Eight Best Scottish Summit Views

© James Roddie

What makes a great summit view? Perhaps it is the drama of a deep mountain corrie spread out beneath you, or the meandering outline of the coast in the distance. Maybe it's the sense of space and prominence that only comes from great height. Whether you prefer the rugged, coastal character of the west or the mountain plateaus of the east, Scotland's summit views are exceptional in their variety. To most of us the hills are about far more than just the view from the top, but it is still hard to beat the moment a glorious panorama opens out when you reach a summit.

Here are some of the most memorable summit views from around Scotland.

No match for crag id:"Suilven - Caisteal Liath" (Assynt)

Looking along the Suilven ridge from just below the summit of Caisteal Liath  © James Roddie
Looking along the Suilven ridge from just below the summit of Caisteal Liath
© James Roddie

Suilven defies adequate description – no other hill or mountain in the UK has such presence or startling character. The view from its highest summit is similarly unique. Here it is all about surprising contrast – a 'shark's-fin' ridge jolting into the sky out of a vast, flat mosaic of lochs and bog all around you. If you can draw your eyes away from the spectacle of this unlikely ridge, the coastal panorama to the west is more subtle but equally captivating. Sunset is arguably the best time for this summit view, with the last light catching the ridge crest whilst everything below you is already in shadow. This is one of the oldest landscapes on Earth. Save climbing Suilven for a good day and it is a world-class viewpoint.

No match for crag id:"An Teallach - Bidein a'Ghlas Thuill" (Dundonnell)

The 500m high cliffs of Toll an Lochain, An Teallach  © James Roddie
The 500m high cliffs of Toll an Lochain, An Teallach
© James Roddie

The traverse of An Teallach is not only one of the best ridge scrambles in Scotland, it also gives some of the finest views. In a coastal position sandwiched between the superb hill-areas of Fisherfield and Coigach, this is the North-West Highlands at its most sublime. From Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill you look out across a 500m drop to the cliffs of Toll an Lochain – one of Scotland's steepest and highest mountain faces. It is a striking scene in any conditions, but particularly fine under heavy snow cover, or at dawn on a mid-summer morning due to its east-facing aspect. Most scramblers aiming to traverse the whole ridge opt for going in a south-to-north direction, meaning that Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill proves the gratifying finale. From here you can look back along the whole length of the ridge, and it is quite a moment if it is your first time on An Teallach.

Beinn Airigh Charr (Letterewe)

Beinn Airigh Charr – the view from a summit bivvy above Fionn Loch  © James Roddie
Beinn Airigh Charr – the view from a summit bivvy above Fionn Loch
© James Roddie

Many of the remotest hills on the Scottish mainland can be found in Fisherfield Forest and on the Letterewe Estate. Whilst it is the (now five) Munros of the 'Fisherfield Six' that attract most of the attention, the Corbetts and Grahams surrounding Fionn Loch are equally rewarding. Beinn Airigh Charr's location makes it one of the absolute best viewpoints in the Highlands – looking straight down Fionn Loch into remotest Fisherfield, with the full line-up of Torridon's prestigious hills forming the southern skyline. In the summer months this is a great place to spend a sunset, with the sun going down over a wide coastal panorama to the west, while last light catches the great cliffs surrounding Dubh Loch a few miles to the east.

Bruach na Frithe (Skye)

The Northern Cuillin and Bla Bheinn from Bruach na Frithe  © James Roddie
The Northern Cuillin and Bla Bheinn from Bruach na Frithe
© James Roddie

The Cuillin Ridge is undoubtedly one of the most impressive mountain landscapes in the UK. Nowhere else is quite like it, and even the steepest and most difficult mountains of Torridon, Glencoe or Lochaber have not gained such notoriety or legendary status amongst hillwalkers. From Bruach na Frithe, the easiest Munro in the Cuillin, you are able to look out along the entirety of the ridge in all its complexity. For many hillwalkers this is their introduction to the mountains of Skye. Away in the distance, Bla Bheinn's unmistakable profile dominates the view across the depths of Glen Sligachan, whilst the Trotternish Ridge can be seen to the north-east. Fringed by the sea on all sides, this is definitely an island view, and there are few places in the UK where the coast and mountains blend quite so dramatically.

Buidhe Bheinn (Kinloch Hourn)

Loch Hourn and Knoydart from Buidhe Bheinn in early winter  © James Roddie
Loch Hourn and Knoydart from Buidhe Bheinn in early winter
© James Roddie

There is a ruggedness to the mountains of Knoydart and Glenquoich Forest which lends itself to memorable summit views. Buidhe Bheinn rises steeply from the head of Loch Hourn – one of Scotland's finest sea-lochs, and one that almost takes on the appearance of a Norwegian fjord when viewed from above. The view straight down this formidable cleft to Ladhar Bheinn and the remotest parts of Knoydart is unforgettable, yet it is relatively little known amongst hillwalkers. More distantly, the Cuillins of Skye fringe the sea view to the north-west whilst Ben Nevis appears surprisingly close to the south-east. This is a perfect place to get inspired to visit the even more remote and committing summits in this wild area.

Bidean nam Bian (Glencoe)

Looking south-west from the summit of Bidean nam Bian  © James Roddie
Looking south-west from the summit of Bidean nam Bian
© James Roddie

Almost any summit view in Glen Coe could make this list, but Bidean's position and altitude makes it one of the best viewpoints in the area. In clear conditions it is possible to see great distances in almost every direction, with many iconic landmarks visible – the Paps of Jura, the Cuillin, Schiehallion and the Cairngorms to name a few. However it is the immediate surroundings which really grab your attention. Just to the north lie three of Scotland's finest mountain ridges (the Aonach Eagach, the Mamores and the Nevis/Grey Corries ridge), whilst to the south the slender ribbon of Loch Etive forms the centrepiece. In the right conditions this can be a reliable summit for looking down onto cloud inversions. This is a good viewpoint for clear sunrises, when the dawn light picks out the endless crinkles and folds of the Aonach Eagach ridge.

No match for crag id:"Carn a'Mhaim" (Cairngorms)

Carn a'Mhaim – The Devil's Point, Carn Toul & Braeriach above the Lairig Ghru  © James Roddie
Carn a'Mhaim – The Devil's Point, Carn Toul & Braeriach above the Lairig Ghru
© James Roddie

The rolling plateaus and mountain passes of the Cairngorms lead to the best views often being found away from the summits entirely. Carn a'Mhaim is an exception. This Munro stands in a prime position on the edge of the Lairig Ghru – the deep glacial valley which divides the main Cairngorm plateau. Unusually for a Cairngorm summit you feel to be at great height, with a steep drop of over 500m immediately to your west. Beyond this drop the Devil's Point dominates the view with the sprawling bulk of Braeriach beyond. It is one of the most imposing views in the Eastern Highlands and a real surprise after an ascent which is undeniably not the most exciting. The Cairngorms really come into their own during the winter and spring months, and with a good build-up of snow this view can take on an almost Arctic character.

No match for crag id:"Ben A'an" (Trossachs)

The view down Loch Katrine from Ben A'an  © James Roddie
The view down Loch Katrine from Ben A'an
© James Roddie

This small but charismatic hill doesn't even reach 500m above sea level yet it has a summit view as memorable as that of most Munros. Rather than being a viewpoint surrounded by impressive mountain drama, this is somewhere to go for a more gentle but absolutely exquisite panorama. Loch Katrine is the obvious focal point, but equally captivating is Ben Venue and the deciduous woodlands that spread out beneath you. Perhaps best seen in the autumn, this is a view that wouldn't be out of place in the English Lake District. The ascent is steep but short-lived on a well-made path, and it makes a great family walk or a route to go for if the weather is too poor on higher summits.


james roddie head shot  © James Roddie

About James Roddie

James Roddie is an award-winning photographer and writer specialising in the wild places and wildlife of the Scottish Highlands. He is an active hillwalker, climber and caver based near Inverness.

For more of his images and writing see www.jamesroddie.com

 

 





26 Jan, 2017
Fine choices, amazing places. I might add Sgurr na Stri, or Bla Bheinn, for the view of the Cuillin and the isles.
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