hillwalking
How Many Munros Are There in Scotland?
There are 282 Munros in Scotland — Scottish mountains over 914m (3,000ft) first listed by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891 and last revised by the Scottish Mountaineering Club in 2012.
Quick Summary
- There are 282 Munros — Scottish mountains over 914m (3,000 feet) — as of the last revision by the Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) in 2012
- The list has changed over time: Sir Hugh Munro originally listed 283 tops; the total has been revised multiple times as surveying technology improved
- 7,971 people had completed all 282 as of mid-2025 according to the SMC compleat register
- Browse all 282 in our Munros section with route information for each
The Munros are one of Scotland's most recognised outdoor landmarks — a defined list of peaks that has been climbed, debated and revised for over 130 years. The exact number is a matter of historical record and occasional controversy.
Quick Answer: There are 282 Munros in Scotland. A Munro is defined as a Scottish mountain with a summit over 914m (3,000 feet) and sufficient separation from neighbouring summits to be considered an independent mountain. The list is maintained by the Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) and was last revised in 2012 when re-surveying confirmed the heights of several hills. The total has been 282 since that revision.
The history of the Munro list
Sir Hugh Munro, 1891
The list originates with Sir Hugh Thomas Munro (1856–1919), a founding member of the Scottish Mountaineering Club. In 1891, Munro published a tables of Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet in the SMC Journal. His original list contained 283 tops classified as separate mountains and a further 227 subsidiary tops.
Famously, Sir Hugh never completed his own list — he died before climbing the Inaccessible Pinnacle on Skye (which requires rock climbing skills) and Carn Cloich-mhuilinn in the Cairngorms.
Revisions over the years
The list has been revised several times since 1891:
| Year | Total | Key change |
|---|---|---|
| 1891 | 283 | Munro's original tables |
| 1921 | Various | Revisions after Munro's death |
| 1981 | 277 | Major revision by Hamish Brown |
| 1997 | 284 | Beinn a' Chlaidheimh reinstated |
| 2009 | 283 | Sgurr nan Ceannaichean removed (re-surveyed below 914m) |
| 2012 | 282 | Beinn a' Chlaidheimh removed (re-surveyed at 913.6m) |
The 2012 revision is the current standard. Beinn a' Chlaidheimh in the Fisherfield Forest was found to be 913.6m — 0.4m below the Munro threshold — following a definitive GPS survey. Its removal reduced the total to 282.
Could the list change again?
Yes. The SMC reviews the list periodically as survey technology improves. The threshold of 914m (3,000 feet exactly) and the requirement for "sufficient separation" from neighbouring summits are both subject to interpretation. Several hills sit very close to the 914m threshold and could be added or removed with future surveys. The SMC does not make changes frequently — the 2012 revision was the first since 1997 — but the list is not considered permanently fixed.
What makes something a Munro?
The definition has two components:
Height: Over 914m (exactly 3,000 feet) above sea level.
Independence: The hill must have "sufficient separation" from adjacent summits to be considered a distinct mountain. This is the subjective element — the SMC applies a rough rule of a 500-foot (152m) drop between a hill and its nearest neighbour, but this is not absolute. It is why some closely-spaced hills count as separate Munros while others are classified as subsidiary tops (listed separately as "Munro Tops").
There are currently 227 Munro Tops in addition to the 282 Munros — subsidiary summits that meet the height criterion but not the separation criterion. Some Munro baggers extend their list to include these.
How many Munros have been climbed by all?
As of mid-2025, 7,971 people had registered completing all 282 Munros with the SMC compleat register. The true number is higher — many completers do not register. The register has been kept since 1901 and the pace of completions has accelerated significantly with rising outdoor participation in the 2000s–2020s.
Notable completions:
- First recorded compleat: Rev A. E. Robertson, 1901 (took 10 years)
- First woman: Mrs Hurst, 1947
- Fastest round: Donnie Campbell, 31 days 23 hours 2 minutes (2020, supported)
- Most rounds: some dedicated baggers have completed the list 10+ times
The other Scottish hill lists
Munros are one of several related lists:
| List | Criteria | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Munros | Over 914m, independent | 282 |
| Munro Tops | Over 914m, subsidiary | 227 |
| Corbetts | 762–914m, 500ft re-ascent | 222 |
| Grahams | 610–762m, 150m re-ascent | 231 |
| Donalds | Lowland hills over 610m | 89 |
| Marilyns | Any summit with 150m drop all sides | 1,218 (Scotland) |
See our guides to Corbetts, Grahams, Donalds and Marilyns for full information on each list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Munros are there in Scotland?
282 Munros, as of the last SMC revision in 2012. This is the current official total maintained by the Scottish Mountaineering Club.
Why are there 282 Munros and not 284 or 283?
The total has changed over time as surveying technology has improved. Beinn a' Chlaidheimh was removed in 2012 when GPS surveying confirmed it stands at 913.6m — 0.4m below the 914m Munro threshold. Before that it was counted, giving 283. Previous revisions added and removed other hills as measurement accuracy improved.
What is the easiest Munro to climb?
The easiest Munro is generally considered to be Schiehallion (1,083m, Perthshire) — well-maintained path from Braes of Foss car park, 7km round trip, minimal navigation. Ben Lomond (974m) is the most popular first Munro from the Central Belt. See our best Munros for beginners guide.
What is the highest Munro?
Ben Nevis at 1,345m is Scotland's highest mountain and the highest point in the British Isles.
What is the hardest Munro?
The Inaccessible Pinnacle (In Pinn) on Skye is the only Munro that requires rock climbing skills — the summit is a narrow rock blade accessible only by a roped climb. It is the last Munro completed by many baggers. Several Cuillin Munros (Sgurr Dearg, Sgurr Mhic Choinnich, Am Basteir) require scrambling and route-finding above the standard hillwalking level.
How long does it take to climb all 282 Munros?
At a leisurely pace (one or two Munros per weekend), completing all 282 takes 10–20 years. More dedicated baggers complete in 3–5 years. The fastest supported round (Donnie Campbell, 2020) took 31 days 23 hours. Most people take whatever time the rest of life permits.
Explore all 282 Munros
Our Munros section has individual pages for all 282 with route information, live weather, difficulty notes and local area details.
Try it yourself
Our free Hill Tracker
tracks your progress across all 282 Munros (and Corbetts, Grahams, Donalds and Marilyns) — log each summit as you climb it.
No sign-up required.Related articles
- What Is a Munro? — the definition, history and culture explained
- Best Munros for Beginners — where to start
- Munros Without a Car — accessible by public transport
- Munros A-Z — all 282 with route information
Sources
- SMC Munro Tables — Scottish Mountaineering Club
- Munro compleat register — SMC
- History of the Munro Tables — Walkhighlands