Whether you’re looking to dazzle some new hillwalkers or are seeking something different yourself, these mountains are some of the most distinctive the UK has to offer. Cameras at the ready…!
1. SUILVEN, ASSYNT
Considered one of Scotland’s most iconic hills, the remarkable, other-worldly outline of Suilven towers over Lochinver. Surprisingly, you can tackle this hill with little scrambling, a sharp zig-zagging path making for one of the more accessible routes to the summit. Walk to the foot of the trail from Lochinver – which makes for a lengthy trek, but the reward is well worth it. On a clear day you’ll be able to see all the way to Skye.
2. INACCESSIBLE PINNACLE,
ISLE OF SKYE
Tackling the infamous ‘In Pinn’ is no easy feat, and this fin of rock sits atop Sgurr Dearg – the only Munro that requires rock-climbing skills to summit. If you don’t have climbing experience and/or equipment, a guide will be needed. Wickedly tricky, you can start your walk from just before the Glen Brittle mountain rescue post and cross Allt Coire na Banachdich to begin your ascent.
3. TRYFAN, SNOWDONIA
Said to be the only summit in Wales you must use your hands to reach, Tryfan may be small but it certainly offers a mighty climb. As well as the ridges, the summit of Tryfan is home to two monoliths known as Adam and Eve, and there’s a traditional challenge that involves leaping between them. Caution needed!
4. SLIEVE CROOB, CO. DOWN
Slieve Croob itself is an impressive, stark mountain in the heart of the Dromara
Hills – but it’s a feature found on its lower slopes that makes it truly special. Legananny Dolmen is a megalithic tripod dolmen from the Neolithic period (making it approximately 5,000 years old), and it can be reached by walking from the village of Leitrim.
5. GLYDER FACH, SNOWDONIA
Glyder Fach boasts a unique, boulder-strewn summit, and is well known for its Cantilever Stone – a massive slab that looks to be precariously balanced and so makes a great photo opportunity. West of the summit sits Castell y Gwynt, a strange and spiky rocky outcrop. One popular way to reach Glyder Fach is from Ogwen via the Devil’s Kitchen – but despite being sometimes known as the ‘tourist’ route it shouldn’t be underestimated.
6. THE COBBLER, ARROCHAR
Ben Arthur’s nickname comes from its distinctive rocky summit, which is said to resemble a cobbler leaning over, hard at work. Climbers of this hill are challenged to ‘thread the needle’, the only way to reach the true summit by scrambling out onto the rock pinnacle situated at the edge of the ‘middle’ of the three peaks. Only for those with a true head for heights.
7. SCHIEHALLION, PERTHSHIRE
As well as being an almost perfect, conical shape, Schiehallion is also known for its part in the invention of contour lines. During the summer months, this is also considered one of the best Munros for beginners as it offers an accessible route to the summit whilst also presenting opportunities to scramble for the daring newbies who welcome Munrobagging with open arms.
8. ROSEBERRY TOPPING,
NORTH YORKSHIRE
Considered Yorkshire’s miniature Matterhorn, you can start this walk just before Roseberry Lane and enjoy a pleasant stroll along the
outskirts of Newton Wood before beginning your climb. During the summer months, early morning climbers may be rewarded with a sighting of roe deer.
9. CHROME HILL, PEAK DISTRICT
Chrome Hill is a distinctive limestone reef knoll that’s also known as the ‘Dragon’s Back’, the pinnacles resembling the scaly plates of a slumbering beast. Start in the village of Earl Sterndale and follow the footpaths that head towards Parkhouse Hill. This is a popular hill during the summer solstice, due to the unique ‘double sunset’ phenomenon said to be spotted from the southern summit.
10. BUACHAILLE ETIVE MOR,
GLEN COE
This is perhaps one of the most photographed hills in all of Scotland, particularly when the first snow of the year settles across the peak. Looming over the A82, this dark and gloomy Munro looks almost threatening, and as a result can appear quite off-putting to beginners. But fear not, this mountain is not as tricky as it first seems – and starting your ascent from Altnafeadh also gives you a much less intimidating view of the climb to come.