INTRODUCTION When to go 10 - Seasons 10 - Temperature 12 - Rainfall 13 - Daylight hours 13 - Annual events, festivals and Highland games 13 PART 1: PLANNING YOUR WALK Practical information for the hillwalker Accommodation 17 - Food 20 - Drink 22 - Information for foreign visitors 22 - Money 24 - Services 24 - Access 24 - Walking companies 25 What to take The pack on your back 27 - Footwear 27 - Clothes 28 - Toiletries 29 First-aid kit 29 - General items 29 - Sleeping kit 30 - Camping gear 30 - Bivvy gear 30 - Maps 31 - GPS 32 - Recommended reading 33 Getting to the Highlands Getting to Scotland 34 - Getting around the Highlands 35 PART 2: MINIMUM IMPACT WALKING Minimum impact walking Environmental impact 44 - Economic impact 46 Conservation Scottish Natural Heritage 47 - National parks 48 Other protected areas 49 PART 3: THE HIGHLANDS Facts about the Highlands Geography 51 - Geology 52 - History 53 - Language 55 Flora and fauna Mammals 56 - Birds 59 - Trees 64 - Flowers and plants 64 Lichens 66 PART 4: ROUTE GUIDE AND MAPS Using this guide 67 Loch Lomond and the Southern Highlands The mountains: Ben Ledi 879m 70 - The Cobbler 884m 71 - Ben Lomond 974m 74 - Ben Vorlich 943m 76 - Ben More 1174m & Stob Binnein 1165m 78 - Beinn Dorain 1076m & Beinn an Dothaidh 1004m 80 - Stob a'' Choire Odhair 945m & Stob Ghabhar 1090m 83 Towns and villages: Callander 87 - Arrochar 90 - Rowardennan 91 - Inversnaid 92 - Ardlui 92 - Inverarnan 92 - Crianlarich 93 - Strathfillan 95 - Tyndrum 95 - Bridge of Orchy 96 PART 4: ROUTE GUIDE AND MAPS (continued) Glen Coe and Glen Nevis The mountains: Buachaille Etive Mor (Stob Dearg 1021m & Stob na Broige 956m) 98 - Aonach Eagach (Meall Dearg 953m & Sgorr nam Fiannaidh 967m) 100 - Stob Coire Sgreamhach 1072m, Bidean nam Bian 1150m & Stob Coire nan Lochan 1115m 104 - Ballachulish Horseshoe (Sgorr Dhearg 1024m & Sgorr Dhonuill 1001m) 108 - Stob Ban 999m & Mullach nan Coirean 939m 110 - Carn Mor Dearg 1220m & Ben Nevis 1344m 113 Towns and villages: Kingshouse 118 - Glen Coe 118 - Ballachulish 120 - Glen Nevis 121 - Fort William 122 The Central Highlands The mountains: Beinn Ghlas 1103m & Ben Lawers 1214m 128 - Schiehallion 1083m 130 - Sgor Iutharn 1028m, Geal Charn 1132m & Carn Dearg 1034m 132 - Ben Alder 1148m & Beinn Bheoil 1019m 137 - Creag Dhubh 757m 139 - Creag Meagaidh 1128m 140 - Stob Coire Easain 1115m & Stob a'' Choire Mheadhoin 1105m 142 Towns and villages: Killin 148 - Laggan 149 - Dalwhinnie 150 - Tulloch 150 - Roybridge 150 - Corrour 151 The Cairngorms and Eastern Highlands The mountains: Ben Vrackie 841m 153 - Mayar 928m & Driesh 947m 155 - Carn a'' Choire Bhoidheach 1110m & Lochnagar 1155m 157 - Derry Cairngorm 1155m, Ben Macdui 1309m & Carn a'' Mhaim 1037m 162 - Braeriach 1296m, Sgor an Lochain Uaine 1258m, Cairn Toul 1291m & The Devil''s Point 1004m 168 - Cairn Gorm 1244m 174 - Meall a''Bhuachaille 810m 176 Towns and villages: Pitlochry 179 - Clova 182 - Braemar 182 - Aviemore 183 - Glenmore 184 Sunart to Knoydart The mountains: Beinn Resipol 845m 186 - Sgurr Ghiubhsachain 849m & Sgorr Craobh a'' Chaorainn 775m 188 - The Corryhully Horseshoe (Sgurr nan Coireachan 956m & Sgurr Thuilm 963m) 191 - Beinn Bhuidhe (Knoydart) 855m 195 - Ladhar Bheinn 1020m 199 - Sgurr a'' Mhaoraich 1027m 204 Towns and villages: Strontian 206 - Glenfinnan 207 - Mallaig 208 - Inverie 209 - Kinlochhourn 210 - Barisdale 210 Glen Shiel to Torridon and Fisherfield The mountains: Beinn Sgritheall 974m 211 - The Saddle 1010m & Sgurr na Sgine 946m 214 - Sgurr na Lapaich 1036m, Mam Sodhail 1181m & Carn Eige 1183m 218 - Beinn Damh 902m 222 - Beinn Alligin (Tom na Gruagaich 922m & Sgurr Mhor 986m) 224 - Beinn Eighe (Spidean Coire nan Clach 993m & Ruadh-stac Mor 1010m) 226 PART 4: ROUTE GUIDE AND MAPS (continued) Glen Shiel to Torridon and Fisherfield (continued) Beinn an Eoin 855m 228 - A'' Mhaigdean 967m & Ruadh Stac Mor 918m 231 - An Teallach (Bidean a'' Ghlas Thuill 1062m & Sgurr Fiona 1060m) 236 Towns and villages: Glenelg 240 - Glen Shiel & Shiel Bridge 240 - Tomich 241 - Torridon 241 - Kinlochewe 242 - Poolewe 242 - Gairloch 242 - Dundonnell 243 The Far North The mountains: Stac Pollaidh 613m 244 - Suilven (Caisteal Liath 731m) 246 - Quinaig (Sail Gharbh 808m, Sail Gorm 776m & Spidean Coinich 764m) 248 - Ben Stack 721m 250 - Arkle 787m 251 - Ben Hope 927m 254 - Ben Loyal 764m 255 Towns and villages: Ullapool 257 - Lochinver 260 - Kylesku 261 - Scourie 261 - Durness 261 - Tongue 262 The Islands The mountains: Arran (Goatfell 874m 263) - Mull (Beinn Talaidh 762m 266) - Rum (Ainshval 781m & Askival 812m 269) - Skye (Bla Bheinn 928m 274; Sgurr nan Gillean 964m 275; Glamaig 775m 277; The Storr 719m 279) - South Uist (Beinn Mhor 620m, Ben Corodale 527m & Hecla 606m 280) - Harris (Ceapabhal 365m 284; Clisham 799m 286) - Lewis (Suaineabhal 429m 289) Towns and villages: Arran (Brodick 291) - Oban (for Mull) 292 - Mull (Craignure 294) - Rum (Kinloch 295) - Skye (Broadford 296; Torrin 296; Sligachan 296; Portree 297; Uig 298) - South Uist (Tobha Mor 300) - Harris (An t-Ob 300, An Taobh Tuath 300; Tarbert 300; Ardhasaig 302) - Lewis (Timsgearraidh 302) The Big Treks The Great Traverse - Corrour to Glen Nevis (via The Grey Corries, The Aonachs, Carn Mor Dearg & Ben Nevis), 2-3 days 303 Cairngorms - Aviemore to Linn of Dee, 2 days 307 Knoydart - Kinlochhourn to Inverie, 2 days 308 Five Sisters & Brothers of Kintail - Cluanie to Loch, 2-3 days 309 Fisherfield - Poolewe to Dundonnell, 2-3 days 315 APPENDICES A: Mountain safety 317 B: Gaelic 323 C: Glossary 325 D: Mountain photography 326 E: Map keys 327 INDEX 328.