Torridon

Introduction


The mountains around Torridon take on a different form compared to those mountain areas further east and south. The mountains stand out separate and proud rather than linked by huge long ridges. They really are quite unique and the general area is regarded as the finest in Scotland.l

Torridon has the famous trio of Beinn Alligin, Liathach, and Beinn Eighe. The hiking club has been there four times since 1995. These three mountains are all Scottish classics. They all provide grand ridge walking with Liathach having what is the most serious winter mainland ridge in Scotland. The other two mountains will also offer something in the way of steepness but provide much less scary introductions to the area.



Let's not forget the Coulin forest south of Glen Torridon and other surrounding mountains. These mountains have some similar characteristics to their northern neighbours but without the narrow ridges. This area is has many peaty lochs and pools among the moorland between the mountains and although the moorland is quite wet, the paths that cross the area are generally regarded as the best to be found in Scotland.

Beinn Alligin


Beinn Alligin is a gem of a mountain. It's traverse involves the 'Horns of Alligin'. This part of the ridge looks really evil from the main summit and other angles, in reality the ridges of the three horns involve nothing more than simple walking on fairly narrow ridges. The only scrambling involved is that needed to get on and off the horns:- and that is as hard as the 'bad step' on Striding Edge in the Lake District.

The principal summit, Sgurr Mhor has a deep gash on its southern face and it's quite awesome to look down into it from the top and see the ground six hundred meters below framed between two parallel vertical walls.



Further easy scrambling can be found on the ascent of the second summit, Tom na Gruagauch but this can be bypassed to the path that does a rising traverse beneath the crest. The summit is crowned by a well built stone trig point and reveals superior views of Loch Torridon and the Hebrides. The easy decent can be taken down Coire nan Laogh though the sporty scramblers among you may opt to take on the southern arm of this corrie.

Climb this mountain and you won't be disappointed.

Liathach


Liathach is the 'jewel' in the Torridonian 'Crown'. It's regarded as the most serious mainland munro. This isn't hard to see. Even if you don't tackle the ridge connecting the two principle summits the approaches are still very steep particularly onto the eastern top.

The easiest way up to the eastern top, Spidean a' Choire Leith, is by way of Coire Lieth Mhor. The way up starts abruptly but easily from the road up a well built footpath before easing in the lower part of the corrie. The path degenerates into loose stones and mud up to a deep skewed gully before striking up right up very steep slopes winding their way through broken cliffs. There are many occasions when everything above seems impregnable but the path is said to easily bypass these obstacles. Once on the ridge, the walk to the summit is rough but easy though the ridge is still pretty narrow.

Other routes of ascent involve an ascent from the extreme east end. This tackles a path up scree slopes to reach the steep ridge where apparently an easy scramble takes you on to the ridge above.

The Western top of Liathach, Mullach an Rathain, is less intimidating to reach. The usual route to the ridge is via the corrie, Toll Bhan, to the south of the summit. The headwall of this corrie is steep but easy with a zigzagging path on the lower part of the headwall becoming loose and splitting up towards the top. There are no crags to worry about here. From the southern ridge, the ascent to the summit is broad and easy. Sporting scramblers wil take the ridge that is the western arm of the corrie. If you fall off this ridge down its western slopes then you have the added benefit of getting back to the youth hostel in no time at all!



Those who are really intimidated by steepness can still get to this summit from the very long broad western ridge though this route really is long and not in character with the rest of the mountain.

The highlight for most folk will be the ridge connecting the two principle peaks. This ridge is pinnacled with the crowning pinnacle known as Am Fasarinen. The traverse of the pinnacles is very sensational involving very exposed (though easy) scrambling. The drop to the north is vertical while the south to the south is super steep and continues all the way down to the road. There is a path bypassing the pinnacles though this is also exposed and is said to be in a state of collapse. The warden at the youth hostel says it's far safer to stick to the ridge where you have solid rock.

For the mountaineers, a classic traverse is the horseshoe of ridges surrounding Coire na Caime. The northern ridges of the respective principle summits are both graded as rock climbs on spectacular steep narrow ridges. It's said that these ridges are loose and crumbling so care is needed here.

Beinn Eighe


Beinn Eighe has the longest ridge in this group of mountains. The ridge is generally very rocky and devoid of vegetation making for slow going. The ridge is slightly narrow in general and without diffulty except at either end of the main ridge.

The western end of the ridge sees an obstacle called the 'ugly step'. This is a rock step on the western end of the plateau like summit, Coinneach Mhor. The rock step drops down to the ridge leading to Sail Mhor.



The eastern end of the ridge has the black carls of Beinn Eighe. This is a short pinnacled ridge and is entirely optional but is said to be a sensational scramble. The best aproach to the main ridge is via Coire an Laoigh. A well engineered path takes you up to the corrie from the road. From there you can either make a direct ascent the steep headwall or follow the pleasant rocky southern arm of the corrie to the main ridge.



Beinn Eighe has the much photographed triple buttress of Coire Mhic Fearchair. This is a spectacular cliff face many hundreds of meters high which provides some classic rock climbs. The principle summit of Beinn Eighe, Ruadh Stac Mor forms the eastern arm of this corrie and is a broad generally quite rocky summit. The easiest approach to this summit is up the stone chute that exits on the bealach between Ruadh Stac Mhor and the main ridge. This route is steep but not too loose and without difficulty under summer conditions.

Other Summits
There are many other summits worthy of a good mention. Beinn Dearg is a fine hill and is regarded as being the most serious Corbett. All routes of ascent (bar one remote route) are steep and craggy. The ridge has many pinnacled sections and the walk in is quite long making it a tough day.



Slioch is a fine isolated summit with great views over the remote summits of the Fisherfield and Letterwe forests (known as the last great wilderness). When seen from the western side of Loch Maree it looks like a fierce tower. But from the east side, the mountain has a wide corrie flanked by easy ridges to get up to it's summit. As said it's on the edge of a great wilderness. Looking north, you'll find no roads for 20 miles. The next road lies behind the last big mountain you can see!

There are other fine little summits including Ruadh Stac Beag these tend to be just as rocky as their larger counterparts but more 'stumpy'.

Low Walks
North Glen Torridon has many walks to suit a relaxed pace. The coast of Loch Torridon between Diabeg and Alligin is particularly fine with many secluded bays, rocky scrambly knolls and seals to watch! There's a house completely isolated from the rest of the roads that is still habited. While you may be 3km from the road, you seldom feel alone with much fishing activity to be been out on the loch with boats darting about reeling up there fishing nets. The walk to Craig Youth Hostel, 5km distant from the nearest road is well worth doing as well.



The Walk round the back of Liathach follows a fine rocky and generally dry path. The view up into Coire na Caime is staggering and is guaranteed to satisfy in any weather. This is really an easy cross country walk. Tough folk will want to do a cross country route from Torridon, go through the Flowerdale forest and end up on the Gairloch road. Watch out for big rivers!

Meanwhile Loch Maree provides walks both short and long. The 'mountain trail' near Kinlochewe takes you through a rare Caledonian forest on to the mountain moorland above. Meanwhile if you feel tough try a walk along the north coast of Loch Maree. This is some 20 - 30km long, very undulating and takes you away from Loch Maree from time to time. There are no escape routes once in the wilderness so it requires a lot of commitment - but the scenery is passes through is of the finest quality!

The Coire Lair Horseshoe
Three peaks form the Coire Lair Horseshoe. The traverse of all three summits starts off from Achnasheen and takes you over the summits of Fuar Tholl, Sgorr Ruadh and Beinn Liath Mhor. Both Fuar Tholl and Sgorr Ruadh have some hugely impressive corries that have some of the most difficult rockclimbs on sandstone. The summit of Fuar Tholl is quite grassy yet the surrounding low level moorland is very rocky particularly at the bealach between it and Sgorr Ruadh.



Sgorr Ruadh
Sgorr Ruadh has a short narrow rocky summit ridge but this broadens out to become broad and bouldery. Beinn Liath Mhor by contrast has no distinct corries but does have a very long but rocky ridge. Beinn Liath Mhor is easiest to reach from its western end. The eastern end has a short steep band of crags that requires some care.

Maol Chean Dearg and An Ruadh Stac
These summits lie deep within the Coulin Forest and require 6km of walking in from either road to the north or south. This is eased by the quality of the footpaths. Both mountains are quite stumpy - no long ridges here. The going on either summit is very rocky.

Other Summits
Beinn Damph is a great short walk with excellent views out to Loch Torridon and the Applecross peninsula. The mountain has a broad rocky ridge with typical sandtone tiered cliffs on its eastern cliffs. Two other mountains well worth visiting include Beinn Bhan and it's neighbour Sgurr a' Ghaorachain. They both have very similar eastern corries separated by fine narrow ridges of rock climbing difficulty.



Trip Reports
Trip Report Torridon Easter 2005

Trip Report Torridon Easter 2000

Gallery Links
Torridon Easter Trip 2005

Accommodation
This is a well equipped Youth Hostel with good kitchen facilities and a big effective drying room. The dorms vary in size from six bed to sixteen bed dorms. The amount of personal space when the hostel is full will be limited whichever room you're allocated.

The Warden, Neil, is in the local mountain rescue team and knows the local mountains very well - an excellent source for advice. He gives a friendly welcome to all who pass through the door and during your stay you tend to develop first name terms with the warden.

Other accommodation can be found at the Highlands of Scotland tourist board web site.

Eating and Drinking
The Beinn Damph lodge provides all the necessary comforts of an open Fire and a nice ambience.

Travel
Trains run three times a day from Kyle of Lochalsh or Inverness and will take you to Glen Carron or Achnasheen from where you can hitchhike to Torridon.