Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to conquer Scotland's Munros - also known as Munro bagging. Munros are Scottish mountains over 3,000 ft, and are named after Sir Hugh T Munro (1856 - 1919), the first man to survey and catalogue them. There are 282 in total - the ultimate challenge is to bag them all!

Why go Munro bagging?

Munro bagging is a popular way to explore Scotland's highest mountains. Some walkers find it a handy way to decide which mountain to climb, for others it becomes a serious goal to complete, and bagging Munros is also a great way to raise money for charity.

What's with the words?

Like most sports, Munro bagging has a language of its own - it's a little eccentric, but we think it's kind of cute. Each summit reached is another bagged, and a step closer to the coveted 'compleation' of a round, which is when a walker has climbed all 282 Munros. If you're wondering about the spelling it's the archaic version of complete, making it all sound very traditional! When you 'compleat' a round, you can be referred to as either a 'Compleatist' or as a 'Munroist'. Either way, the sense of achievement is immense.

Safety first

Whether it's your first Munro or your final one, careful planning should be of the upmost priority when it comes to climbing Scotland's peaks - as majestic and beautiful as they are, mountains can be very dangerous places in certain weather conditions or if you aren't adequately prepared.

Get advice and tips from the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, plan your route carefully, and make sure you check out the Mountain Weather Information Service to ensure that conditions are suitable.

Munros by numbers

  • Height: Over 3,000 ft (914.4 m)
  • Number: 282
  • Highest peak: Ben Nevis - 4,411 ft (1,345 m)
  • List first published: 1891
  • Fastest round: 39 days, 9 hours and 6 minutes, by Munroist Stephen Pyke in 2010.