Climbing the highest peaks in the world is an ambition many mountain climbers have, but given the resolute dangers and savage reputations that Mount Everest and K2 have, anyone who wants to scale those peaks should start with more forgiving but no less rewarding and beautiful peaks.
Many climbers start with hill climbing close to where they live, building up the skills necessary to take on more ferocious mountains.
Whether you are just looking for guided mountain walks through beautiful vistas or want to build up your skills to challenge the fourteen eight-thousanders in the world or reach the highest point on earth, here are five of the best mountains for rookie climbers.
Arthur’s Seat
Whilst most of the best mountains to climb in Scotland are nestled in the Highlands, one of the best places to start is actually at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
Based in Holyrood Park, Arthur’s Seat is a great climb to start with, in no small part because it allows beginners to experience those fantastic views you can only experience at the peak, with the Firth of Forth and the Forth Bridges even being visible on a good day.
A great way to experience a mountain walk in just a couple of hours and get a feel for whether you want to scale more ambitious peaks.
The Cobbler
Sometimes known as Beinn Artair (or Ben Arthur), The Cobbler is one of the most famous mountains in Scotland and is a great place to learn some more technical rock climbing techniques if you wish to reach its summit.
The home of the oldest climbing club in Scotland, the Cobbler still plays an important role in the development of many climbers.
Conic Hill
A lovely introduction to the world of Highland climbing, the mini-mountain of Conic Hill combines a well-trodden path, truly breathtaking vistas that start to enter your field of vision from just a third of the way up, and a combination of a short but still bracing climb to the summit.
It is the best way to enjoy Loch Lomond, and there are multiple summits to be found.
Pap Of Glencoe
The Pap of Glencoe is a climb filled with contrasts. Despite being a relatively small mountain, it is a steep and very difficult climb, filled with muddy and boggy conditions, even requiring a scramble to reach its summit.
However, many climbers consider it to be among the best and most rewarding climbs in Scotland, and once you scramble that final 100m it is easy to see why; with views of Ben Nevis, the Mamores and Loch Linnhe, the Pap of Glencoe may be the most breathtaking view in the country.
Ben Nevis
No list of mountains in Scotland is complete without Ben Nevis, for the simple reason that if you scale its 1345m peak, you have reached the very top of the United Kingdom.
It is no easy climb, even if you take the mountain path (sometimes known as the “Tourist Route”), but not only do you have the right to say you have climbed the UK’s highest mountain, but if you make it on one of the 14 days that you get a clear enough sky, you can see all the way to Northern Ireland.