Hills and mountains

Scotland's hills and mountains have inspired generations of walkers and climbers, not to mention a host of painters, poets and conservationists. With 284 Munros (hills over 3,000ft), plus hundreds of Corbetts (hills between 2,500 and 3,000ft) and Donalds (hills in the Lowlands over 2,000ft) we have an incredible resource to explore and enjoy.

Go for the summit

For many, a day in the hills is simply about the sense of achievement in reaching the top. For others it's the view, the sense of wildness, or sharing the company of friends and family in a special place.

There are many different active pursuits to enjoy in the hills such as hill-walking, rock climbing, or mountain biking, or quietly wildlife-watching, taking photos picnicking by the side of a river.

But whatever your activity, the hills are also a working environment, so it's important to take heed of any reasonable requests by land managers. The pilot Heading for the Scottish Hills web service    has been developed to provide information to hill walkers and other recreational users about deer stalking. Please try out the service and give us your views.

Routes to the hills

There are numerous well-established routes leading to the hills and mountains and up to many of the popular summits. Traditional rights of way and hill tracks often stay on lower ground and can also be good routes for walkers, mountain bikers and horse-riders.

Whenever you head for the hills, make sure that you have suitable equipment for the types of terrain and the weather conditions that you may encounter, and make sure you have a map and know how to use it. As far as possible, leave no trace and allow the mountains and hills to be enjoyed by others who come after you, or who make a living from the land. For information on your local hill-walking or climbing club, see the Mountaineering Council of Scotland   website.