Scotland's Best Small Mountains. Kirstie Shirra

Scotland's Best Small Mountains

About the Author

Kirstie Shirra is a freelance writer and environmental campaigner. Climbing mountains since she could walk, she has travelled throughout Europe and the Americas, but always ends up back in the wonderful mountains of northwest Scotland, where she lives with her husband Pete.

Scotland’s Best Small Mountains is Kirstie’s second Cicerone guide. The first, with Michelle Lowe, was the first guide to the GR7 in Andalucia, a 1200km route in southern Spain. Kirstie also writes regularly for walking publications.

Other Cicerone guides by the author

Walking the GR7 in Andalucia (with Michelle Lowe)

SCOTLAND’S BEST SMALL MOUNTAINS

Kirstie Shirra

2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA, LA7 7PY

www.cicerone.co.uk

First edition 2010

ISBN 978 1 85284 578 0

Reprinted 2013 (with updates)

Printed in China on behalf of Latitude Press Ltd.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.

This product includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey® with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Licence number PU100012932.

Acknowledgements

Huge thanks to the wonderful friends who accompanied me on the different walks and subjected themselves to my constant photographs: Michelle, Karen, Annie, Rachel, Stephen, Jill, Jeremy, Steph, Kristin, Oran, Natasha, Robert, Janice, Canna and Torran, and to Lou for trying to come. A special thanks to Pete, for coming up many of the hills, coping with me while writing and doing the scree on Glamaig when my legs turned to jelly – you are my hero.

Finally, I’d like to thank my parents for introducing me to so many of the hills that were to become ‘best small mountains’ – I only wish you could still carry me when I get tired!

Advice to Readers

While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. If we know of any, there will be an Updates tab on this book’s page on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.

Warning

Mountain walking can be a dangerous activity carrying a risk of personal injury or death. It should be undertaken only by those with a full understanding of the risks and with the training and experience to evaluate them. While every care and effort has been taken in the preparation of this guide, the user should be aware that conditions can be highly variable and can change quickly, materially affecting the seriousness of a mountain walk. Therefore, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law, neither Cicerone nor the author accept liability for damage of any nature (including damage to property, personal injury or death) arising directly or indirectly from the information in this book.

To call out the Mountain Rescue, ring 999 or the European emergency number 112: this will connect you via any available network. Once connected to the emergency operator, ask for the police.

Front cover: Rocky pinnacle crowning the summit of The Cobbler

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Walking in Scotland

Wildlife

The History of Scotland