I’ve a brand new summit bagging pastime – and, fortunately, I’ve buddies who a keen to indulge me this new ardour. A visit to the Scottish Highlands mountain vary, the Fannichs, to run-hike “a few Munros” was a 5 summits journey and embrace three Munros and two Munro Tops.

Munros, Munro Tops and Murdos

Munros are the unique checklist of Scottish mountains for individuals who take pleasure in summit bagging. They have been created within the late 1800s by Sir Hugh Munro. He listed all of the mountains of at the very least 3000ft in Scotland.

The Munro checklist has been revised a number of occasions since, particularly due to trendy measuring strategies, and at the moment consists of 282 summits.

Munro Tops are summits which can be greater than 3,000ft (914.4m), however thought of to be a subsidiary prime. There are 227 Munro Tops.

Simply so as to add to this bagging geekiness, there are additionally Murdos, that are mountains greater than 3000ft tall with a minimal drop of 30 metres on all sides. All Munros are Murdos, however not all Munro Tops are Murdos. There are 442 Murdos.

My new Munro Tops pastime

Since ending my first spherical of Munros, I’ve been ticking off Corbetts. I’ve reached virtually 130 Corbetts of the 222 listed and most since I moved to the Highlands a few 12 months in the past. Corbetts are Scottish mountains with a peak of between 2500ft and 3000ft (762m to 914.4m).

I additionally like doing Munro repeats, particularly if it’s a brand new route, reminiscent of combining the Kintail “brothers” and “sisters”. I additionally like the concept of finishing a listing of the Munro Tops. So, now, when I’m taking a look at a Munro bagging route, I’ll ensure I embrace close by Munro Tops. For instance, when. mountain climbing Conival and Ben Extra Assynt, I took in a Munro Prime.

That is how I got here to be within the Jap Fannichs yesterday with buddies bagging Munros and Munro Tops.

Fannichs Munros and Munro Tops

The Fannichs mountain vary lies between Loch Fannich within the southeast and Loch Broom within the northwest of the Highlands. There are 9 Munros within the vary.

Our group of seven, Katy, Geraldine, Morgane, Lynsey, Victoria, David and I, had an unique plan to succeed in two of the jap Fannich Munros, Beinn Liath Mhòr Fannaich and Sgùrr Mòr. The outing additionally included a Munro Prime, Càrn na Criche, as a pure a part of the route.

Then I noticed an out-and-back part to a different Munro Prime, Meall nam Peithirean. It was an additional 1km or so and a bit extra ascent and descent, earlier than heading up Sgùrr Mòr, however Geraldine, Victoria and David have been pleased to affix me.

After Sgùrr Mòr. and Càrn na Criche, Victoria pointed in the direction of one other Munro, Meall a’ Chrasgaidh, which the entire group determined can be a nice addition to the day’s adventuring.

You would possibly usually stroll Meall a’ Chrasgaidh with the Munros Sgùrr nan Clach Geala and Sgùrr nan Every.

So, in complete, we ticked off three Munros and two Munro Tops. The space was simply over 19km and with greater than 1400m of ascent. See Strava (word the elevation achieve states 1190m, which is flawed. The watch I used to be testing didn’t file it precisely) and likewise OS Maps.

We loved nice and sunny climate at the beginning of the outing though because the day progressed the clouds rolled in and the wind picked up. It was gusty at greater altitude and chilly at occasions, however we stored shifting and all of us had the appropriate equipment for the situations.

We have been stunned to find paths and trods to comply with for a lot of the route. We had been ready for a good quantity of off-trod tramping on tough terrain however, because it turned out, there have been many kilometres of first rate paths. There have been just a few rocky sections however nothing too daunting and far of the outing was on gratifying and rolling terrain.

As we ran or walked, we chatted virtually continuous. It’s a beautiful feeling being out within the Scottish mountains, surrounded by beautiful landscapes, with a gaggle of eager outdoorsy individuals.

It’s also so unbelievable to have these mountains so near dwelling and so accessible.

I’m nonetheless totting up my tally of Munro Tops. I’ve reached 92 Munros in my second spherical.

Equipment particulars:

• Due to Victoria and Morgane for some extra images.