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Review
In 2003/4, Trail magazine voted this as the premier book for their 'ultimate walkers bookshelf'.
Product Description
For keen mountain walkers, this differentiates itself from other guidebooks by describing a range of ascent strategies. For anyone interested in mountain walking throughout the British Isles - a balance between a practical guidebook and something to inspire from the armchair.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is, on the whole, a superb guide for anybody who enjoys climbing those of our peaks that rise above 3000ft. What sets it apart from other books on the same subject is the provision, in sketch maps and in the text, of a wide range of approach and descent routes on the hills. Other books usually describe only one route up or down a hill/group of hills, which can frustrate the reader. Another plus point is that this book doesn't dedicate itself entirely to Munros, but includes the high peaks of the Lakes, Snowdonia, and the Irish Republic, something which I believe to be a unique feature of this book.
Whilst other books often fail to provide much in the way of pictures (or even describe some routes without any images at all), this book has probably the best collection of photographs of any guide that includes such a large number of hills. This is of great assistance in enabling the reader to visualise, if only roughly, a day on the hill.
Whilst other books often fail to provide much in the way of pictures (or even describe some routes without any images at all), this book has probably the best collection of photographs of any guide that includes such a large number of hills. This is of great assistance in enabling the reader to visualise, if only roughly, a day on the hill.
My only criticism of this book is that many of the suggested routes are, in my opinion, just far too long. For example, the presentation of the Mamore range as being a group of hills to climb in just one day's outing is unfortunate, and the author's claim that the Aonachs (both above 4000 ft) could be added to the Grey Corries to make a single walk is, for me, highly optimistic. Knowing these hills myself, I feel that such outings are just too huge for the fitness of the vast majority of folk (including myself), yet this guide does not claim to be reserved for the super fit. Moreover, the speed required for, say, the completion of the Mamores in a single day would have to be pretty high, even in the long midsummer days, and I feel that part of the fun of going up the hills is in taking your time and soaking up the surroundings, rather than dashing through them for the sake of bagging as many summits as possible. Having said all that, the author does explain the possibilities of breaking up such long expeditions into smaller ones, and the excellent maps help with this. However, I just feel that the author ought to have done things the other way round-present a large group of hills as a cluster of walks, whilst adding that the very fit might want to combine them. The reverse is, I think, bound to mislead the reader who is less familiar with the hills, and that defeats the point of a guide book.
Nevertheless, this is still an outstanding book, and is probably my most used when planning trips. Ultimately, the negative features of this book amount to less than those of any one of its rivals. Anybody interested in the subject matter should buy it, especially if they don't just want to stay on the 3000-ers that happen to be in Scotland.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a first class reference book which should be on the bokshelf of every mountaineer in the British Isles. It gives an overview of EVERY 3000ft Mountain and Top in these islands and is accompanied by a selection of very useful photos and route guides.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Butterfield wrote this very comprehensive guide to all the 3000' mountains of the British Isles (including those in the Lakes, Wales and Ireland, so more, strictly, than the Scottish Munros, but having selected mountains according to the same criteria) back in the mid 1980s. Back in those days I aspired to do each route in less than the lower end of his time bracket, while now I consider it rather a success to get home within the upper one. Tempus Fugit.
It is, however, now rather dated in several ways:
1. The update following the (admittedly very minor) 1997 revision to the Munro tables is cursory.
2. Butterfield provides a very detailed commentary on various routes, which are generally excellent if you can bother to study them but which do not reflect changes to forests, fences and other man-made features.
3. The photography is dated - endearing in a way, but you still get pictues of walkers wearing breeches and bright red socks.
4. The maps are not as good as others'.
5. Butterfield does not provide a guide to Gaelic pronunciation - vital if you want to discuss where you were yesterday with those you meet on the hills.
So, still a good book to have, but other guides are better. In Scotland, specifically, it is hard not to prefer Cameron McNeish's "The Munros" with more concisely described routes, clearer colour maps, excellent photography by the likes of Colin Baxter and Alan Gordon - and Gaelic pronunciation so you can sound the part in the bar afterwards.
It is, however, now rather dated in several ways:
1. The update following the (admittedly very minor) 1997 revision to the Munro tables is cursory.
2. Butterfield provides a very detailed commentary on various routes, which are generally excellent if you can bother to study them but which do not reflect changes to forests, fences and other man-made features.
3. The photography is dated - endearing in a way, but you still get pictues of walkers wearing breeches and bright red socks.
4. The maps are not as good as others'.
5. Butterfield does not provide a guide to Gaelic pronunciation - vital if you want to discuss where you were yesterday with those you meet on the hills.
So, still a good book to have, but other guides are better. In Scotland, specifically, it is hard not to prefer Cameron McNeish's "The Munros" with more concisely described routes, clearer colour maps, excellent photography by the likes of Colin Baxter and Alan Gordon - and Gaelic pronunciation so you can sound the part in the bar afterwards.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Still excellent a quarter of a century on!
The High Mountains by Irvine Butterfield has been my primary source guide for munroing for nearly 20 years. It was reccomended by a friend who had been using it for several years. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Weasel powered cheese maker
Best of the bunch
This book is still the best of the bunch, bought as a present, the person loved it.
Published on 8 Jan 2010 by Capitalistic
The thinker's guide to the UK's 3000ers
This is a reprint of a book I've owned for many years. The photos are great, and the route selections feature interesting combinations as well as the much trod standards. Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2009 by D. M. Williams
Munroist, Scotland
Without doubt this is the most useful reference book of the Scottish Mountains. The route maps, the photographs and the descriptions are all a cut above the SMC guides and far more... Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2007 by munroist, Scotland
Essential Reading for the Serious Hillwalker
Mr Butterfield sadly died earlier this year (2009) and he deserves respect as author of one of the best guides to mountain walking in the UK. Read more
Published on 30 July 2006 by Mr. Ross Maynard
High Mountains reprint 2003
Having been a keen user of the previous edition since 1987, I purchased the new volume to replace it, saying that it had been completely revised and updated to include the changes... Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2004 by Dr Richard Humble
excellent challenging walks
simply the ultimate guidebook to the mountains of britain. I have religously used this book as a reference for many years.
Published on 6 Feb 2001
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