free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
After seeing this intriguing little hill from Maol Chean-dearg last week, I knew it was high up on the list. So no time like the present, I thought, and headed off Saturday morning.
It seems to be the story of my life - starting off in the rain/drizzle/mist/damp and then the day clears up and I get the stupendous views.
I parked by the bridge which crosses Allt Coire Roill just up from the Torridon Inn. I was quite happy when I got out of the trees and out on the open hill. No problem crossing the burn but discovered that one of my newish Berghaus boots is leaking, so I had a wet foot all day
Left the path after crossing the third small burn coming down off the hillside and took a rough diagonal (there are no paths here) heading for the lochan at 600m. All the hill-tops were still shrouded and it was very showery so really had to use the map and compass to find the lower top (at 676m). There's a tiny cairn and everything surrounding it is slightly lower so I just assumed I hit it! However, I wanted to go down to investigate some of the layers I had seen for Maol Chean-dearg but I don't think I went far enough. The rain had stopped and the mist was clearing - life was good
A couple of ravens came to visit and then miraculously the cloud lifted and there was Beinn Damph towering above me.
Loch an Eoin with its little islands.
But the star of the show was Maol Chean-dearg itself just across the corrie. Still raining on Fuar Tholl. Maol Chean-dearg on the right and Sgorr Ruadh on the left.
Mist clearing from the summit... by
AnnieMacD, on Flickr
After hopping about on the rocks and taking lots of photos I tackled the true summit - there are a few false ones on the shoulder on the way up, but the 'real' one has a fairly large cairn and amazing views of the Torridon trio of Beinn Alligin, Liathach and Beinn Eighe. Additionally, Sgorr Ruadh, Beinn Liath Mhor, Fuar Tholl and even An Ruadh-stac all show their tops off. There are also fabulous views of Torridon village and upper Loch Torridon.
A partial rainbow towards Liathach and Beinn Eighe.
Beinn na h-Eaglaise 2013.09.14-9 by
AnnieMacD, on Flickr
Liathach and Glen Torridon.
Beinn Alligin.
Torridon village.
I decided to return via the north-west shoulder which was much more interesting than going straight down the west heathery slope. Again, there are no formal paths but you do see some sections of deer paths going down the ridge and I followed them in the steeper/rockier parts. I have this theory that if a deer can do it, I can do it. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, but it has served me well on the mostly pathless Applecross hills).
The route down.
More views from the descent. Beinn Alligin and the lovely garden of the Torridon Hotel in the lower centre.
Torridon, Liathach and Beinn Eighe.
Back to tree level.
I had forgotten it was the day of Gerry's Applecross Duathlon and I'm sure I met at least 50 vehicles on the Bealach na Ba road on the way home. Much more tiring that going up to heaven on Beinn na h-Eaglaise