Walk into any Scottish hillwalking conversation and you'll quickly encounter a bewildering array of named lists — Munros, Corbetts, Grahams, Donalds, Marilyns, Hewitts, Wainwrights. For newcomers it can be hard to know which ones matter, which overlap, and where to start.
This guide explains every major UK hill classification: how each is defined, who named it, roughly what kind of walking is involved, and how many there are.
The Scottish lists
Munros — Scotland over 3,000ft
The most famous list: Scottish mountains over 3,000ft (914.4m) with sufficient topographic prominence to be considered separate summits. Named after Sir Hugh Munro, who first catalogued them in 1891. Completing all 282 is known as "Compleating" and earns you the title of Munroist. Over 6,000 people have done it. The highest is Ben Nevis at 1,345m; the most remote is arguably A'Ghlas-bheinn in Kintail.
Corbetts — Scotland 2,500–3,000ft
Scottish mountains between 2,500ft (762m) and 3,000ft (914m) with a drop of at least 500ft (152m) on all sides. Named after J. Rooke Corbett, who completed them in the 1930s. Often considered the "second round" for Munroists — many of the same wild landscapes but quieter and with more technical interest. Completion is less common than for Munros but the community is growing fast.
Grahams — Scotland 2,000–2,500ft
Scottish mountains between 2,000ft (610m) and 2,500ft with a drop of at least 150m. Named after Fiona Graham, who catalogued them in the 1990s. Often on the fringes of the Highlands where few walkers venture — a rewarding list for those wanting to explore less-visited terrain. Fewer people pursue these seriously, which means solitude and sometimes unmarked paths.
Donalds — Scottish Lowlands over 2,000ft
Hills in the Scottish Lowlands (roughly south of the Highland Boundary Fault) over 2,000ft with 100ft of descent on all sides. Named after Percy Donald who compiled the list in 1935. Most are in the Southern Uplands and are more accessible from central Scotland. Often a gentler introduction to Scottish hillwalking than the Munros.
The English lists
Wainwrights — Lake District fells
The 214 Lake District fells described in Alfred Wainwright's seven Pictorial Guides, published between 1955 and 1966. There's no height or prominence requirement — Wainwright simply included the fells he chose to write about. The list has enormous cultural resonance; completing all 214 is as prestigious in English hillwalking circles as Munro compleation is in Scotland. The highest is Scafell Pike (977m); the most modest are some of the western outliers under 400m.
Hewitts — England & Wales over 2,000ft
Hills in England and Wales over 2,000ft (610m) with at least 30m of re-ascent on all sides. Named after George Hewitt, though the list was compiled by Alan Dawson. Covers the Lake District, Pennines, and Welsh mountains. Most Wainwrights are also Hewitts, but the Hewitt list extends beyond the Lake District.
The cross-UK lists
Marilyns — prominent hills across Britain & Ireland
Hills anywhere in Britain and Ireland with at least 150m of topographic prominence — meaning a drop of 150m on all sides before reaching higher ground. No minimum height. Named as a playful counterpart to Munros (Monroe/Marilyn Monroe). The list spans from sea stacks off the Scottish coast to English moorland tops. The sheer breadth of landscapes covered makes this the most geographically interesting list for UK-wide baggers.
How the lists overlap
Most Munros are also Marilyns, since a hill high enough to be a Munro usually has more than 150m of prominence. But many Marilyns are modest hills that would never qualify as Munros — coastal hills, moorland bumps, island tops.
Corbetts are generally Marilyns too, since the 500ft (152m) drop requirement is close to the 150m Marilyn prominence. Grahams and Donalds are more variable.
Wainwrights overlap significantly with Hewitts and with the English Marilyns, but Wainwright's list has some inclusions that wouldn't qualify on any objective criteria — he just liked the fell.
Which list should I start with?
Most people start with Munros because they're the most famous and have the richest community around them. The Scottish Highlands scenery is also hard to beat. If you're based in England, Wainwrights make more sense as a primary goal — 214 reachable fells with excellent paths and outstanding views.
Once you've completed one list, many baggers naturally move to the "next level down" — Munroists take on Corbetts, Wainwright completers tackle the Pennines and Wales. Others go wide and pursue Marilyns across the whole of Britain.
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