Mountains and hills of Scotland

Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Great Britain, located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of Scotland.

Scotland is the most mountainous country in the United Kingdom. The area north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault is known simply as the Highlands, and contains the country's main mountain ranges.

The southern and eastern parts of Scotland are usually referred to as the Scottish Lowlands, but these areas also have significant ranges of hills, although these are lower than the Highland mountains.

The Southern Uplands form a continuous belt across southern Scotland from Galloway to the Borders. The Uplands are divided into five local ranges.

Geography of Scotland

Scotland comprises the northern third of the island of Great Britain, off the coast of northwestern Europe. The total land mass is around 30,414 square miles. Scotland's only land border is with England, running for 60 miles between the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west.

The country consists of a mainland area plus several island groups. The mainland has three areas: the Highlands in the north; the Central Belt, and the Southern Uplands in the south. The Highlands are generally mountainous and are bisected by the Great Glen, which includes Loch Ness. The highest mountains in the British Isles are found there, including Ben Nevis, the highest peak at 4,409 feet. The Central Belt is generally flat and is where most of the population resides. This area is divided into the West Coast, which contains the areas around Glasgow; and the East Coast which includes the areas around the capital, Edinburgh.

Regions

Scottish Highlands

The key highland ranges are:

• The Grampians, the main belt of mountains across the centre of Scotland. The Cairngorms form the eastern part of the Grampians.
• The Northwest Highlands, lying to the north and west of the Great Glen.
• Cuillin, on the Isle of Skye.

Scottish Lowlands

The southern and eastern parts of Scotland are usually referred to as the Scottish Lowlands, but these areas also have significant ranges of hills, although these are lower than the Highland mountains.

Southern Uplands

The Southern Uplands form a continuous belt across southern Scotland from Galloway to the Borders. The Uplands are divided into several local ranges:

Carrick, Lowther Hills, Pentland Hills, Moorfoot Hills and Lammermuir Hills

• The Sidlaws, north of Dundee but south east of the Highland Boundary Fault;
• The Ochil Hills, east of Stirling;
• The Campsie Fells, north of Glasgow;
• The Cheviot Hills lie mostly in England, and form part of the border between the two countries.

In addition to the main ranges, there are numerous individual hills in the Lowlands, often volcanic in origin. Many are known by the Scots word Law, meaning hill.

Scotland's highest mountains

The ten highest mountains in Scotland are also the ten highest of the UK.

1. Ben Nevis 1344 metres (4409 feet)
2. Ben Macdhui 1310 m (4297 ft)
3. Braeriach 1296 m (4251 ft)
4. Cairn Toul 1291 m (4235 ft)
5. Sgor an Lochain Uaine 1258 m (4127 ft)
6. Cairn Gorm 1244 m (4081 ft)
7. Aonach Beag 1234 m (4048 ft)
8. Càrn Mòr Dearg 1220 m (4002 ft)
9. Aonach Mòr 1218 m (3996 ft)
10. Ben Lawers 1214 m (3982 ft)

Listings

Scottish peaks are categorized by means of the following hill lists. Note that any one peak may ‘qualify’ for inclusion in several lists.

• The Munros comprise all hills in Scotland over 3000 feet (914.4 m). The list was originally compiled by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891, and is modified from time to time by the Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC). It includes 284 peaks.

• The Corbetts are hills in Scotland between 2500 and 3000 feet (762 and 914.4 m), with a relative height of at least 500 feet (152.4 m). The list is maintained by the SMC, currently 219 peaks listed.

• The Grahams are hills in Scotland between 2000 and 2500 feet (609.6 and 762 m), with a relative height of at least 500 feet (152.4 m). The list was first compiled by Fiona Graham. Currently 224 listed.

• The Donalds are hills in the Scottish Lowlands over 2000 feet (609.6 m). The list was originally compiled by Percy Donald, and is maintained by the SMC, 89 peaks are listed.

• The Marilyns are hills in the British Isles that have a relative height of at least 150 m, regardless of distance, absolute height or merit. The list was compiled and is maintained by Alan Dawson. There are currently 1214 Scottish peaks listed, see List of Marilyns in Scotland.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Mountains of Scotland

• Geography of Scotland
• Mountains of the United Kingdom

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Jim Willsher Website. Hills of Scotland Retrieved May 21, 2008.
• Miller, Mary. 1978. From the hills and the heather of Scotland. Invercargill, N.Z.: M. Miller. ISBN 9780473000127
• Steven, Campbell Rodger. 1975. The story of Scotland's hills. London: R. Hale. ISBN 9780709149750
• The Mountaineering Council of Scotland. Mountaineering Council of Scotland Retrieved May 21, 2008.

External links

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