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Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal Volume 1 Number 6

Tables giving all the Scottish mountains exceeding 3,000 feet in height

Introduction

IN the Preface to the first number of the Journal it was correctly stated that there are more than three hundred mountains in Scotland whose height exceeds 3,000 feet. The exact number cannot be determined, owing to the impossibility of deciding what should be considered distinct mountains. For instance, Braeriach and Cairn Toul are always counted as separate mountains, and so are the various peaks of the Cuillins, in Skye; and yet these are no more distinct than are Sron Isean or Stob Daimh from the two main peaks of Ben Cruachan, one and a half and two miles to the west. The names of these peaks, though, are not even given on the Ordnance sheet, but are generally included under the name Ben Cruachan.

In the following tables, therefore, it has been thought best to include every "top" which attains an elevation of 3,000 feet; while in the first column only such as may fairly be reckoned distinct mountains are numbered.

From the tables it will be seen that there are in all 538 tops exceeding 3,000 feet in height. The whole of these are situated in the Highlands, and all - with the exception of Ben More, in Mull, and the Cuillins and Blaven (Blath Bheinn), in Skye - are on the mainland. The southernmost is Ben Lomond, in Stirlingshire; the northernmost is Ben Hope, in the north-west of Sutherlandshire, the easternmost is Mount Keen, above Loch Lee, between Forfarshire and Aberdeenshire; and the westernmost is Sgùrr na Banachdich, in the Cuillins, Skye; while on the mainland Ladhar Bheinn, in Knoidart, Inverness-shire, is the westernmost.

In the tables the following natural grouping has been adopted, the numbers in each division being as under:-

The tables require some further explanation.

In COLUMN 1, as previously stated, only such hills as may fairly be considered separate mountains, are numbered according to order of altitude.

In COLUMN 2 every distinct "top" is numbered in order of altitude.

COLUMN 3. - Height. - When not otherwise expressly stated, all the heights given are from the six-inch Ordnance Survey. Where only one height is given - as, Ben Lomond, 3,192 - the six and one inch O.S. maps agree. When an exact height is followed by a height in smaller figures within parentheses, the former is from the six-inch O.S., while the latter is the contour height, which is all that is given on the one-inch map - e.g., Beinn Ime, 3,318 (3,250): the true height as given map is 3,318, while on the one-inch map there is only a 3,250 contour. "Ap.," following after the height, signifies that it is only approximate; the authority in most cases being careful aneroid observations taken by Dr Heddle, Mr Colin Phillip, Mr Norman Collie, Mr Hinxman, or the writer. Where only a contour height is given - as, Meall a' Bhàrr (Càrn Mairg) - no figure is given on the six-inch and only a contour height on the one-inch.

COLUMN 4. - Name. - The Ordnance spelling, even to the omission or insertion of an accent, has been followed in all cases. As is well known, the spelling of these maps is very incorrect. Even in one sheet, the same word is often spelt in several different ways, - Sgùrr, Sgòrr, Sgùr, Sgòr (with and without accents), Scour, Maol, and Meall, for instance. The names, too, in the O.S. often differ from those locally used. Wherever a name is given on the O.S. map, however, it has, been retained in the tables.

[page 280]

A * implies that the name is taken from the six-inch map, but is not given on the one-inch.

A ** implies that the name is locally used, but is neither given on the six nor one inch maps. In all other cases the name is to be found on both the six and one inch maps. (See note on Cuillins.)

COLUMN 5. - Position. - The compass-bearings and distances under this heading are not absolutely accurate, but merely approximate; and the latter are measured in a straight line on the map from point to point. They are merely intended to enable the reader at once to identify the position of a "top" on the one-inch map, and are no indication of the walking distance.

As a rule, a general description is given of the principal height of a group - e.g., Ben Lawers, Loch Tay, North side - or its position with regard to some well-known place - e.g., Beinn Laoigh, 6 m. E. from Dalmally; while minor heights are described according to their bearing and distances from the principal one - e.g., Beinn à Cliebh, 1 m. S.W. of Beinn Laoigh.

The abbreviations, m., for mile; N., S., E., and W., for north, south, east, and west; cont., for contour; L., for Loch; yds., for yards; in., for inch; O.S., for Ordnance Survey; and B., for Ben or Beinn, are used.

COLUMN 6. - County. - For the sake of convenience, Cromarty has been reckoned as Ross-shire.

COLUMN 7. - Best ascended from. - When the nearest hotel lies at a considerable distance from the mountain, the name of a shooting-lodge or shepherd's cottage is given first. It will be understood that in such cases accommodation cannot be counted on. The names of two hotels are often given, that nearest to the mountain being usually placed first. In a few instances, however, the hotel occupying the first place is not that nearest to the mountain; in these cases either the accommodation is better, or, though farther, the mountain is most easily ascended from that named first.

As under the heading "Position," the distances and compass bearings, where given, are only approximate, the distances being measured in a straight line on the map; and the compass-bearings are those of the mountain to the hotel, not those of the hotel to the mountain - e.g., Beinn na Lap, Corrour Lodge (3½ m. N.W.), Moy (9 m. S.W.) or Roy Bridge. The shooting-lodge of Corrour is the best place whence to ascend Beinn na Lap, which is about 3½ miles NORTH-WEST of the lodge. Moy is the nearest inn, from which the mountain lies 9 miles S.W.; and as Moy is only a small place, Roy Bridge (Hotel) is also mentioned.

[page 281]

COLUMN 8. - The last column contains references to pages in the Journal.

The FOOT-NOTES need no explanation.

CUILLINS (SKYE). - The names of the Cuillins (so spelt in the Ordnance maps) are from Mr Pilkington's new map (see p. 235), which is more accurate than the Ordnance maps. The approximate heights of this range are from very careful aneroid observations by Mr Norman Collie.

In the SECOND TABLES the "tops" are arranged and numbered in order of altitude, only those being numbered in the first column which may fairly be considered separate mountains. Of these it will be seen that there are 283. In the last column the number of the section is given, and with the help of this the reader will easily find the mountain in the first tables.

Every endeavour has been made, to secure accuracy and completeness. It is inevitably that there should be some mistakes, but it is hoped they will not be found very numerous. The decision as to what are to be considered distinct and separate mountains, and what may be counted as "tops," although arrived at after careful consideration, cannot be finally insisted on. I have only to add that, when first this work was commenced, I had little idea of the enormous amount of labour and research which it would entail - a labour which, even if it had not been altogether abandoned, would have been vastly increased but for the invaluable assistance given by Mr Colin Phillip, whose extraordinary topographical knowledge of Scotland has probably ever been equalled.

H. T. Munro