The Fisherfield Six: Scotland's Remotest Munros

Deep in the roadless heart of Wester Ross lies the Great Wilderness — Fisherfield Forest — home to the most remote Munros in Scotland. The "Fisherfield Six" (once a famous five, before resurveying reclassified one of them) is a bucket-list round for experienced baggers: a huge, committing expedition into country with no roads, no signal and no easy escape. It is one of the greatest mountain journeys in Britain. Here's what it involves.

The mountains and the "six vs five" story

The classic round takes in A' Mhaighdean, Ruadh Stac Mòr, Beinn Tarsuinn, Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, Sgùrr Bàn and Beinn a' Chlaidheimh. For years this was known as the "Fisherfield Five" — until Beinn a' Chlaidheimh was resurveyed and reclassified below Munro height, dropping it to Corbett status, so the round became five Munros plus a Corbett. Many walkers still climb all six for the complete traverse. A' Mhaighdean in particular is often cited as having the finest and most remote summit view in Scotland.

Why it's so serious

The defining challenge is remoteness. The nearest roads are hours away on foot; the walk-in alone (typically from Corrie Hallie/Dundonnell or Poolewe/Kinlochewe) is long, and there are river crossings that can become impassable after rain, potentially trapping you or forcing a huge detour. There is no phone signal, no shelter beyond one or two bothies, and no quick way out if the weather or your legs fail. This is a genuine expedition into wild country, for fit, experienced hillwalkers with strong navigation and self-reliance.

How people tackle it

Most walkers split the round over two days, using Shenavall bothy or a wild camp deep in the glen as a base — walking in on day one, doing the peaks, and walking out on day two (or three). Very fit walkers occasionally do the whole thing in one enormous single push, but for most it's a wild-camping or bothy expedition. Either way, the river crossings dictate everything: check the forecast obsessively, and be prepared to abandon or wait if rain has swollen the rivers. See our guides to wild camping, bothies and river crossings before you go.

Planning essentials

Go in a settled spell of good weather — not just for the peaks but so the rivers stay low. Carry everything you need to be fully self-sufficient for the duration, plus contingency for a night out. Tell someone your plan and expected return, and understand that rescue here is a long way off. This is not a round to attempt until you have solid multi-day mountain experience. For other big remote outings, see best multi-day Munro routes.

Related guides

• Best multi-day Munro routes
• Wild camping Scotland's Munros
• River crossings in the Scottish mountains
• Munros tracking app — offline maps for country with no phone signal