Hills & Mountains
Torridon
*I am in the process of redesigning this section to include notes and many more high-res shots*
This section covers Torridon etc & the paeks to the south, etc *
In 1967 the 14,000 acre Torridon Estate was given to the National Trust for Scotland and a few months later another 2,000 acres adjoining its western boundary were added. The Trust property now includes the magnificent tops of Liathach, Beinn Alligin and a large part of Beinn Eighe, three of the country`s finest mountains. In 1951 the Beinn Eighe Reserve, comprising of 10,500 acres, became the first National Nature Reserve in Britain. It contains one of the few remnants of the old Caledonian Forest which once covered large areas of the Highlands.
Beinn Damh
BEINN DAMH (903m)
Autumn 1984
My first visit to Torridon was in the autumn of 1984 along with a pal from work. We made an ascent of Beinn Damh from the Loch Torridon Hotel, then camped in the Glen. The following we day walked from Coire Dubh Mor to Coire Mhic Nobuil around Liathach`s north wall, a distance of 13 kilometres. Due to new boots, our feet were badly blistered by the time we reached Torridon village, still a long way from the car. I decided to try a "Heads, I win - Tails, you lose" toss of the coin and it worked! Feeling only slightly guilty, I bought a newspaper and relaxed outside the Post Office whilst my still unsuspecting pal headed back to collect the car. He eventually drove into view and told me his feet were so sore that he had to walk the last couple of miles in his stocking feet!
Autumn 1984
My first visit to Torridon was in the autumn of 1984 along with a pal from work. We made an ascent of Beinn Damh from the Loch Torridon Hotel, then camped in the Glen. The following we day walked from Coire Dubh Mor to Coire Mhic Nobuil around Liathach`s north wall, a distance of 13 kilometres. Due to new boots, our feet were badly blistered by the time we reached Torridon village, still a long way from the car. I decided to try a "Heads, I win - Tails, you lose" toss of the coin and it worked! Feeling only slightly guilty, I bought a newspaper and relaxed outside the Post Office whilst my still unsuspecting pal headed back to collect the car. He eventually drove into view and told me his feet were so sore that he had to walk the last couple of miles in his stocking feet!
Liathach
LIATHACH: SPIDEAN A` CHOIRE LEITH (1054m)
Bidean Toll a` Mhuic
Monday 5 August 1985
Staying at the Torridon Youth Hostel for the first time, I met an English school teacher who was on holiday with his wife and kids. His family weren`t too keen on long hillwalks but he`d been wanting to climb Liathach for quite a while and he talked me into going with him the following day. After a very leisurely breakfast we got dropped off near the mountain`s east end in Glen Torridon. We made good time on the way up but unfortunately cloud clung to the ridge. Undeterred, we headed along to the eastern top, Bidean Toll a` Mhuic, but there was no view and still no view by the time we`d cut back to Spidean a` Choire Leith, one of Liathach`s two Munros. We sat for quite a while debating whether to continue but decided against it. We`d just went back to the top of the path to descend when the clouds began to blow clear. By this time though, my companion reckoned his wife wouldn`t be very happy with his late return if we went on to do a full traverse, so, we called it a day.
Bidean Toll a` Mhuic
Monday 5 August 1985
Staying at the Torridon Youth Hostel for the first time, I met an English school teacher who was on holiday with his wife and kids. His family weren`t too keen on long hillwalks but he`d been wanting to climb Liathach for quite a while and he talked me into going with him the following day. After a very leisurely breakfast we got dropped off near the mountain`s east end in Glen Torridon. We made good time on the way up but unfortunately cloud clung to the ridge. Undeterred, we headed along to the eastern top, Bidean Toll a` Mhuic, but there was no view and still no view by the time we`d cut back to Spidean a` Choire Leith, one of Liathach`s two Munros. We sat for quite a while debating whether to continue but decided against it. We`d just went back to the top of the path to descend when the clouds began to blow clear. By this time though, my companion reckoned his wife wouldn`t be very happy with his late return if we went on to do a full traverse, so, we called it a day.
Beinn Eighe
BEINN EIGHE: RUADH- STAC MOR (1010m)
Creag Dubh
Sgurr an Fhir Duibhe
Sgurr Ban
SPIDEAN COIRE NAN CLACH* (New Munro)
A` Choinneach Mhor
Sail Mhor
3 September 1986
My second visit to the Torridon Youth Hostel and with a good forecast I decided on Beinn Eighe. This is the name given to a range of nine tops which lie to the east of Liathach. A traverse makes for a fairly long day if all the tops are visited, and involves a twelve-mile circuit with around five-and-a-half thousand feet of ascent. The mountain`s most spectacular feature is one of its northern corries, Coire Mhic Fhearchair, which has the reputation of being one of the finest in Scotland. It`s triple buttress is best seen from the lochan below.
Starting early, from Cromasaig, I had the mountain to myself for the first hour or so then noticed a large group of walkers in the distance following my route. Not wishing to be caught I pushed on, soon reaching the shattered pinnacles known as the Black Carls, a rocky and exposed section which could prove tricky in winter. I later discovered that the group in the distance were members of the Linwood car plant Hillwalking Club who were also staying at the hostel. The plant had since closed making them redundant but they`d kept their club going.
As I made my way along the ridge plenty of photo opportunities presented themselves but I soon discovered that I`d left my spare film in the car! That meant I only had about eight shots to last the whole day which, for me, was a real blow. There was a long out-and-back to Ruadh-Stac Mor, the Munro, which divides Coire Ruadh-Staca and Coire Mhic Fearchair. Adjacent to the latter corrie`s West Buttress is Far West Gully, still strewn with wreckage from a Lancaster bomber which crashed there in 1951. There is a memorial cairn just above the site. The connecting ridge to Sail Mor is littered with huge boulders and scree.
That night in the hostel, I met the crowd from the Linwood Hillwalking Club. They were good company and they asked if I`d like to accompany them on an ascent of Beinn Alligin the following day.
Creag Dubh
Sgurr an Fhir Duibhe
Sgurr Ban
SPIDEAN COIRE NAN CLACH* (New Munro)
A` Choinneach Mhor
Sail Mhor
3 September 1986
My second visit to the Torridon Youth Hostel and with a good forecast I decided on Beinn Eighe. This is the name given to a range of nine tops which lie to the east of Liathach. A traverse makes for a fairly long day if all the tops are visited, and involves a twelve-mile circuit with around five-and-a-half thousand feet of ascent. The mountain`s most spectacular feature is one of its northern corries, Coire Mhic Fhearchair, which has the reputation of being one of the finest in Scotland. It`s triple buttress is best seen from the lochan below.
Starting early, from Cromasaig, I had the mountain to myself for the first hour or so then noticed a large group of walkers in the distance following my route. Not wishing to be caught I pushed on, soon reaching the shattered pinnacles known as the Black Carls, a rocky and exposed section which could prove tricky in winter. I later discovered that the group in the distance were members of the Linwood car plant Hillwalking Club who were also staying at the hostel. The plant had since closed making them redundant but they`d kept their club going.
As I made my way along the ridge plenty of photo opportunities presented themselves but I soon discovered that I`d left my spare film in the car! That meant I only had about eight shots to last the whole day which, for me, was a real blow. There was a long out-and-back to Ruadh-Stac Mor, the Munro, which divides Coire Ruadh-Staca and Coire Mhic Fearchair. Adjacent to the latter corrie`s West Buttress is Far West Gully, still strewn with wreckage from a Lancaster bomber which crashed there in 1951. There is a memorial cairn just above the site. The connecting ridge to Sail Mor is littered with huge boulders and scree.
That night in the hostel, I met the crowd from the Linwood Hillwalking Club. They were good company and they asked if I`d like to accompany them on an ascent of Beinn Alligin the following day.
Beinn Alligin
SGURR MHOR (985m)
TOM NA GRUAGAICH (922m)
Thursday 4 September 1986
With a group from the British Leyland, (Linwood) Hillwalking Club.
A miserable day! We ascended via the horns, a rocky ridge at the east end of the mountain, a great scramble, which made for a quick ascent. On reaching the top of the first horn the wind picked up to gale force and the leader, Bob, who`d done all the Munros, was seriously considering calling it a day. Bob was only 5` tall and the standing joke with his mates was that he was 6`4" when he started Munro bagging !
After peering (note the letter `r`) into the mist filled gash on Sgurr Mor, we continued along to Tom na Gruagaich and whilst on the saddle between the two, the clouds parted for a couple of minutes to reveal our surroundings. After a brief stop at Tom na Gruagaich we took a bearing and headed down the path back to the pine woods at Coire Mhic Nobuil. Views began to open up, over Loch Torridon to Beinn Damh. In 1997 Tom na Gruagaich, formerly a subsidiary top, was one of eight promoted to full Munro status.
TOM NA GRUAGAICH (922m)
Thursday 4 September 1986
With a group from the British Leyland, (Linwood) Hillwalking Club.
A miserable day! We ascended via the horns, a rocky ridge at the east end of the mountain, a great scramble, which made for a quick ascent. On reaching the top of the first horn the wind picked up to gale force and the leader, Bob, who`d done all the Munros, was seriously considering calling it a day. Bob was only 5` tall and the standing joke with his mates was that he was 6`4" when he started Munro bagging !
After peering (note the letter `r`) into the mist filled gash on Sgurr Mor, we continued along to Tom na Gruagaich and whilst on the saddle between the two, the clouds parted for a couple of minutes to reveal our surroundings. After a brief stop at Tom na Gruagaich we took a bearing and headed down the path back to the pine woods at Coire Mhic Nobuil. Views began to open up, over Loch Torridon to Beinn Damh. In 1997 Tom na Gruagaich, formerly a subsidiary top, was one of eight promoted to full Munro status.
Winter view of Beinn Alligin and Sgurr Mhor etc from Gleouraich, far to the south.*
Sgorr Ruadh & Maol Chean-Dearg
SGORR RUADH (960m)
MAOL CHEAN- DEARG (933m)
Date not recorded
MAOL CHEAN- DEARG (933m)
Date not recorded
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Another Bothy Weekend. Conditions were bad on the drive north with heavy snow on the way up, especially around the Black Mount and through Glen Coe, but once past there, it was obvious there was a thaw on and the snow turned to rain. Everyone was laden down with the usual supplies including fuel and plenty of bevy! This bothy name?) isn`t too far from the road, just about an hour`s walk and in good condition. Gales and heavy rain rattled off the walls all night and with no change by morning everyone had a lie-in.
After a leisurely breakfast most of the group decided to head up the nearest Munro, Maol Chean-dearg, and hoped for the best. It was heavy going in deep snow but by the time we got to the bealach between our target and An Ruadh-stac, the cloud started to lift, opening up tremendous views into Glen Torridon. On reaching the summit, we spotted an eagle soaring high above. Footprints, made when the snow was soft, probably the day before, had now frozen solid and the wind had blown the surrounding powder snow clear leaving the compressed stacks standing in a long line well above the surface. Most of the guys decided to call it a day but, myself and two others, Kenny W and Matt G, added Sgorr Ruadh, the Munro to the east. By the time we reached the top, clouds really began to break and from there down, the countryside was bathed in brilliant sunshine.
A good night in the bothy followed and we walked out on Sunday morning. I suggested doing Fhionn Bheinn, a solitary Munro, near Achnasheen Station on the way home, which proved an easy outing to finish the weekend. We came across another line of raised footprints in the snow similar to those on Maol Chean-Dearg.
A good night in the bothy followed and we walked out on Sunday morning. I suggested doing Fhionn Bheinn, a solitary Munro, near Achnasheen Station on the way home, which proved an easy outing to finish the weekend. We came across another line of raised footprints in the snow similar to those on Maol Chean-Dearg.
Beinn Liath Mhor
BEINN LIATH MHOR (925m)
Wednesday 22 March 2000
This was my last Munro of the Strathcarron trio and my first Munro of the new Millenium! I left home at 3 a.m. and had a leisurely drive up under a full moon and mainly clear skies. I reached Loch Garry just before dawn to find it covered by a large bank of mist while a few miles further on, the still waters of Loch Cluanie mirrored the snow capped peaks of the South Glen Shiel Ridge- impressive sights but too dark to photograph.
About 8 am, after a short nap in the car, I set off for Coire Lair on the excellent stalker`s path which starts just beyond Achnashellach Station and leads past the mouth of the corrie then onto the mountain`s long undulating ridge. It`s a steep slog up to the easternmost top at 876 metres but well worth the effort. Despite some cloud which kept the tops of the Torridon giants hidden, the views were excellent, especially towards Loch Torridon and northern Skye.
I`d been at the cairn for about fifteen minutes when I was joined by a guy from Lancaster who only had six Munros remaining. I accompanied him to the bealach where I called it a day and left him to carry on and climb Sgorr Ruadh while I took the easy way down into the corrie to join the route of ascent.
I stopped at Loch Duich for a cup of coffee and sat in the car, facing Eilan Donan Castle. A roar announced the arrival of an R.A.F. Tornado which made two very low passes above the castle - another excellent photo opportunity missed. Further south, while driving through Glen Shiel I spotted some large male mountain goats on the slopes just above the road, the first time I`d een these animals here.
Wednesday 22 March 2000
This was my last Munro of the Strathcarron trio and my first Munro of the new Millenium! I left home at 3 a.m. and had a leisurely drive up under a full moon and mainly clear skies. I reached Loch Garry just before dawn to find it covered by a large bank of mist while a few miles further on, the still waters of Loch Cluanie mirrored the snow capped peaks of the South Glen Shiel Ridge- impressive sights but too dark to photograph.
About 8 am, after a short nap in the car, I set off for Coire Lair on the excellent stalker`s path which starts just beyond Achnashellach Station and leads past the mouth of the corrie then onto the mountain`s long undulating ridge. It`s a steep slog up to the easternmost top at 876 metres but well worth the effort. Despite some cloud which kept the tops of the Torridon giants hidden, the views were excellent, especially towards Loch Torridon and northern Skye.
I`d been at the cairn for about fifteen minutes when I was joined by a guy from Lancaster who only had six Munros remaining. I accompanied him to the bealach where I called it a day and left him to carry on and climb Sgorr Ruadh while I took the easy way down into the corrie to join the route of ascent.
I stopped at Loch Duich for a cup of coffee and sat in the car, facing Eilan Donan Castle. A roar announced the arrival of an R.A.F. Tornado which made two very low passes above the castle - another excellent photo opportunity missed. Further south, while driving through Glen Shiel I spotted some large male mountain goats on the slopes just above the road, the first time I`d een these animals here.