Ring of Steall Scotland
The name itself alludes to what might be; it has an almost Norse tone to it, as if it’s a test for an aspiring god. It has, however, more mundane origins and refers to the cluster of peaks that congregate around An Steall Ban (Scotland’s second highest waterfall). Of the six peaks that make up the ring, four are Munros and all are glorious examples of pyramidal cones with eye-catching symmetry. It is in this mix of drama, steepness and unblemished wildness, that The Ring of Steall delivers on its guarantee of an epic. To get to the start involves a Tolkienesque gorge walk and a thunderous waterfall. Then an ascent of a corrie that feels like the glaciers have only left a day or two earlier, and this in turn leads to over 6km of seemingly wafer-thin mountain crests. All this might seem off-putting and best left to climbers, but the most wondrous thing about it is that although it‘s high, long and exposed, it‘s essentially a walk. There are a few sections of grade one scrambling, but these are short and in good conditions experienced mountain walkers will deal with them easily.