Munro Bagging by Region: The Southern Highlands

If Scotland's Munros had a welcome mat, it would be rolled out across the Southern Highlands. Stretching from Ben Lomond on the shores of Loch Lomond to Schiehallion above Loch Rannoch, and from the Arrochar Alps in the west to Ben Chonzie in the east, this is the region where most Munro bagging careers begin — and for good reason.

The Southern Highlands hold around 50 Munros, more than any other region. They are the closest mountains to Glasgow and Edinburgh, many have well-maintained paths, and the range of difficulty runs from the gentlest walk in the Munro tables to some genuinely testing days. But don't mistake accessibility for dullness. These hills have real character: the craggy drama of the Arrochar Alps, the sweeping ridges above Crianlarich, the Arctic-tinged plateau of Ben Lawers, and the perfect symmetry of Schiehallion. You could spend a lifetime here and never tire of it.

Why the Southern Highlands?

The single biggest advantage of the Southern Highlands is access. Glasgow is barely an hour from Arrochar. Edinburgh is 90 minutes from the Loch Earn hills. Crianlarich sits at the junction of the A82 and A85, making it reachable from most of the Central Belt in well under two hours. This means you can bag Munros as day trips without the long drives that the Cairngorms or Northwest demand.

But it goes deeper than convenience. The Southern Highlands are where Scotland's Lowlands meet its Highlands, and the landscape reflects that transition. Gentle farmland gives way to dark forestry plantations, then to open moorland, and finally to rocky summits that feel properly wild despite their proximity to civilisation. The variety within a single day's walk is remarkable.

The Arrochar Alps

The Arrochar Alps pack an extraordinary amount of mountain drama into a compact area at the head of Loch Long. Beinn Ime (1,011m) is the highest, but the star of the show is Ben Vane — a brutally steep little mountain that gains nearly 900 metres in less than 3km. Your thighs will know about it.

Beinn Narnain offers scrambling options on its rocky south face and pairs naturally with Beinn Ime for a satisfying two-Munro day from the car park at the head of Loch Long. The Cobbler (Ben Arthur) isn't a Munro — it falls 16 metres short — but it arguably offers the best scrambling in the Southern Highlands and makes a fine addition to any Arrochar weekend.

Ben Vorlich on the east side of Loch Lomond is a more straightforward proposition, with a steady path from Inveruglas leading to a fine summit perched above the loch. It's a solid half-day outing and one of the easiest Munros in the group.

Recommended Day: Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain

Start from the car park at the head of Loch Long (A83). Take the well-worn path past The Cobbler junction, climb Beinn Narnain first for the morning views, then traverse the ridge to Beinn Ime. Descend via the Bealach a' Mhaim back to the start. Around 15km and 1,300m of ascent — a proper day out but nothing technical. Allow 7-8 hours.

Crianlarich and the A82 Corridor

Crianlarich is the great crossroads of the Southern Highlands, and the Munros clustered around it are some of the finest in the region. Ben More (1,174m) dominates the skyline — it's the highest peak in the Southern Highlands and one of only a handful south of the Highland line to exceed 1,150 metres. Its north-west face, rising directly from the A85, is one of the steepest grass slopes on any Munro. The standard ascent is a relentless slog, but the connecting ridge to Stob Binnein (1,165m) transforms a hard walk into a classic mountain day.

Cruach Ardrain (1,046m) sits just south of Crianlarich and offers a more varied route with some easy scrambling near the summit. It pairs well with Beinn a' Chroin for a long but rewarding day via the Grey Height ridge. Further south, An Caisteal (995m) and Beinn a' Chroin make another natural pair, accessed from the Derrydaroch track off the A82.

Recommended Day: Ben More and Stob Binnein

Start from Benmore Farm on the A85 east of Crianlarich. Attack Ben More's north face directly — there's no way to make this gentle, so embrace the steep ground and take heart that you're getting the hard work done first. From the summit, the connecting ridge to Stob Binnein is a joy: airy, well-defined, and with views in every direction. Descend via Benmore Glen back to the start. Around 14km with 1,500m of ascent. A tough day, but two superb Munros for the price.

Breadalbane and Loch Tay

The Breadalbane hills — broadly, the mountains between Tyndrum, Killin, and Aberfeldy — include some of the Southern Highlands' most rewarding walking. Ben Lawers (1,214m) is the centrepiece: the tenth highest Munro in Scotland and the highest outside the Cairngorms and Ben Nevis ranges. The NTS car park at 400m altitude means the actual ascent is surprisingly manageable, and the route via Beinn Ghlas (1,103m) bags two Munros in a single outing with relatively modest effort.

The Ben Lawers range actually holds seven Munros along a single extended ridge, making it one of the great multi-Munro hunting grounds. Meall nan Tarmachan (1,044m) sits just to the west and offers one of the best short ridge walks in Scotland — four tops connected by a twisting, rocky crest with views over Loch Tay that are hard to beat.

South of Tyndrum, Beinn Dorain (1,076m) is one of Scotland's most recognisable mountains. Its near-perfect cone, seen from the A82 layby at Bridge of Orchy, is endlessly photographed. The route from Bridge of Orchy station ascends through a dramatic corrie before emerging onto the broad summit dome. It pairs with Beinn an Dothaidh (1,004m) for a classic two-Munro circuit — two very different mountains joined by a high bealach.

Recommended Day: Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas

Start from the NTS car park on the minor road above Loch Tay. Follow the well-maintained path to Beinn Ghlas first, then continue along the broad ridge to Ben Lawers. The views from Scotland's tenth highest peak stretch from the Atlantic to the North Sea on clear days. Return the same way or loop via the Lawers Burn. Around 12km with 1,000m of ascent — very achievable for most walkers. Allow 5-6 hours.

Loch Earn and the East

Ben Vorlich (985m) by Loch Earn is probably the single most popular first Munro after Ben Lomond. The path from Ardvorlich on the south shore is excellent, the route is intuitive, and the views over Loch Earn are gorgeous. It pairs naturally with Stuc a' Chroin (975m), though the connection between the two involves a short, steep scramble down and up a rocky buttress that catches out those expecting a simple ridge walk. In wet or icy conditions, the direct line on Stuc a' Chroin's north-east face can feel serious — there is a bypass path to the right, and it's no disgrace to use it.

Ben Chonzie (931m) near Crieff is widely regarded as the easiest Munro in Scotland. A Land Rover track leads most of the way, the navigation is straightforward in any conditions, and the round trip takes around four hours. It's not the most dramatic mountain in the country, but as a first Munro or a winter confidence builder, it's ideal. The views across Perthshire from the summit are better than the hill's modest reputation suggests.

East of Loch Tay, Schiehallion (1,083m) stands apart — literally. Its isolated position and near-perfect conical shape make it one of Scotland's most iconic mountains. The path from Braes of Foss is beautifully engineered on the lower slopes before giving way to a boulder field on the upper mountain. On a clear day, the panorama from the summit takes in what feels like half of Scotland.

Tyndrum and the Western Fringe

Ben Lui (1,130m) is the jewel of the western Southern Highlands. Its magnificent north-east corrie — Coire Gaothach — holds a classical Alpine shape, steep on three sides with a central gully that provides one of Scotland's finest winter climbs. The standard walking route from Glen Cononish south of Tyndrum is longer but straightforward, winding through atmospheric remnants of the old lead mines before the final pull to the summit. Ben Lui is often paired with Ben Oss (1,029m) for ambitious multi-Munro days, though the connecting ground between them is rough and boggy.

Multi-Munro Strategies

The Southern Highlands reward strategic thinking. Many of the hills fall into natural groups that can be combined into efficient multi-Munro days:

1. Ben Lawers group (up to 7 Munros): The full Lawers ridge traverse is a marathon day. Most walkers split it into two or three outings, but fit parties can link them all via the connecting ridge.
2. Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh (2 Munros): A classic short day from Bridge of Orchy station. You can even arrive by train.
3. Ben Vorlich and Stuc a' Chroin (2 Munros): The classic Loch Earn pairing. Just respect the scramble between them.
4. Ben More and Stob Binnein (2 Munros): The highest pair in the region. Hard going but immensely satisfying.

Accommodation and Logistics

• Crianlarich: The ideal base for the central Southern Highlands. The village has a hostel (SYHA), B&Bs, a bunkhouse, a pub, and a railway station on the West Highland Line.
• Killin: A beautiful village at the western end of Loch Tay, perfectly placed for the Ben Lawers range and Meall nan Tarmachan.
• Tyndrum: Two hotels, a hostel, the famous Green Welly Stop, and rail connections. Access to Ben Lui, Beinn Dorain, and the western hills.
• Bridge of Orchy: The hotel and bunkhouse sit right at the foot of Beinn Dorain. The railway station makes car-free Munro bagging genuinely practical.
• Callander / Lochearnhead: Good bases for the eastern hills — Ben Vorlich, Stuc a' Chroin, Ben Chonzie.

Character of the Hills

The Southern Highlands sometimes suffer by comparison with their flashier northern neighbours. Nobody makes a documentary about the Southern Highlands. Travel magazines don't send photographers to Ben Chonzie. And yet, these hills have a quiet charm that grows on you.

There is a warmth to this landscape — the oak and birch woods of Loch Lomond giving way to the sweeping moorland of Breadalbane, the intimate scale of Glen Lochay compared to the vast emptiness of Knoydart. The light is softer, the approaches shorter, the pubs closer. You can bag a Munro and be eating fish and chips in Callander by six o'clock.

But don't be fooled into complacency. Ben More's north face is as steep as anything south of Glen Coe. Ben Lui's winter corrie is a serious mountaineering venue. The scramble on Stuc a' Chroin has caught out many an overconfident hillwalker. These are real mountains that demand the same respect, preparation, and equipment as their northern counterparts.

For new baggers, the Southern Highlands are the perfect training ground. For experienced ones, they're the reliable friends you keep coming back to — familiar, comfortable, but always capable of surprising you with a perfect day on the hill.