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Yesterday I bagged my final mainland Munros and Sub Tops, leaving only 4 Munros and 3 sub tops on Skye. Bagging Lurg Mhors spectacular Meall Mor and nearing compleation has made me reflect on what I've enjoyed about the Munros - and particularly their sub Tops.
Back in 2017 and as a casual hillwalker, when my friend first introduced me to the concept of sub-tops I initially found them a nuisance! Back then I wasn't so fit, and the extra 3-15km added to a normal Munro seemed unnecessary. Moreover, my earlier sub-tops were often grassy lumps in the Cairngorms or Drumochter.
However, over the years I've found that completing Munro sub-tops adds an additional challenge, drawing you deeper in to remote regions to explore more of Scotland's beauty beyond the main Munros. They often offer stunning, less-visited viewpoints giving you a great view back to the parent Munro.
For those who enjoy the solitude, they offer a bit of respite away from crowded Munro peaks making them the perfect sandwich pitstop. I've found they also help improve planning, navigation and hillwalking skills, as they can involve more intricate routes which are sometimes completely pathless over much longer distances compared to the main summits.
Anyway, I digress. Our route was this:
The standard WalkHighlands route, with a detour out to Meall Mor. The standard route is well documented so I'll focus on the extension. Heading past the summit of Lurg Mhor, you are presented with the ridge out to Meall Mor. This was by far our favourite part of the hike and it's a shame more don't venture out to it due to it's sub top status.
As you descend down from Lurg Mhor you are presented with a view of the best part of the mountain - a narrow ridge out to Meall Mor. It's a sin that so few head this way. The ridge narrows and there is some light scrambling down over some awkwardly sloped slabs.
The best approach is to stick directly to the ridge line, close to the exposed drop, as this has secure foot placements.
the following image barely does this part justice but you can see the contrast between the lovely sharp ridge and the flat summit of Lurg Mhor.
You then stick to the crest of the ridge for some mild scrambling (no more than grade 1). Further along the ridge, a vertical slab appears. It has a diagonal ledge which would aid ascent, and an extremely hairy exposed ledge to the left, but my friend decided to drop down a short gully to the right to bypass this, so I backtracked and followed him.
Once the ridge broadens you are presented with a spectacular view North. I paused to thank the Munro Sub Top feeling glad I had left such a beauty for last.
It was then a case of retracing our steps back over the ridge. Double the fun! I feel like this picture gives you an idea how steep the drop to both the left and right are.
Once back up on Lurg Mhor, we rejoined the WalkHighlands route - so not much more to add other than I spent the 16km bike-hike back thinking about Munro Tops and how they have made bagging the Munros even more fun. I decided to make a list:
My Top 5 Tops:Sgurr Na Forcan: Sgurr Leac Nan Each - A wonderfully quiet sup top that extends a great day up the Forcan Ridge and provides spectacular views West
Beinn Eighe: Sail Mhor - adding this sub top forces you to include a brilliant scramble up the Western flank of Coinneach Mhor
Lurg Mhor: Meall Mor - see photos above!
Mullach an Rathain: Meall Dearg - worthy of an expedition in its own right and in my opinion the most challenging to access.
Ben More Assynt: South Top - this one is a real cracker - a lovely narrow ridge with some exposure.
Any other contenders for best mainland sub top?
