We Can See a New Horizon Trivia Quiz

Answer: Fort William

Ben Nevis, standing at 1,345 metres, is the tallest mountain in Scotland and the UK. It is located near the town of Fort William which in good weather can be seen clearly from the summit, although as it rains there for about half the year, with low-lying cloud dominating the area for a good proportion of the rest of the time, clear days do not happen often.

Despite this, the mountain is very popular with both walkers and climbers who have the choice of a number of different routes. Most walkers choose to ascend via the mountain path from Glen Nevis, but it is more interesting to scramble across the Carn Mor Dearg arête, which links the neighbouring mountain of Carn Mor Dearg with Ben Nevis.

Answer: Glasgow

Ben Lomond, at 974 metres, is about 35 miles from the centre of Glasgow, but as the land between the two is relatively low lying it is possible to see the lights of the city towards the horizon. It is the most southerly Munro (Scottish mountain above 3,000 feet or 914 metres), and its closeness to Scotland's largest city means that it is one of the most popular of the Munros, along with Ben Nevis.

Walkers usually ascend via a very well-built path up the south ridge, and they then have the option to re-trace their steps or descend south-west via the rougher Ptarmigan ridge. There are, of course, plenty of pathless options, particularly to the north, but they are rarely attempted.

Answer: Kinloch Rannoch

Schiehallion (1,083 metres) is unusual in that it is a solitary mountain, looming above Loch Rannoch in Perthshire, and recognisable from many view points. As it stands on its own it was used in 1774 by the British astronomer Charles Mason in his experiments to estimate the mass of the earth. This was also where contour lines were invented by the mathematician Charles Hutton.

Schiehallion is nearly always ascended from the west, where there is a good path maintained by the John Muir Trust. There is also an unpleasant boulder field near the top, from which the small town of Kinloch Rannoch can be viewed.

Answer: Ballater

Lochnagar (1,156 metres) is in the Cairngorm National Park, near the town of Ballater, and also near Braemar. It is the Munro with the most literary associations; Lord Byron wrote the poem "Dark Lochnagar" in 1807, about the mountain's beauties, and Charles III, as Prince of Wales, wrote the children's story "The Old Man of Lochnagar" in 1980, about an old man who lives in a cave underneath the mountain. Queen Victoria also used to climb to the summit, from which she could view her castle at Balmoral.

As is common throughout the Cairngorms, there are many excellent paths to the top, although the most popular starts at Loch Muick to the east. This is also the home of the lodge of Glas-allt-Shiel, which is still owned by the royal family.

Answer: Oban

Ben Cruachan (1,126 metres) is located in Argyll & Bute, 25 miles from the coastal town of Oban, which can be seen from the summit. There are also good views west over to the Firth of Lorn and the island of Mull, as well as east over to a long range of hills. Underneath the mountain is the Ben Cruachan hydro-electric power station, which has a visitor centre.

The mountain is usually ascended from Loch Awe, to the south, from where it is also possible to walk around the Cruachan reservoir.

Answer: Ullapool

An Teallach is one mountain with two prominent summits, which are known as Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill (1,062 metres) and Sgurr Fiona (1,060 metres), and it is situated south of the Highland town of Ullapool. The town can be viewed clearly from both summits, across Loch Broom, and in very good weather you can see the island of Lewis and Harris across the Minch.

The usual circular route that includes both summits is known for having a tricky and exposed scramble, but there is also a bypass path. A quicker and easier alternative is just to retrace your steps after the second summit, although this means missing out on some of the best views.

Answer: Inverness

Ben Wyvis (1,046 metres) is the closest Munro to the Highland capital of Inverness. It stands on its own and its short and straightforward ascent means that it is a popular Munro for people escaping the city.

It is usually ascended via a well-built path from near the town of Garve, to its west, but it is perhaps more interesting from Loch Glass to its north-east.

Answer: Kirkwall

Ben Hope (927 metres) is the most northerly Munro, and so it deserves its inclusion here. It is located 100 miles from the Orkney capital of Kirkwall, which lies at the other side of the Pentland Firth, but as the land at the very north of Scotland is flat it is possible to see the town's lights on the horizon, as well as most of the Orkney mainland.

The mountain is another quick one when ascended via the path from the south, and it is most common to return the same way.

Answer: Tobermory

There are two Munros called Ben More (three if you include Ben More Assynt in the north) as well as many other hills (as the name means "big hill" this is perhaps not surprising). However, the one here is the one on the island of Mull, in the inner Hebrides. It stands at 966 metres and is the only Munro on Mull, with good views from the top as far as the island's capital at Tobermory, as well as across the rest of the island and out to sea.

The two most popular routes up the mountain are either up and down a straightforward path from south, or via a circular route which includes a neighbouring smaller hill and a fine ridge.

Answer: Portree

The Inaccessible Pinnacle (986 metres, normally abbreviated to In Pinn) is one of the eleven Munros that make up the black Cuillin ridge on the island of Skye. On a clear day it is possible to see the island's capital, Portree, from the summit of any of the mountains, but I have chosen the In Pinn here as it is the most interesting. The whole Cuillin ridge is a more serious proposition than any other Munro, and most of the mountains require scrambling skills.

However, the In Pinn is the only one that requires a rope and the knowledge of how to use one. To reach the summit it is necessary to climb up a large pinnacle and then abseil down the other side. Most non climbers hire a guide to take them to the top!