TARMACHAN MOUNTAINEERING: LIATHACH & BEINN ALLIGIN

Sunday 22 September 2019

LIATHACH & BEINN ALLIGIN

Beinn Alligin from Liathach

The Highlands were blessed with glorious weather for 3 days this weekend. A big high pressure system drawing warm air up from the south gave hot sunshine an clear skies for much of Scotland. A brilliant spell of weather to be out on the mountains. I met up with Robin and Clare in the NW Highlands on Thursday evening. Robin is on the final hurdle to completing all the Munros. He's got some fantastic mountains to finish on and 6 of these are in Torridon, the finest mountain region on Earth. On Thursday evening we arrived after dark in Glen Torridon, Robin and Clare had just knocked off 4 Munros in the Beinn Dearg cluster near Ullapool which is always a long day. They 'wild camped' with their camper van whilst I truly wild camped in boggy, heathery ground near the beautiful Loch Clair.

Sunrise on Loch Clare, Friday

At last it is nearly midge free time now we are getting a few cold nights. Wild camping season is now a joy. A beautiful clear and star filled night and a warm early morning. One of the classic views of Liathach is from Loch Clair so I got up early to catch the first light. I wasn't disappointed. It was surprisingly clear air despite the warm southerly airflow. A good start to two fab days.

The classic view of Liathach

FRIDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
Liathach was our first hill day. What a beauty of a mountain. T shirt conditions from the word go and all away along the ridge. A lovely stiff breeze was perfect to stop us overheating. Stunning clear skies all day.

The fun begins

Great scrambling

Down as well as up

sensational

The first Munro summit along the ridge is straightforward walking, then the Fasarin Pinnacles beckon. This is the scrambling section, the fun section. What a pleasure, we had the place to ourselves, there were plenty of folk on the hill but they seemed to have set off earlier in the day. Perfect.

Looking east along the ridge, Beinn Eighe to the left

Munro no.1

Mullach an Rathain and Beinn Alligin

The scrambling isn't too difficult and you can bypass anything that is beyond your comfort zone. I would definitely NOT recommend taking the much lower traverse path, it is exposed and eroded and of course you miss all the fun and all the wonderful views to the north.

Ridge views to Glen Torridon

The final Pinnacle, Am Fasarinien

Lookin back

All too quickly the scrambling is over and it's an easy walk up to the 2nd Munro of Mullach an Rathain. Wonderful views out west to Loch Torridon from here. A steep descent then follows, what a day. It was still very hot by 5pm when we got to the glen. A pint and grub at the Torridon to end a fab day.

Am Faserinen and Glen Torridon from the west

Loch Torridon and Beinn Alligin

Northern corries and the ridge

SATURDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER

Another glorious morning. Clear skies and a warm night. It was feeling like the south of Spain, not the NW Highlands. Another classic ridge walk today and another two Munros for Robin. Beinn Alligin. A shorter round and easier scrambling. Equally as spectacular views from this westerly Torridonian giant.

Descending Tom na Gruagaich towards Sgurr Mor

Baosbheinn from Sgurr Mor

Tom na Gruagaich

Another hot day but a good stiff breeze to keep things pleasant. Today Clare and her dog, Berry, claimed another Munro summit. Walking up to the first Munro of Tom na Gruagaich. It's a fabulous view from here, especially out to the western seaboard. Very clear air again.

The Horns next

Flowerdale Forest

First 'Horn'

The scrambling on Beinn Alligin comes at the end of the ridge traverse. The 'Horns' consist of 3 peaks. More lovely warm rock and wonderful views as we made our way across the Torridonian Sandstone rocks.