TARMACHAN MOUNTAINEERING: BEINN ALLIGIN

The team on the Horns

Second day out for my team on their 5 day hillwalking holiday in the Torridon area. With a much better weather day in prospect we decided on the classic circuit of Beinn Alligin. Lighter winds and drier conditions in prospect. We set off from our base in the Kinlochewe Hotel to Torridon village. It was still raining on the drive down the glen so we diverted into the excellent Torridon Stores cafe to scoff scones and coffee whilst waiting for the rain to pass through.

Tom na Gruagaich out of the cloud

Loch Torridon

The path up to the first Munro of Tom na Gruagaich was deserted. I guess the folk who had started out were away up the hill way before our liesurley 11am start time. It was cloudy on the first Munro but we lived in hope for a few breaks during the day.

A viewless Tom na Gruagaich

5 minutes after leaving the top of Gruagaich the clouds started breaking up and some great views out to sea a the sun broke through. The walk to our next Munro summit was just wonderful.

Liathach

Ridge walking by the sea

We saw 2 other walkers just before the summit of Sgurr Mor, heading the other direction. They were the only other folk we saw all day. Amongst the small rocky areas on the ridge Wwe heard a wonderful Ring Ouzel singing away. It seemed very close.

Sun & sea

Eag Dubh

It was mid afternoon by the time we reached Sgurr Mor. Beautiful May light. No other humans. Fabulous views. Bliss.

The Horns of Alligin from Sgurr Mhor

Baoshbhain

More fun to come. The Horns of Alligin. This series of 3 Torridonian Sandstone towers can all be easily negotiated with easy scrambling.

Late afternoon light

Horns of Alligin and Liathach

First Horn

Good here

After the Horns it's all down hill. There's a sting in the tail with a pretty steep decent to the easy trail back along Coire Mhic Nobuill. The waterfalls a wonderful, calming finale to the day. Topped off with a beautiful Cuckoo, Cuckoo-ing away in the sparse birch trees around the falls. Beautiful.