Not surprisingly, Ben Nevis tops the charts for both prominence and height in the UK. Its prominence and height are both 1344 metres. It can be climbed from Fort William, which is reachable by road from Glasgow or Inverness on the A82 road or by rail on the West Highland Line from Glasgow or the Caledonian Sleeper from London.

[Ben Nevis (centre right), photo © David Kime reproduced with permission]

Ben Nevis is the P1000 ancestor of all the Prominent Peaks south of the Great Glen and north of the Clyde-Forth line with 585 peaks as descendants in total.

2: Carn Eige prominence 1147 m/height 1183 m

The second most prominent peak is Carn Eige, which lies in a remote part of the Western Highlands north of Glen Affric.

[Carn Eige (left) photo © David Kime reproduced with permission]

Carn Eige is the P1000 ancestor of all the Prominent Peaks north of the Great Glen with 460 peaks as descendants in total

3: Snowdon/Yr Wyddfaprominence 1038 m/height 1085 m

The third most prominent peak is Snowdon in North Wales. It can be reached from the A4086 running between Caernarfon and Capel Curig.

[Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa photo © David Kime reproduced with permission]

Snowdon is the P1000 ancestor of all the Prominent Peaks south of the Clyde-Forth line with 383 peaks as descendants in total

4: Sgurr Alasdairprominence 992 m/height 992 m

Sgurr Alasdair is the most prominent peak on the Isle of Skye. It is the highest point in the famous Cuillin range.

[Sgurr Alasdair photo © David Kime reproduced with permission]

Sgurr Alasdair lies between Loch Coriusk and Glen Brittle with 9 descendants.

5: Ben More, Crianlarichprominence 986 m/height 1174 m

Ben More lies to the east of Crianlarich and is the highest point in Stirlingshire. It is readily reachable by road using the A82 from Glasgow and Fort William or the A84 from Stirling. Crianlarich is on the West Highland line with connections to Glasgow, Fort William and London.

[Ben More left, with Stob Binnein right, photo © David Kime reproduced with permission]

Ben More is often climbed with its P200 neighbour Stob Binnein.

6: Ben More, Mullprominence 966 m/height 966 m

Ben More is on the west side of Mull, reachable from the A849 to the southeast and B8035 to the south, west and north.

[Ben More, photo © Jim Bloomer]

Ben More is the highest hill on the Isle of Mull with 10 descendants.

7: Spidean a'Choire Leith, Liathach prominence 957 m/height 1055 m

Liathach is the dominant ridge in the Torridon area. Spidean a'Choire Leith is the highest point on Liathach. It lies north of the A896 between Kinlochewe and Shieldaig.

[Liathach, photo © David Kime reproduced with permission]

The Liathach ridge is one of the most famous one-day routes in the UK for hillwalkers and includes its single descendant Mullach an Rathain.

8: Ben Macduiprominence 950 m/height 1309 m

Ben Macdui is the dominant peak in the Cairngorms, the UK’s largest highland area. It lies between Aviemore and Braemar and is one of the four major peaks (along with P200 Breariach, P100s Cairn Toul & Sgor an Lochain Uaine) overlooking the Lairig Ghru pass. More generally, it is the ancestor of an amazing 91 peaks including 17 with elevations of more than 1000 metres.

[Ben Macdui, photo © Jim Bloomer]

Aviemore is easily reached by either the A9 from Inverness or Perth, or by rail using the Highland line. Braemar is reached by the A93 from Perth or Aberdeen.

9=: Ben Lawersprominence 915 m/height 1214 m

Ben Lawers is the highest mountain in the southern Highlands and indeed in the 1870s was thought to be the highest peak in the UK. Since it fell short of 4,000 ft, a cairn was built in 1878 to bring the summit up to the "magic" height. This was duly ignored by the Ordnance Survey. Nevertheless, Ben Lawers remains the highest peak in Perthshire and is famous for its alpine plants. It is the ancestor of 11 prominent peaks.

[ Ben Lawers, © Copyright Richard Webb and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.]

Ben Lawers lies to the north of the A827 between Killin and Aberfeldy. The nearest railway stations are at Crianlarich on the West Highland Line and Pitlochry on the Highland line.

9=: Sgurr Morprominence 915 m/height 1110 m

Sgurr Mor is the ninth equal (with Ben Lawers) peak by prominence in the UK. It is the highest point in the Fannaichs, which lie between the A835 Tore to Ullapool road and Loch Fannich.

It is the ancestor of four P200 and eleven P100 peaks.

11: Scafell Pikeprominence 912 m/height 978 m

Scafell Pike is famed as the highest point in England. It is the ancestor of 36 Prominent Peaks.

[Scafell Pike (centre left), photo © Tim Bloomer reproduced with permission]

It can be reached from Wasdale Head, Langdale or Seathwaite in Borrowdale. The shortest route is from Wasdale Head above Gosforth (which is on the A595).

12: Ben Cruachanprominence 879 m/height 1126 m

Ben Cruachan lies South East of Loch Etive and Northwest of Loch Awe. It overlooks the Pass of Brander.

[Ben Cruachan (centre left) with Taynuilt Peak (right) © Copyright Roddy Urquhart and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.]

Ben Cruachan is the ancestor of 13 Prominent Peaks. It is the highest point in a horseshoe of peaks that overlook the Cruachan Reservoir. By road, it can be reached from the A85 which provides access from Tyndrum or Oban. By rail it is reachable from the Glasgow to Oban line.

13: Ben Luiprominence 875 m/height 1130 m

Ben Lui lies to the South West of Tyndrum and is the ancestor of 14 Prominent Peaks.

[Ben Lui (left) from Tyndrum © Copyright Alan Mack and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.]

Ben Lui is reachable by road from Oban using the A85 or from Glasgow or Fort William using the A82. It can be reached by rail from Glasgow, Oban or Fort William.

14: Goat Fellprominence 874 m/height 874 m

Goat Fell is the highest point on the Isle of Arran. It is the only P500 on Arran with 11 descendants.

[Goat Fell (right) from Cir Mhor, © Peter Black reproduced with permission]

Goat Fell is reachable from a variety of directions including from Brodick Castle, from Corrie, from Glen Rosa and Glen Sannox.

15: Sgurr Dhomhnuillprominence 873 m/height 888 m

Sgurr Dhomhnuill is the most Prominent Peak that is both north of the Great Glen and south of Fort William.

It is reachable from Strontian on the A861, which runs between Corran Ferry and Acharacle. It is the ancestor of five Prominent Peaks.

16: Creag Meagaidhprominence 867 m/height 1128 m

Creag Megaidh overlooks Loch Laggan in the Central Highlands. It is renowned for its winter climbing routes in Coire Ardair.

17: Bla Bheinnprominence 861 m/height 928 m

Bla Bheinn is the second most Prominent Peak on the Isle of Skye. It lies to the east of the main Cuillin ridge and overlooks Loch Scavaig and Loch Slapin.

It is the ancestor of eight prominent peaks in the Strathaird area. It is reachable by road from the B8083 running from Broadford to Elgol.

18: Beinn Bhanprominence 851 m/height 896 m

Beinn Bhan is the highest of the Applecross hills.

Beinn Bhan lies to the west of the A896, which runs between Lochcarron and Shieldaig with 6 descendants.

19: Bidean nam Bianprominence 845 m/height 1150 m

Bidean nam Bian is the dominant peak on the south side of Glen Coe. It has ten descendants.

By road it can readily be reached from Glasgow or Fort William using the A82.

20: Gaor Bheinnprominence 842 m/height 987 m

Gaor Bheinn is the most prominent peak in the area between Loch Eil and Loch Arkaig with 8 descendants.

From the south it can be reached from Kinlocheil, which is on the A830 between Fort William and Mallaig. The nearest railway station is Locheilside on the Mallaig line.

p21=: Sgurr na Lapaichprominence 839 m/height 1150 m

Sgurr na Lapaich is the highest point in the hills between Loch Monar and Loch Mullardoch and should not be confused with its namesake above Glen Affric. Loch Mullardoch can be reached by means of a minor road from Cannich.

Cannich can be reached using the A831 from Beauly in the northeast or Drumnadrochit in the east. It is the ancestor of 14 Prominent Peaks.

21=: Sgurr na Cicheprominence 839 m/height 1040 m

Sgurr na Ciche lies in the remote area north of Glen Dessary and to the east of the head of Loch Nevis. It has 8 descendants.

It lies a long way from a main road. Glen Dessary can be approached by the minor road along the north shore of Loch Arkaig from Gairlochy.

23: Ben More Assyntprominence 835 m/height 998 m

Ben More Assynt is the dominant peak in West Sutherland and is the ancestor of 17 Prominent Peaks.

It lies east of the A837 near Inchnadamh, between Ledmore and Lochinver.

24: Ben Vorlichprominence 831 m/height 985 m

Ben Vorlich lies to the south of Loch Earn and is the ancestor of ten Prominent Peaks.

[Ben Vorlich from the South Loch Earn Road ©Copyright Dr Richard Murray and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.]

Loch Earn can be reached using the A85 from Crieff in the east and Crianlarich in the west, or from Callander in the south using the A84.

25: Slieve Donardprominence 823 m/height 849 m

Slieve Donard, in the Mourne Mountains, is the most Prominent Peak in Northern Ireland. It is the ancestor of 16 Prominent Peaks.

It lies south of Belfast and can be reached directly from the resort town of Newcastle or from Bloody Bridge some 4 km south on the A2.