Hills for Beginners in Scotland

1 – Ben A’an, Aberfoyle, The Trossachs

Best hill for beginners in Scotland? That’ll be Ben A’an. Described by many hill walkers as the perfect hill, Ben A’an is a ‘mountain in miniature’.

Climbing it you’ll get all the practice in for future Munro bagging – the long slog up, the steep huffing and puffing bits, a wee bit of scrambling around on rocks – plus the amazing views – and you only have to climb 454m (1500ft) to do it. 

Despite Ben A’an’s petite size (and the annoying kids that will race past you up the hill) don’t underestimate it, the weather can change in a second up in the hills and despite there being a great path, there is not much shelter.

When we were up earlier in the year we saw so many people fail to reach the top as they were unprepared. Ben A’an is still a hill. In Scotland. DO NOT WEAR JEANS OR YOU WILL REGRET IT. I don’t need to say that again do I?

How to climb Ben A’an

• Location: Between Callander and Aberfoyle in the Trossachs
• Height: 454m / ascent – 340m
• Climb: Ben A’an

2 – Conic Hill, Loch Lomond

Second on the list is Conic Hill, a knobbly little peak which rises up 350m above Loch Lomond. Conic Hill is an incredibly popular hill, as on a good day the views over the loch are utterly incredible and achieved with not much effort at all.

The walk to the top will only take around an hour, but the path can be muddy and slippy – so wear decent shoes.

I must admit that I am not a huge fan of Conic Hill as a) the car park can get very busy – on a sunny day the traffic along east Loch Lomond can be awful, but mainly because b) the slopes of Conic Hill are infested with a herd of shaggy ‘highland coos’ which can be pretty scary appearing out of the mist. Or you might like them. I don’t.

They are pretty cute though I must admit.

How to climb Conic Hill:

• Location: Balmaha at Loch Lomond
• Height –350m / ascent – 350m
• Climb Conic Hill

3 – Cort Ma Law, The Campsie Fells

The highest of the Campsie Fells might be Earl’s Seat but the walk along the ridge from Campsie Glen to Cort Ma Law is one of my favourite wee walks in Scotland. With views across to the mighty city of Glasgow and north to Ben Lomond, the Campsies are also easily reachable from the city centre.

After exploring the beautiful Campsie Glen head up the steep-sided Black Craig – once you are on the ridge you could be in the highlands not just 30 minutes from Glasgow!

How to climb Cort Ma Law:

• Location: Just to the north of Glasgow
• Height: 526m / ascent 351m
• Go climb Cort Ma Law

4 – Scald Law, Edinburgh

The Pentland Hills Regional Park is just to the south of Edinburgh. There are quite a few peaks in the Pentland’s to bag, but the highest is Scald Law. With views across to Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders, as well as the Pentland’s reservoirs, it is a small hill with a very big view. Great for a day out escaping the city.

How to climb Scald Law:

• Location: Just to the south of Edinburgh
• Height 579m / ascent 579m
• Go climb Scald Law
• More on: bagging the peaks in the Pentlands

…let’s get a little higher up shall we?

5 – Clachnaben, Glen Dye

Topped with a magnificent granite tor, Clachnaben is one of Aberdeen and Deeside’s most recognisable hills – and the ascent is a great hill walk for beginners. The walk starts to the north of Glen Dye, and visits this 15,000 acre estate. Along the way, the walk takes you through lovely woodlands before popping out on to the moors with fabulous views across Aberdeenshire to Bennachie. The walk will take around 3 hours.

How to climb Clachnaben

• Location: Glen Dye, south of Ballater
• Height: 589m / ascent 511m
• Go climb: Clachnaben

6 – Ben Venue, Aberfoyle

Whilst Ben A’an might be the most popular of all the Trossachs hills, the view from Ben Venue is actually even better.  Ok, so you have to work for it a little harder – Ben Venue at 729m is a bit higher than Ben A’an at 454m – and there is a wee bit of very easy scrambling to get you to the two summits.

The walk starts just along from the Ben A’an car park and will take you around 4 hours. The view across the Loch Lomond’s and the Trossachs National Park and Loch Katrine, Loch Akray and Loch Venacher is so worth it.

How to climb Ben Venue:

• Location: Aberfoyle
• Height: 729m / ascent 725m
• Go climb Ben Venue

7 – Ben Cleuch, The Ochills 

Right on central Scotland’s doorstep are the Ochils, and the highest point, Ben Cleuch which stands at 721m. Climb up the steep Mill Glen from Tillicoultry, climbing up over the Law to the summit of Ben Cleuch for an incredible view across to Gleneagles and the hills of Highland Perthshire.

The path up the Law to Ben Cleuch is incredibly popular and easy to follow and the circular is about 8 miles if you also take in nearby Ben Ever. If you prefer an even longer walk, climb up over Kings Seat to Castle Campbell and follow the railway path back through the glen.

How to climb Ben Cleuch:

• Location: Tillicoultry
• Height: 731m / ascent 731m
• Go climb Ben Cleuch

8 – The Pap of Glencoe

At just 2432 ft / 742m high, the Pap of Glencoe might be a wee baby in comparison to the surrounding giants of Glencoe, but this is no easy climb – be warned, the route up the hill is incredibly steep and boggy.

However, you won’t care – the views from the Pap of Glencoe of Ben Nevis, the giant peaks of the Mamores and Garbh Bheinn and down to Loch Linnhe at the gateway of Glencoe are some of the best in Scotland.

How to climb the Pap of Glencoe:

• Location: Glencoe
• Height: 742m / ascent 715m
• Go climb The Pap of Glencoe

10 – Ben Ledi, Callander

Ben Ledi ‘or the mountain of God’ dominates the Trossachs town of Callander. Starting from the edge of Loch Lubnaig it is a steady walk up a good path.  

Ben Ledi is a Corbett – so it’s just under Munro height, so it’s another one to be prepared for if the weather isn’t great, plus there are a couple of false summits to deal with (groan!) before you finally reach the cross on the top.

The hill gives wide-ranging and stunning views of the Trossachs – including across to the Ben Lawers range.

The cross is actually a memorial to Sergeant Harry Laurie of the Killin Scottish Mountain Rescue team, who died in 1987 in a helicopter crash. The mountain has (is?) also been regularly used for Beltane celebrations, with local people using the summit to get as close to heaven as they could – and you can see why.

One of my favourite hills in Scotland and that includes the Munros I’ve bagged.

How to climb Ben Ledi:

• Location: Callander
• Height: 879m / ascent 760m
• Go climb Ben Ledi

11 – Ben Arthur – AKA The Cobbler, Arrochar

On a sunny day, the path up the Cobbler might look and feel like a mountaineering superhighway, but that is because The Cobbler is one of Scotland’s most famous hill walks.

The Cobbler is famous mostly for its distinctive shape and rocky crags – and the challenge of ‘threading the needle’ – jumping across and then scrambling up the pinnacle to stand on the rocky peak which is actually the very top of the hill.

Shudder. I’ll just watch thank you. 

The Cobbler is a simple walk (in good weather that is, my video here at 46 secs shows it in the wet!) and a good path leads up the hill from the village of Arrochar, switching back and forth in the most tiring manner before popping out into the Arrochar Alps.

Take the main path at the back of the Cobbler for the easiest route up, or have a go at some scrambling up the front. I prefer the front, but then I don’t mind getting hands-on.

How to climb The Cobbler:

Location: Arrochar
Height:884m / ascent 920m (there are lots of ups and downs!)
Go climb  The Cobbler