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Britain’s highest mountain at 1,343 m (4,410 ft). A long, winding path takes you up to the top. The summit is seldom clear of cloud, but if you strike it lucky you’ll enjoy unsurpassed views. In poor visibility take great care on the summit ridge as it’s easy to lose the path, which borders a precipice.

Britain’s second-highest mountain, at 1,309 m (4,295 ft), is best climbed from the Cairngorm Ski car park. Reached by a high-altitude plateau covered in sub-arctic flora, it overlooks the magnificent Lairig Ghru, a deep rift dividing the Cairngorm range.

Rising proudly from the wooded banks of its namesake loch, Ben Lomond’s tall mass dominates the panorama. One of the smallest munroes at 973 m (3,192 ft), it has a well-used track, which is steep in places. Tremendous views over the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Best to start at Rowardennan, where there’s a hotel and hostel.

A great one to start with as there’s nothing complicated about this hill, which overlooks Loch Earn, always bustling with boat activity. Take the southern road and start from Ardvorlich. From the top (985 m/3,232 ft) the views to the Breadalbane mountains are glorious. And it doesn’t take long to get down for tea in St Fillans.

A grouping, in fact, of seven peaks overlooking lochs Awe and Etive. The highest is 1,124m (3,688 ft) and because this summit is considerably taller than any other mountain in the area, Ben Cruachan enjoys some of the most extensive views in the country. The name “Cruachan” comes from the war cry of the clan Campbell.

A superb range of mountains with five prominent peaks towering above Glen Shiel in the West Highlands. If you start at the highest part of the main road (A87) you save yourself an hour’s climbing. Once you’re on the summit ridge it’s a long series of undulations, but you feel on top of the world and can see the Cuillins on Skye.

The “Great Shepherd of Etive” (954 m/3,129 ft) stands as guardian to the eastern entrance to Glencoe. As an introduction to a place of legendary beauty, this wild mountain could not be improved. Approached from the southwest it can be climbed easily, but its magnificent crags demand constant respect.

A much-loved mountain between lochs Tay and Rannoch, Schiehallion is most easily climbed from the pretty road connecting Aberfeldy with Tummel Bridge. An easy and rewarding munro with which to launch your bagging campaign.

You could pick any of the famous Torridon mountains and guarantee not to be disappointed, but this is a beauty. A massive mound of red sandstone topped with white quartzite, Liathach has distinctive parallel bands of escarpments. At 1,053 m (3,456 ft) this is a relatively difficult and strenuous mountain to climb, but worth every bit of effort.

The most northerly munro, with its neighbour, Foinaven. Rising starkly from the woods and moorland around Loch Hope, Ben Hope (927 m/ 3,040 ft) has clear views to the Orkneys. The only difficulty in climbing is the scree and rocky terrain, but this is a prestigious mountain to have underfoot.