The Hughs Volume 1 by Andrew Dempster sampler

Introducing the Hughs
11
the hughs are a new category of Scottish hills. All under 2,000ft, they are hills
with attitude, not altitude. So what exactly is ‘attitude’? The three key words are:
prominence · position · panorama
I love the Scottish hills and in 40 years of hillwalking (and writing about
hillwalking) I have identified a whole host of smaller hills which are rewarding
– and often stunning – climbs. The Hughs have been chosen on the basis of this
personal experience, rather than on strict quantitative criteria. Their outstanding
qualities have inspired me to create this list of the 100 mainland Hughs (a second
volume will cover the 100 island Hughs). Some are already popular, many are
less well-known. However, I can attest to the fact that there is something very
special about each and every one of the Hughs.
This is what the Hughs are about – they are diverse but never dull, small in
stature but big in character, charisma and clout – hills small in altitude but big
in attitude. I agree with the great fell-walker AW Wainwright when he observed:
‘Some misinformed sources have defined a mountain as a hill which exceeds
2,000 feet in height. Of course they are wrong. The status of a mountain is not
determined by any arbitrary level of altitude but by appearance. Rocks and
ruggedness, roughness of terrain and a commanding presence are the essential
qualifications’.
Essential Qualities
Prominence, Position and Panorama are qualities that are not independent of each
other: one will influence the other. Let’s take two examples. A hill may not be prominent
on account of steepness and cragginess, but because it is the highest point for
miles around. Similarly, the quality of a hill’s summit view is dependent on position.
Many Hughs offering marvellous panoramic views, especially in the west and north,
are coastal or island hills which benefit from their maritime position.
Arthur’s Seat, the most climbed hill in Scotland, possesses all the key attributes
of a Hugh. Its prominence ensures that it is the iconic landmark of Edinburgh and
its unique position in the centre of Scotland’s capital city guarantees an unrivalled
panorama, not only of the city, but of the Pentland Hills and the Firth of Forth.
Arthur’s Seat has attitude.
Another iconic Hugh is the Trossach’s little gem, Ben A’n. The character of
this hill lies not only in its rocky profile, but also in its position at the centre of
the Trossachs, one of Scotland’s most scenic areas. There are outstanding views