Munro Bagging With Kids: Getting the Whole Family on the Hills

The first Munro I took my eldest up was Ben Chonzie. She was six. It took us about twice as long as it would have taken me alone, we stopped fourteen times, she cried once on the way up and laughed the entire way down, and when we got back to the car she said it was the best day of her life. That was eight years ago. She has done thirty-seven Munros since and shows no sign of slowing down.

Munro bagging with children is not the same as Munro bagging without them. It is slower, less predictable, requires more snacks, and involves long negotiations about whether that particular rock really does look like a dinosaur. It is also, without question, one of the most rewarding things you can do as a family. Watching a child discover that they can walk to the top of a mountain — that their own legs carried them above the clouds — is a privilege that never gets old.

This guide is for parents who want to share the hills with their children. Whether your kids are babies being carried or teenagers who are faster than you, there is a way to make it work.

At What Age Can Kids Start?

This is the question every parent asks first, and the honest answer is: it depends on what you mean by "start."

Babies and Toddlers (0-3 years)

You can take babies on the hills from a few months old, carried in a proper child carrier rucksack. The child is not walking — you are carrying them — so the question is really about your fitness, not theirs. A good carrier with a sun and rain hood, proper harness, and a kickstand for rest stops is essential. Your child will sleep, look around, possibly cry if the wind picks up, and have no memory of it whatsoever. But you will, and these are special days.

Key considerations at this age: keep the days short (the child cannot move to stay warm), dress them in significantly more layers than you are wearing (they are sitting still while you generate heat through effort), and check on them frequently. Windchill at altitude can be fierce even on a mild day in the valley.

Toddlers to Pre-school (3-5 years)

This is the transition phase. Children of this age can walk on the hills, but not far. Expect a maximum of about 3-4 kilometres with considerable ascent, and be prepared to carry them when they tire. Many parents use a carrier for part of the day and let the child walk when the terrain is suitable. At this age, the walk is not really about reaching the summit — it is about being outdoors, splashing in burns, looking at rocks, and eating sandwiches on a hillside. If you happen to reach the top, that is a bonus.

Primary School Age (5-8 years)

This is when Munro bagging with children becomes genuinely feasible. A reasonably active five or six-year-old can manage a shorter Munro with a well-graded path — think 8-10 kilometres with 600-700 metres of ascent. By age eight, many children can handle the easier Munros at a steady pace. The key is choosing the right mountains and managing expectations about speed.

Older Children (8-12 years)

By this age, fitness is rarely the limiting factor — motivation and interest are. A keen eight-year-old can manage most straightforward Munros. A bored eight-year-old will make the day miserable for everyone. The trick is keeping things interesting and giving them ownership of the adventure. More on that below.

Teenagers

Teenagers who have grown up hillwalking are often faster and fitter than their parents. Those coming to the hills fresh may be physically capable but need convincing that voluntarily walking uphill for several hours constitutes a good time. Both scenarios require patience and a different kind of motivation than younger children.

The Right Munros for Families

Not all Munros are suitable for children, and choosing the right peak makes the difference between a great family day and a miserable slog. Here is what to look for:

• Short approach and moderate distance: Under 12km round trip for younger children, up to 16km for experienced older kids.
• Well-maintained paths: Rocky, boggy, or faint paths tire children quickly and increase the risk of twisted ankles.
• Interesting features on the way: Streams to cross, waterfalls to admire, wildlife to spot, rocks to scramble on. Children need variety, not just relentless uphill.
• A high starting point: Car parks at altitude reduce the total ascent, which is the main factor in how tired children get.
• No exposure or scrambling: Unless your children are experienced and confident, avoid routes with drops or sections requiring hands-on-rock.
• Escape routes: Choose mountains where you can turn back at various points and still have had a good day.

Eight Kid-Friendly Munros

These are mountains I would confidently recommend for families. All have good paths, manageable distances, and features that keep children engaged.

1. Ben Chonzie (931m)

Ben Chonzie is widely regarded as the most straightforward Munro, and it makes an excellent first summit for children. A Land Rover track takes you most of the way, the gradient is gentle, and the round trip is about 11km. It is not the most exciting mountain in Scotland, but for a child's first Munro, success matters more than drama. The views from the top across Perthshire are better than the mountain's reputation suggests.

2. Schiehallion (1,083m)

Schiehallion is a fantastic family mountain. The rebuilt path from Braes of Foss is excellent, the conical shape means children can see the summit from early on (which helps with motivation), and the final boulder field is just scrambling enough to feel like an adventure without any real exposure. The round trip is about 10km and most families manage it in 5-6 hours. Children love the bouldery summit area.

3. Ben Lomond (974m)

The Ptarmigan Path up Ben Lomond is one of the best-maintained mountain trails in Scotland. It is well-signposted, steadily graded, and the Loch Lomond views provide constant distraction. The round trip is about 12km, which is a long day for younger children, but the path quality makes the distance manageable. Go midweek to avoid crowds.

4. Ben Lawers (1,214m) via Beinn Ghlas

The car park for Ben Lawers sits at over 400 metres, meaning you start with a significant altitude advantage. The path via Beinn Ghlas is well-trodden and the ascent is steady rather than steep. On a clear day, children will be amazed by the extent of the views from one of Scotland's highest peaks. The round trip to both summits is about 10km.

5. Cairn Gorm (1,245m)

Starting from the ski centre car park at 635m, Cairn Gorm requires less ascent than almost any other Munro. The path is clear and well-used, and the round trip is about 6km — short enough for younger children. Save it for a clear day, as the Cairngorm plateau is featureless and disorienting in cloud. The funicular railway building at the car park and the weather station near the top add points of interest.

6. Ben Vorlich, Loch Earn (985m)

The approach from Ardvorlich on Ben Vorlich follows a lovely glen with a burn that children enjoy. The path is good, the views over Loch Earn open up as you gain height, and the summit feels properly mountainous without any difficulty. The round trip is about 10km. A good choice for families who have done a couple of easier Munros and want something with a bit more character.

7. Meall nan Tarmachan (1,044m)

Starting from the high car park above Loch na Lairige, Meall nan Tarmachan is a short, rewarding walk to a summit with superb views. The initial ascent is steep but brief, and children enjoy the grassy ridge walking beyond. Stick to the main summit rather than attempting the full ridge traverse with younger children. The round trip to the main top and back is about 6km.

8. Beinn Ghlas (1,103m)

If Beinn Ghlas sounds familiar, that is because it is on the way to Ben Lawers. Many families do Beinn Ghlas alone as a first Munro and save Ben Lawers for the return visit. The ascent from the NTS car park is about 5km to the summit, on a clear path with a steady gradient. It is one of the shortest and most achievable Munros for young children.

Gear for Kids on the Hills

Children need the same basic equipment as adults, but scaled down and with a few specific considerations.

Essentials

• Waterproof jacket and trousers: Cheap children's waterproofs rarely work in Scottish mountain conditions. Invest in proper ones — they get passed down through siblings and save the day when the weather turns.
• Warm layers: Fleece or merino mid-layers, not cotton. Cotton holds moisture and chills children dangerously quickly.
• Walking boots: Proper walking boots with ankle support and a decent sole. Trail shoes are fine for paths but inadequate for rough or wet ground.
• Hat and gloves: Even in summer. Summit temperatures can be 10-15 degrees colder than the valley.
• Small rucksack: Children old enough to walk should carry their own water bottle, snacks, and a spare layer. It gives them ownership of the day and teaches responsibility.

Useful Extras

• Walking poles: Surprisingly helpful for children, especially on descents. Cheap telescopic poles adjusted to the right height make a noticeable difference.
• Whistle: Teach children the emergency signal (six blasts, pause, repeat) and clip a whistle to their rucksack.
• Sit mat: A small piece of closed-cell foam for rest stops. Keeps them off cold, wet ground.
• Binoculars: Even a cheap pair transforms the walk. Children love spotting deer, eagles, and distant summits.

Keeping Kids Motivated on the Hill

This is where hillwalking with children is most different from walking with adults. Adults can grit their teeth through a boring section because they know the view from the summit will be worth it. Children live in the present moment. If this moment is boring, they will tell you, repeatedly, and with feeling.

Strategies That Work

1. Break the walk into stages: "We're walking to that big rock, then we'll have a snack." Small, visible targets are far more motivating than "It's about another two hours to the top." Children respond to achievable goals, not abstract distances.
2. Nature spotting: Give them a mental checklist — red deer, mountain hare, eagle, raven, frog, lizard, a specific wildflower. The walk becomes a treasure hunt. A small nature identification card in their rucksack works wonders.
3. Snacks, snacks, and more snacks: This is not the time for a health-food crusade. Bring the good stuff — chocolate, flapjacks, jelly babies, crisps. Distribute them at regular intervals. The promise of a particular treat at the summit has powered more small legs up mountains than you might expect.
4. Let them lead: Give older children the map and let them navigate a section. Teach them to use a compass. Give them a role in the day that is more than just putting one foot in front of the other.
5. Games: I-spy works on mountains as well as it does in cars. Twenty questions, story building (each person adds a sentence), or simply counting cairns give the mind something to do while the legs keep working.
6. Celebrate achievement: Make a fuss at the summit. Take the photo. Sign the summit book if there is one. Let them know that what they have done is genuinely impressive — because it is.

Safety Considerations for Families

The safety principles for walking with children are the same as for adults, with a few additions.

• Turn back early: Set a turnaround time and stick to it. If the child is tired, cold, or upset, the summit is not worth it. There will be other days. Pushing a reluctant child to the top teaches them that hillwalking is miserable.
• Wind and cold: Children lose heat faster than adults because of their smaller body mass. A day that feels chilly to you feels cold to them. Layer up and check on them regularly.
• Navigation: Stay on the path. If visibility drops and you are not confident with map and compass navigation, turn around. Getting lost with children is significantly more stressful and dangerous than getting lost alone.
• Pace: Walk at the child's pace, not yours. Pushing children to go faster makes them miserable and increases the risk of stumbles and injuries.
• Tell someone: Always leave your route and expected return time with someone who will raise the alarm if you are overdue.
• Group ratio: Aim for at least one adult to every two or three children. On more challenging mountains, one-to-one is better.

Building a Lifelong Love of the Hills

The real goal is not to bag Munros with your children. The real goal is to raise children who love being outdoors, who feel at home in wild places, who understand weather and terrain and wildlife, and who carry the hills in their hearts for the rest of their lives. The Munros are just a framework — a list that gives shape to the adventure.

The way to build that love is to make every day in the hills a good day, even if it means turning back early, even if it means doing the same easy mountain three times because that is the one your child loves, even if it means spending twenty minutes examining a frog in a puddle halfway up Schiehallion while the summit sits tantalisingly close above. The summit will still be there next weekend. But the child's enthusiasm for the hills is something you are building today, and it is more fragile than any mountain.

Start easy. Keep it fun. Bring too many snacks. Celebrate every summit. And on the days when it rains and the wind blows and nobody reaches the top, stop at the chip shop on the way home and call it a great adventure anyway. Because it was.