1 Beinn a’ Ghlo Cairngorms
2 Ben Lui &Ben Oss South Highlands
3 Blencathra & Scales Fell Lake District
4 Great Gable Lake District
5 Sca Fell Lake District
6 Shining Tor &Windgather Rocks Peak District
7 Thorpe Cloud Peak District
9 Waun Rydd Bannau Brycheiniog/ Brecon Beacons
8 Carnedd Llewelyn via Cwm Eigiau Eryri/Snowdonia
10 Tintagel to Polzeath Cornwall
10 varied routes in Scotland, England and Wales
With bustling weekend summits collecting headlines, it can sometimes feel as though compact island. But there’s room for everyone in these hills. Those who want alittle peace and quiet may just have to get creative with their timings. After all, there are few simpler pleasures than watching the sun rise and fall in big skies you feel like you can touch from our mountaintops. Here are 10 routes for which it’s worth setting an early alarm or charging your head torch and staying out until after dark. They offer the perfect excuse to sleep under the stars, too.
1 37.4km/23.2 miles/2 days Ascent 1598m/5243ft
Beinn a’ Ghlo Cairngorms SCOTLAND
Alex Roddie finds that Beinn a’ Ghlo makes a great overnight trip
DRIVING NORTH along the A9 from Perth, the first big peak to really grab your attention is Carn Liath, the shapely southern bastion of the Beinn a’ Ghlo massif. This varied mountain range forms the eastern wall of Glen Tilt, a deep and largely arrow-straight glacial trough extending deep into the Cairngorms.
Those hiking the three Munros of Beinn a’ Ghlo in a day usually descend heathery slopes to the east; but the option described here, descending north and then taking a leisurely stroll back through Glen Tilt to Blair Atholl, is a longer yet better route – and it’s ideal if you’re looking for two shortish days with a high camp in between.
With steep ascents, scree and vague paths requiring careful navigation on the descent, this is a challenging and strenuous but non-technical route. Terrain is heathery at lower elevations, but Beinn a’ Ghlo’s long, sweeping ridgelines are grassy and with many flat areas, making it a fine option for an overnight camp. However, these ridges can be very exposed in bad weather.
Start/finish Blair Atholl train station or village centre GR: NN870653
1 NN870653 Begin in Blair Atholl village. Head Ealong the road and cross the bridge. Ignore a road junction on your left; instead take aminor road heading uphill immedi
