ve ever walked!
If you’re looking for a bigger challenge, also tackle the next Munro, Beinn Narnain, on the same walk. This mountain is steep and rockier than Ben Ime, but still a beginner friendly Munro. It will take your walking total to closer to 14km, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to complete the circuit.
Afterwards, grab a well deserved beer or tea in the Village Inn or Cù Mara Bistro & Takeaway.
9. BeN Lawers and Beinn Ghlas, Loch Tay
Distance | 11km / 6.75 miles
Time | 4 - 6 hours
Route | find details and map of the route here.
Stay | The very cute and highly rated small hotel The Courie Inn.
Ben Lawers is the highest mountain in the Lawers range, and one of the best Munros for beginners.
It also includes a walk over a second Munro - meaning you can bag two summits on this easy Munro hike.
This Munro starts in the Ben Lawers car park (£3 charge), at a helpful 400m starting point - which makes this a very quick mountain to climb. Simply follow the clear stony path from the car park to the summit. Overlooking Loch Tay and surrounded by pretty Perthshire countryside, the views from the top of Ben Lawers are incredible.
Afterwards, stop in the pretty village of Killin for food in the Courie Inn restaurant, highly rated and always popular Shutters Restaurant, or Falls of Dochart Inn.
10. Meall nan Tarmachan, Loch Tay
Distance | 13km / 8 miles (for the entire ridge)
Time | 5 – 7 hours
Route | find details and map of the route here
Though not as distinctive as neighbouring Ben Lawers, Meall nan Tarmachan is an incredibly popular mountain. It’s also one of the quickest and easiest Munros, also starting helpfully at 400m.
Follow the easy-going path towards the Meall nan Tarmachan summit and retrace your steps back to the car.
Alternatively, for a more challenging hike, then continue onto the Tarmachan Ridge – this will make your day much longer but is a great way to experience walking on a ridge. Be warned, there is one short scramble between the summit and the ridge, but you can easily bypass this.
As with Ben Lawers, stop in nearby village Killin for food and drinks. I recommend either Courie Inn, Shutters Restaurant, or the Falls of Dochart Inn.
11. Ben More, Isle of Mull
Distance | 9km / 6 miles
Time | 5 – 7 hours
Route | find details and map of the route here.
Stay | My favourite Mull stay, book a night at the wonderful Isle Of Mull Hotel & Spa, around a 30-minute drive from the mountain.
Ben More on Mull is a little bit special and yet is one of the easiest Munros. Situated on the shores of Loch na Keal, a well-worn path will take you literally from sea to summit on the remnants of this ancient volcano.
An incredible Scottish mountain with the most spectacular 360 views over the islands of Scotland’s west coast and all the way over to mighty Ben Cruachan on the mainland. Plus, it’s the only Munro on an island outside of Skye.
Afterwards, drive to the nearby Coffee Pot cafe in the village of Salen for sticky ginger cake and pots of tea.
12. Bynack More, Cairngorms
Distance | 22km / 14 miles
Time | 6 – 8 hours
Route | find details and map of the route here.
Stay | Either Carn Mhor B&B or Sweeney Rooms, both in nearby Aviemore.
A relatively straightforward mountain, Bynack More is one of the lesser-known Cairngorm peaks. But this is one of the easiest Munros, plus it has incredible views and a real sense of remoteness.
The walk to Bynack More starts in an exceptionally beautiful Scot’s pine forest and passes by the turquoise waters of Lochan Uaine.
Good for Munro bagging beginners due to very obvious walking trail until the summit, you will nonetheless need to be prepared for unpredictable weather (this is one of the highest points in the UK after all).
Once you’ve hiked this Cairngorms mountain, pop into this very cute cafe on the nearby Rothiemurchus Estate. Or this utterly delicious eatery in Aviemore.
Safety in the Scottish mountains
Of course, no Munro is without its challenges. And you should make every effort to to stay safe in the mountains.
Through the years, I’ve bagged Munros both solo and with my qualified Mountain Leader partner, and along the way I’ve learnt a lot about what it takes to stay safe in the Scottish mountains. Some lessons the hard way, and some, luckily, with his expert guidance.
So, if you’re a beginner looking for the easiest Munros, my top tips are:
Know your limits: whilst these are the ‘easiest’ Munros, no Munro is without its challenges. That means long days, changeable weather, and finding your way across remote, potentially barren landscapes. If you feel out of your comfort zone, or the weather takes a turn for the worst, always turn back.
Check the weather forecast in advance: as much as possible, choose days with good weather. That way you’ll have plenty visibility and won’t get lost in the clouds. You can check the weather on the mountains here.
Wear good quality walking clothes: walking boots are a must on Scotland’s mountains. Or you run the risk of wet feet or much worse, an ankle break. Plus you’ll need warm layers and waterproofs to deal with Scotland’s unpredictable weather.
Pack safety essentials: a first aid kit, plenty of food & water, and a portable power bank for your phone are my personal essentials.
Take a map: even on the easiest Munro with clear trails, it is entirely possible to get lost. Remember, the Scottish mountains are remote places, and its important that you’re prepared and can find your way.
You have two options. Firstly, either take a paper map. Or, my preferred option, download your route onto your phone via OS Maps or All Trails. And remember to make it available offline. That way you’ll always know where you are and how to get back. Also be sure to carry a portable power bank in case your phone runs out of battery.
Finally, avoid winter: it goes without saying, but unless you have the necessary skills and equipment, absolutely avoid Scotland’s mountains in winter. Snow and ice on the mountains bring treacherous conditions that are best left to experienced winter walkers.
If you’d like to start Munro bagging but would like build your confidence or hillwalking skills, then I recommend:
Walk with a friend or group: if you’re a Munro bagging beginner, I’d recommend joining a local group or go walking with an experienced friend. This is the best way to learn and pick up those all important mountain skills.
Take a training course: or learn necessary mountain skills, like navigation and dealing with bad weather, on a training course. You’ll find the best hillwalking courses here.
Book a mountain guide: one of the best ways to experience the Munros as a beginner is with a qualified guide. Not only will they take care of logistics and navigation, guides will help build your confidence in the mountains with hiking tips like what to pack and the best kit.
Final thoughts on Munros for beginners
As I’ve mentioned above, no Munro is truly 100% easy. And there will always be challenges in the Scottish mountains (if I’m honest, usually the weather!)
But nothing beats standing on the top of an iconic mountain and taking that all-important summit selfie.
Trust me, the climb is very much worth the effort, and the achy legs, for those gorgeous views over Scotland’s most remote places. Plus that feeling of achievement.
Recently climbed one of these Munros? Let me know in the comments below how your day went!
Posts on this site may contain affiliate links that help support my business in creating content. If you purchase using one of these links, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Read my disclaimer for more information.
If you’ve found this guide helpful, you can buy me a ‘virtual’ mug of Earl Grey here.
