Your first hill doesn't have to be a Munro

A Munro is any Scottish hill over 3,000 feet. That's all the word means. A lot of people start with one because it's the name they've heard of, have a hard day, and don't go back.

Only 282 of the 1,376 hills in the app are Munros. A Corbett or a Graham, or a hill near you that isn't on any list, will give you a good day out for a lot less walking. There's no rule saying you have to start big.

I've deliberately put some small local hills in there for that reason. They're on nobody's list and they won't impress anyone at the pub, but they're a good way to find out how your legs handle going uphill, and whether your boots are actually any good, before you drive two hours for something bigger.

For a first hill I'd look for a clear path, somewhere you can park at the start, and not much more than 500 metres of climbing. Pick a day with a reasonable forecast and give yourself plenty of daylight.

Building up to a Munro

After a few of those you'll have a better idea how you get on — how your legs feel after a couple of hours going uphill, whether your boots are any good, how fast the weather can change, how long you take compared to the time in the guidebook.

When you do fancy a Munro, Schiehallion is the one most people start with. There's a decent path built by the John Muir Trust, a car park partway up the glen, and you can see the summit for most of the way up. Ben Lomond is the other one folk suggest — busy, but a good path and big views over the loch.

Leave the Skye ridges and the Aonach Eagach for a while yet.

What the grades mean

Every hill in the app gets one of four grades, and they mean what they say:

Beginner — a clear path the whole way, no scrambling, straightforward navigation in reasonable weather.
Average — a proper hill day. Paths most of the way, some rough or steep ground, and you should be able to use a map.
Difficult — expect rough terrain, sustained steep ground or easy scrambling, and navigation that matters when the cloud is down.
Tough — serious days: exposed scrambling, remote ground, or navigation that has to be right. Build up to these.

Start with Beginner ones, whatever list they're on. A Beginner Munro is still a longer day than a Beginner Graham, but neither should catch you out.

What to carry

You don't need a lot, but there are a few things worth having:

Waterproof jacket and trousers, whatever the forecast says
Warm layer — the summit is always colder than the car park
Hat and gloves, most of the year
Boots with a decent grip — sore feet will stop you long before the weather does
Map and compass, and enough practice to use them — your phone isn't a replacement for them
Food, water, and a bit more of both than you think
Head torch, even in summer; a charged phone; and someone at home who knows your route

That list isn't just for show. People do get into trouble on British hills, and it's usually because the weather turned and they weren't carrying enough for it. It can be a good deal colder and windier at the top than it was at the car.

Checking the weather

The forecast worth reading is MWIS, the Mountain Weather Information Service. It covers the summits rather than the glens — wind speed high up, whether cloud will be sitting on the tops, how cold it'll feel. Have a look the night before and again in the morning. If it's forecasting 60 mph gusts, go another day.

Getting parked

Car parks at the popular hills are small, and on a good Saturday they're full by half eight. Worth setting off early — otherwise you're parking on the verge and walking half a mile before you've even started. You get a quieter summit out of it too.

Turning back

Some days it isn't worth it. The cloud comes down, the wind picks up, someone's knee starts playing up. Turning round and going home is a perfectly reasonable decision, and you'll make it a few times over the years. The hill isn't going anywhere.

Nerves are normal

Feeling a bit nervous the night before is normal. Everyone you pass on the path has felt the same at some point. After two or three hills it stops being nerves and starts being part of the fun.