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Adventure & Exploration
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Beyond Marilyn Monroe: The Quirky World of Britain's 'Marilyns' and 'Munros'
In Britain, a 'Marilyn' isn't a person but a hill with a prominence over 150m, a pun on the more famous 'Munro'—a Scottish mountain over 3,000ft. Discover the fascinating hobby of 'peak bagging' and the unique classifications that define the British landscape.
When you hear the name Marilyn in Britain, your mind might leap to the iconic Hollywood star. But for thousands of outdoor enthusiasts, the name conjures images of rolling hills, windswept summits, and the satisfying thrill of a good hike. In the world of British hillwalking, a Marilyn is not a person, but a specific type of peak, part of a quirky and beloved classification system that turns a simple walk into a goal-oriented adventure.
What Makes a Hill a 'Marilyn'?
A Marilyn is any hill or mountain in the British Isles with a topographical prominence of at least 150 metres (approximately 492 feet). But what is prominence? Unlike sheer elevation, which measures height above sea level, prominence (or relative height) measures how high a peak stands above the surrounding landscape. It's the minimum drop you'd have to descend before climbing to a higher peak. This means a small but isolated hill can be a Marilyn, while a minor summit on a massive mountain ridge might not be.
The name itself is a clever pun. It was coined by the list's creator, Alan Dawson, in his 1992 book The Relative Hills of Britain. The name playfully references another, more famous class of Scottish mountains: the Munros. As Marilyn Monroe was to Munro, so were these shapely hills to their taller counterparts.
The Original Challenge: Bagging a Munro
Long before the Marilyns, there were the Munros. First catalogued by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891, a Munro is a Scottish mountain with an elevation of over 3,000 feet (914.4 metres). There are currently 282 Munros, and the challenge of climbing every single one is a national obsession known as "Munro bagging." This pursuit is considered a serious undertaking, requiring skill, fitness, and determination to conquer Scotland's highest and often most remote peaks. The Scottish Mountaineering Club officially maintains the list, ensuring its integrity for generations of climbers.
A Culture of Classification
The British love of categorizing their hills doesn't stop with Munros and Marilyns. There are also Corbetts (Scottish peaks between 2,500 and 3,000 feet), Grahams (2,000 to 2,500 feet), and dozens of other lists that inspire walkers to explore every corner of the country. Each list offers a unique challenge, from the towering heights of the Munros to the accessible charm of the Marilyns. Alan Dawson perfectly captured the spirit behind his own list:
The list of Munros is all about height, but my list is about how shapely the hills are. The best ones have a Marilyn-like quality.
This focus on a hill's individual character is what makes "Marilyn bagging" so appealing. It encourages people to discover hidden gems and appreciate the beauty of the landscape, not just its highest points. So, the next time you're exploring the British countryside, take another look at that prominent hill in the distance. You might just be looking at a Marilyn, waiting to be bagged.