GLEN AFFRIC

Remote Glen Affric is one of the last bastions of Scotland's ancient Caledonian pine forest and is a stunning amalgam of natural woodland, isolated hills and windswept water. Glen Affric's depths are only accessible on foot, with the hostel and bothies, such as Strawberry Cottage, offering the best ways to discover its glories.

 GLEN SHIEL

Driving north-west towards Skye in half darkness, it is impossible not to notice the sheer size of the mountains of Glen Shiel. Kintail is impressive for its sense of immensity, and driving with the south Glen Shiel ridge on one side and the Five Sisters to the north must surely strike a sense of awe into anyone travelling on the road.

 GLEN COE

From the distinctive peak of Buachaille Etive Mor at the southern entrance to the glen, to the nail biting edges and precipices of the Aonach Eagach ridge, to the impressive bulk of Bidean nam Bian, Glen Coe is a mountaineering dream. Ascending these summits offers the walker and climber vistas and experiences that the car-borne visitor can only imagine. Last year, The Scotsman readers chose Glen Coe as one of the Seven Wonders of Scotland - it was championed by Sir Jimmy Savile, who has a house there.

 GLEN BRITTLE

Glenbrittle is the access point to arguably the finest mountaineering ridge in the British Isles, the Black Cuillin of Skye. The ridge is breathtakingly lovely in sunshine but can have an other worldly severity when the clouds descend and the mountains are wrapped in rain and mist. The safety of Glen Brittle is often reached with an air of relief.

 GLENFESHIE

The Cairngorm plateau boasts a plethora of stunning and remote inland glens. Lovely Glenfeshie skirts the edge of the central plateau and gives access to some less-frequently visited hills, notably Sgorr Gaoith, the "Peak of the Wind". The summit is perched precipitously on cliffs that fall steeply away to Loch Einich far below and the view towards Ben MacDui is one of the best in the Cairngorms.