UK mountains to climb, from first hills to big days

How to pick a mountain to climb in the UK

Height is only part of it. A 400 m hill with a rough, pathless top can be harder than a 1,000 m mountain on a built path, and Britain's weather makes any summit a different place in wind and cloud. Each mountain below shows its easiest route with a difficulty rating:

Easy a short walk on a clear path. Moderate a proper hill walk with sustained climbing. Hard a long or steep day on rough ground, where navigation matters. Scramble you will need your hands on rock.

Distances are one way from the start named. If you are new to hills, start with an Easy or Moderate route in good weather, then build up. Open any mountain for its summit forecast, every route and a map.

Scottish Highlands and islands

The biggest hills in Britain, from short climbs above Loch Lomond to long days in Glen Coe and the far north-west.

1. Conic Hill

   361 m · 1,184 ft

   Conic Hill is a 361m Marilyn above Balmaha on the east shore of Loch Lomond, on the West Highland Way with a view along the islands.

   EasyEasiest route: Balmaha via the West Highland Way, 2.4 km one way

2. Stac Pollaidh

   612 m · 2,008 ft

   Stac Pollaidh is a small, spiky sandstone hill in Coigach whose crest of pinnacles and short paths make it one of the most popular hills in the far north-west.

   ModerateEasiest route: Loch Lurgainn car park to the summit crest, 2.1 km one way

3. The Storr

   719 m · 2,359 ft

   The Storr is a 719m Graham above the Old Man of Storr on Skye, the highest point of the Trotternish ridge with cliffs facing the sea.

   ModerateEasiest route: Old Man of Storr car park via the Sanctuary, 3.2 km one way

4. Ben Vrackie

   842 m · 2,762 ft

   Ben Vrackie is an 842m Corbett above Pitlochry, climbed from the car park at Moulin by a good path past Loch a' Choire.

   ModerateEasiest route: Moulin via Loch a' Choire, 5.3 km one way

5. Ben Lomond

   974 m · 3,196 ft

   Ben Lomond is the most southerly Munro, rising above the east shore of Loch Lomond and climbed from Rowardennan by the tourist path or Ptarmigan ridge.

   ModerateEasiest route: Rowardennan tourist path, 5.8 km one way

6. Schiehallion

   1,083 m · 3,553 ft

   Schiehallion is a 1083m Munro in Highland Perthshire, a near-perfect cone from the west, climbed by a built path from Braes of Foss.

   ModerateEasiest route: Braes of Foss via the east ridge, 5.7 km one way

7. Ben Lawers

   1,214 m · 3,983 ft

   Ben Lawers is the 1214m high point of the southern Highlands and Perthshire, a Munro above Loch Tay climbed over Beinn Ghlas.

   ModerateEasiest route: Ben Lawers car park via Beinn Ghlas, 6.1 km one way

8. Ben Nevis

   1,345 m · 4,413 ft

   Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain at 1345m, climbed by the Mountain Track from Glen Nevis or the Carn Mor Dearg Arête.

   ModerateEasiest route: Mountain Track from Glen Nevis, 9.0 km one way

9. Suilven

   731 m · 2,398 ft

   Suilven is a long sandstone ridge rising alone from the Assynt moorland near Lochinver, famous for its sheer domed ends and long walk-in.

   HardEasiest route: Lochinver via Glencanisp and the Bealach Mor, 12.2 km one way

10. Buachaille Etive Mòr

    1,021 m · 3,350 ft

    Stob Dearg is the iconic rocky peak of Buachaille Etive Mor, guarding the entrance to Glen Coe and Glen Etive from Rannoch Moor.

    HardEasiest route: Altnafeadh via Coire na Tulaich, 3.6 km one way

11. The Cobbler

    884 m · 2,900 ft

    The Cobbler is the craggy Corbett above Arrochar, with three rocky tops and a summit block reached by threading a window in the rock.

    ScrambleEasiest route: Arrochar via Allt a' Bhalachain, 5.4 km one way

The Cairngorms

A high granite plateau with arctic weather, where even the easier tops need good navigation in cloud.

1. Meall a' Bhuachaille

   810 m · 2,657 ft

   Meall a' Bhuachaille is an 810m Corbett above Glenmore and Loch Morlich, a heathery hill with wide views into the northern corries of the Cairngorms.

   ModerateEasiest route: Glenmore via Ryvoan and An Lochan Uaine, 6.0 km one way

2. Lochnagar

   1,156 m · 3,793 ft

   Cac Carn Beag is the 1156m summit of Lochnagar, the granite Munro above Royal Deeside climbed from the Spittal of Glenmuick.

   ModerateEasiest route: Spittal of Glenmuick via Meikle Pap col, 9.3 km one way

3. Cairn Gorm

   1,245 m · 4,085 ft

   Cairn Gorm is the Munro above Aviemore that gives the Cairngorms their name, climbed from the ski centre car park by a ridge path past the funicular.

   ModerateEasiest route: Coire Cas via Fiacaill a' Choire Chais, 3.5 km one way

4. Ben Macdui

   1,309 m · 4,295 ft

   Ben Macdui is the second-highest mountain in Britain and the highest point of the Cairngorms, a vast granite plateau climbed from Cairngorm or the Linn of Dee.

   HardEasiest route: Cairngorm ski centre via Cairn Lochan, 10.4 km one way

Southern Scotland

Rounded hills close to the cities, plus Arran's granite peaks.

1. Arthur's Seat

   251 m · 823 ft

   Arthur's Seat is the 251m volcanic summit of Holyrood Park in Edinburgh, a short climb from the city centre with views over the Forth.

   EasyEasiest route: Holyrood Palace via Hunter's Bog, 2.1 km one way

2. Tinto

   712 m · 2,336 ft

   Tinto is a 712m Graham and Donald in South Lanarkshire, a prominent hill above the Clyde valley with a huge summit cairn.

   ModerateEasiest route: Fallburn car park, 3.7 km one way

3. Merrick

   843 m · 2,766 ft

   Merrick is the highest hill in southern Scotland at 843m, a Corbett and Donald above Glen Trool climbed by a clear path past Culsharg bothy.

   ModerateEasiest route: Bruce's Stone via Culsharg and Benyellary, 6.5 km one way

4. Goatfell

   875 m · 2,871 ft

   Goatfell is the highest point on the Isle of Arran, a granite peak above Brodick with a clear path and wide views over the Firth of Clyde.

   ModerateEasiest route: Cladach (Brodick) via the east ridge, 6.4 km one way

Lake District

England's highest and most climbed fells, with short family walks and rocky ridges within a few miles of each other.

1. Loughrigg Fell

   335 m · 1,099 ft

   Loughrigg Fell is a low, knobbly fell between Ambleside, Grasmere and Rydal, with paths from three villages and views over Grasmere and Windermere.

   EasyEasiest route: Grasmere via Loughrigg Terrace, 2.8 km one way

2. Cat Bells

   451 m · 1,480 ft

   Cat Bells is a small, steep-sided fell on the west shore of Derwentwater, one of the most climbed hills in the Lake District and a favourite family walk.

   EasyEasiest route: Grange via Hause Gate, 3.0 km one way

3. Helm Crag

   405 m · 1,329 ft

   Helm Crag is the craggy little fell above Grasmere known for its summit rocks, the Lion and the Lamb and the Howitzer, a short steep climb from the village.

   ModerateEasiest route: Grasmere via Easedale Road, 3.2 km one way

4. The Old Man of Coniston

   802 m · 2,631 ft

   The Old Man of Coniston is the highest of the Coniston fells, a popular climb from Coniston village past old slate quarries and Low Water.

   ModerateEasiest route: Coniston via the quarries and Low Water, 4.2 km one way

5. Blencathra

   868 m · 2,848 ft

   Blencathra is one of the best-known Lake District fells, a long ridged mountain above Threlkeld climbed by walking paths and by the scrambles of Sharp Edge and Hall's Fell Ridge.

   ModerateEasiest route: Scales via Scales Fell, 3.0 km one way

6. Great Gable

   899 m · 2,949 ft

   Great Gable is a rocky dome at the head of Wasdale, climbed for its summit views down the valley and its paths from Honister, Borrowdale and Wasdale Head.

   ModerateEasiest route: Honister Pass via Green Gable, 4.1 km one way

7. Skiddaw

   930 m · 3,051 ft

   Skiddaw is the broad slate mountain above Keswick, a long-standing tourist climb with a well-worn path from Latrigg and a sharper ridge over Ullock Pike.

   ModerateEasiest route: Keswick via Jenkin Hill, 4.9 km one way

8. Helvellyn

   950 m · 3,117 ft

   Helvellyn is the highest point of the eastern Lake District fells, known for the Striding Edge and Swirral Edge ridges above Red Tarn.

   ModerateEasiest route: Wythburn, 3.8 km one way

9. Scafell Pike

   978 m · 3,209 ft

   Scafell Pike is England's highest mountain, a bouldery summit above Wasdale and Borrowdale climbed by paths from Wasdale Head, Seathwaite and Great Langdale.

   ModerateEasiest route: Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue, 5.2 km one way

Wales

From the gentle Clwydian Range and the Brecon Beacons to Snowdonia's rock.

1. Moel Famau

   555 m · 1,821 ft

   Moel Famau is the highest point of the Clwydian Range, with the ruined Jubilee Tower on its summit and easy paths from Bwlch Penbarras.

   EasyEasiest route: Bwlch Penbarras, 2.5 km one way

2. Sugar Loaf

   596 m · 1,955 ft

   Sugar Loaf is the distinctive cone-shaped hill above Abergavenny in the Black Mountains, with easy paths and a wide summit view.

   ModerateEasiest route: Abergavenny, 3.0 km one way

3. Pen y Fan

   886 m · 2,907 ft

   Pen y Fan is the highest mountain in southern Britain, a flat-topped sandstone summit at the centre of the Brecon Beacons and one of Wales's busiest hills.

   ModerateEasiest route: Pont ar Daf, 3.3 km one way

4. Cadair Idris

   893 m · 2,930 ft

   Cadair Idris is the great mountain above Dolgellau in southern Snowdonia, with its summit Penygadair above the cliff-ringed lake of Llyn Cau.

   ModerateEasiest route: Pony Path from Ty Nant, 4.6 km one way

5. Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)

   1,085 m · 3,560 ft

   Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is the highest mountain in Wales, with a choice of well-made paths, a mountain railway and a café on the summit.

   ModerateEasiest route: Llanberis Path, 6.9 km one way

6. Tryfan

   918 m · 3,012 ft

   Tryfan is the rocky fin above Llyn Ogwen in Snowdonia, a summit you cannot reach without using your hands.

   ScrambleEasiest route: North Ridge from Llyn Ogwen, 1.3 km one way

Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and the north

Gritstone edges, limestone and moorland, with the Yorkshire Three Peaks as the classic test.

1. Mam Tor

   517 m · 1,696 ft

   Mam Tor is the hill above Castleton in the Peak District, topped by an Iron Age hillfort and the start of the Great Ridge walk to Lose Hill.

   EasyEasiest route: Mam Nick, 0.6 km one way

2. Win Hill

   463 m · 1,519 ft

   Win Hill is a rocky-topped hill above Ladybower Reservoir and the village of Hope, with a summit view over the Hope Valley and the Great Ridge.

   ModerateEasiest route: Hope via Twitchill Farm, 2.8 km one way

3. Kinder Scout

   636 m · 2,087 ft

   Kinder Scout is the highest ground in the Peak District, a gritstone plateau above Edale and Hayfield known for Kinder Downfall and the Mass Trespass.

   ModerateEasiest route: Edale via Jacob's Ladder, 6.3 km one way

4. Pen-y-ghent

   694 m · 2,277 ft

   Pen-y-ghent is the lion-shaped hill above Horton in Ribblesdale, one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, with a short rocky climb up its southern nose.

   ModerateEasiest route: Horton via Brackenbottom, 3.9 km one way

5. Ingleborough

   723 m · 2,372 ft

   Ingleborough is the flat-topped Yorkshire Dales mountain above Ingleton and Clapham, one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, with limestone pavements and Gaping Gill on its flanks.

   ModerateEasiest route: Clapham via Gaping Gill, 8.1 km one way

6. Whernside

   737 m · 2,418 ft

   Whernside is the highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks and the county top of North Yorkshire, a long ridge above the Ribblehead Viaduct.

   ModerateEasiest route: Ribblehead via Blea Moor, 4.5 km one way

7. The Cheviot

   816 m · 2,677 ft

   The Cheviot is the highest hill in Northumberland, a broad peat-topped summit near the Scottish border climbed from the Harthope Valley.

   ModerateEasiest route: Langleeford via Scald Hill, 5.8 km one way

Southern England

Small hills, but the high points of their counties and moors.

1. Worcestershire Beacon

   425 m · 1,394 ft

   Worcestershire Beacon is the highest point of the Malvern Hills, a grassy summit with a toposcope above Great Malvern and a ridge walk along the range.

   EasyEasiest route: Wyche Cutting, 1.6 km one way

2. Dunkery Beacon

   520 m · 1,706 ft

   Dunkery Beacon is the highest point on Exmoor and in Somerset, a heather moor summit with a large cairn and short paths from the road.

   EasyEasiest route: Dunkery Gate, 1.1 km one way

3. High Willhays

   622 m · 2,041 ft

   High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor and in southern England, a granite ridge on the northern moor reached from Meldon Reservoir.

   ModerateEasiest route: Meldon Reservoir, 4.5 km one way

Before you climb

Check the forecast for the summit, not the town at the bottom: the top of a 1,000 m mountain is typically 6 to 7°C colder than sea level before you count the wind. Carry a map and compass, waterproofs, a warm hat and gloves, food and a head torch, even in summer. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back, and turn round if the weather closes in. In an emergency, call 999 or 112 and ask for the police, then mountain rescue.

UK mountain questions

Keep exploring

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