The Northwest Highlands are where Scotland gets genuinely wild. North and west of the Great Glen, the landscape shifts from rounded heather hills to isolated sandstone towers, shattered quartzite ridges, and vast tracts of uninhabited moorland. The mountains here are fewer, more widely spaced, and surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe.
There are roughly 30 Munros in the Northwest, but the number is misleading — several require long approaches through trackless terrain, and the sense of remoteness is something you simply don't experience in the Cairngorms or Southern Highlands.
An Teallach — Scotland's Finest Ridge
An Teallach near Dundonnell is frequently voted Scotland's finest mountain. Its two Munros — Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill and Sgùrr Fiona — are connected by a spectacular sandstone ridge with pinnacles, towers, and the famous Lord Berkeley's Seat, an airy perch above a 300m drop. The full traverse is grade 2/3 scrambling with serious exposure. The walkers' bypass avoids the hardest sections but still demands confidence on steep, rocky ground.
Liathach — The Grey One
Rising 1,000m directly from the floor of Glen Torridon, Liathach is one of Scotland's most imposing mountains. Its two Munros are connected by a narrow ridge with the Am Fasarinen pinnacles — serious exposed scrambling over sandstone towers. The pinnacles can be bypassed on a path below the ridge to the south, but even this requires careful footwork. Liathach demands respect in any conditions and is a genuine mountaineering objective in winter.
A' Mhaighdean — The Remotest Munro
A' Mhaighdean holds the distinction of being the most remote Munro from any public road. The shortest approach — from Poolewe via Kernsary — is 12km of rough path through the Letterewe wilderness before you even start climbing. Most people stay at the remote Shenavall bothy and combine it with neighbouring peaks. The views from the summit, looking out over Fionn Loch and Dubh Loch to the coast, are arguably the finest in Scotland.
The Fannichs
The Fannichs are a compact group of nine Munros north of Loch Fannich, often overlooked in favour of their showier Torridon neighbours. This is a mistake — they offer excellent ridge walking with far fewer people. Sgùrr nan Clach Geala is the highest and finest of the group, with dramatic corries and a satisfying horseshoe route. The eastern Fannichs (A' Chailleach, Sgùrr Breac) are gentler and make good bad-weather options.
Ben More Assynt & Conival
Ben More Assynt and its neighbour Conival are the most northerly Munros on the Scottish mainland (only Ben Hope and Ben Klibreck are further north). The route from Inchnadamph passes through remarkable geology — the Moine Thrust, where ancient rock has been pushed over younger formations — and the summit views extend to the Sutherland coast with its scattering of islands.
Practical Considerations
- Access: Roads are single-track with passing places. Driving times are long. Plan to base yourself locally rather than commuting from Inverness.
- Accommodation: Limited. Book ahead in summer. Bothies provide free shelter but basic conditions — check the Mountain Bothies Association for details.
- Weather: The northwest coast catches the full force of Atlantic weather systems. It rains more here than anywhere else in Britain. But when the weather clears, the light is extraordinary.
- Midges: Devastating from June to August, especially near water and in still conditions. Carry a head net and midge repellent.
- River crossings: Several routes in the northwest involve fording rivers that can be impassable after rain. Always check conditions and have a plan B.
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