Deep in the heart of Torridon

[AnnieMacD]

Track_2014-05-03 Seana Mheallan.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Well, I'm thinking this hill has to be bang slap in the middle of the Torridon area of hills - geographically speaking. Even though it's height-challenged (437m) the views all around are stupendous but especially of the mighty Liathach which is just across the glen.

I had a bit of a gammy knee after my scree surfing on Glamaig last week so thought I'd have an easy walk. Also, the forecast wasn't great for the weekend and it was supposed to start raining at about 2pm, so decided to go for Seana Mheallan as I'm trying to tick off all the Torridon hills that register irrespective of their height. I intended to follow Peter Barton's instructions as he always provides the easiest route but I hadn't reckoned on a) my own waywardness and b) the intoxicating effect the presence of Liathach would have on me

I parked at the Beinn Eighe car park and set off up the Ling Hut path.

The fisherman's hut across Loch an Iasgair.
Seana Mheallan by anniesmountains, on Flickr

The path goes round the back of the hill and then after fording the burn you are supposed to take the easy route up to the summit. Well, as we have had virtually no rain for a few weeks, the burn was really low so no need to proceed to the ford for a crossing and also, I thought it would be more interesting to go up the hill via its shoulder rather than backside! So I just cut across what would have been a bog (lovely soft dry moss) and went up the ridge. This hill is red sandstone and there are lots and lots of slabs that make the going easy in dry weather but also mean quite a few downs and ups to get to the top. The views of Lithach and Beinn Eighe are fantastic. I could see little stick figures on top of Liathach moving about and realized it was a great day to be up there as the rain did not materialize until much later and there was very little wind. Although it was cloudy the visibility was very good too.

Beinn Eighe from halfway up the ridge.Seana Mheallan-2 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Looking east along Glen Torridon - Sgurr Dubh on the right. You can just see the Ling Hut beside the nearest lochan.
Seana Mheallan-3 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Glen Cottage and Liathach.
Seana Mheallan-4 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Stuc a' Choire Dhuibh Bhig and Beinn Eighe.
Seana Mheallan-5 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Sgurr Dubh (high on my list).
Seana Mheallan-6 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Looking south to (l-r) Beinn Liath Mhor, Sgorr Ruadh and Maol Chean-dearg.
Seana Mheallan-7 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

The actual summit in the distance. The north top of Beinn Damh is behind.
Seana Mheallan-8 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Summit over on the right. Maol Chean-dearg and Beinn na h-Eaglaise in the distance.
Seana Mheallan-9 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

The summit cairn perched on a rock with Beinn na h-Eaglaise behind.
Seana Mheallan-10 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Looking down to upper Loch Torridon from the summit. There are lots of lochans all over and sandstone slabs which are really grippy when dry.
Seana Mheallan-11 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

A wee bit of sunshine on Beinn Eighe.
Seana Mheallan-12 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

There are a few cairns on subsidiary tops but the highest point is on top of a rock at the western end. I spent quite a while here eating lunch and contemplating all the hills I had climbed and had yet to climb. The two paths up Liathach (from this angle) looked totally vertical and impossible.

Path up to Mullach an Rathain zig-zagging above the gully to the left. (Thought this might be useful to people who haven't been up yet!)
Seana Mheallan-13 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Summit cairn perched on the rock.
Seana Mheallan-14 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Starting to descend - the rain didn't last.
Seana Mheallan-16 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

If I had common sense I would then have taken an easterly route and rejoined the Ling Hut path but I thought that would be a bit boring and I would be missing all the activity in Glen Torridon, so against all advice (ie Peter Barton's) I headed WSW to see if I could get down to Torridon village. I was aware there were a lot of cliffs but thought there must be a way down. I would also have a river to cross to get to the road and was OK about following it all the way back to the Ling Hut bridge if there was no other crossing point. There are lots of terraces and some easy scrambling (even for me!) down the rocks and then I hit crags all around. I was just considering returning in defeat when I saw a deertrack and followed it north west until I was standing at the top of a very steep heather-covered gully which appeared to go straight down to the river. Very slowly and gingerly and using my walking poles I got myself down - you could only see two or three paces ahead through the knee-high heather but there were no obstacles and I was down at the river. I could see a path going up from the river to the road on the opposite bank so headed for that and sure enough, there was a rocky 'bridge' where the river ('cause it was low) totally flowed under the rocks and I didn't even get the soles of my boots wet.

Looking for a way down (can't beat the scenery!)
Seana Mheallan-17 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

On the heather slope looking to Torridon village ...
Seana Mheallan-18 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

... and the other direction.
Seana Mheallan-19 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

Almost down.
Seana Mheallan-20 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

The stone 'bridge' across the River Torridon. I think these rocks would be pretty slippery if wet but I just walked over them. My route down is the heathery slope on the right. It doesn't look very steep, but believe me, it was!
Seana Mheallan-21 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

All that was left was the long walk back to the car. And then the rain really started.
Looking back to Glen Cottage - I had descended the gully near left.
Seana Mheallan-22 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

One last look at Liathach and the rain was really starting to come down.
Seana Mheallan-23 by anniesmountains, on Flickr

I'm now looking forward to looking at the top of Seana Mheallan from of Liathach!

[Meatball]

A cracking report as always!

[Alteknacker]

Beautiful pix. Torridon is just incomparable! We are truly the fortunate ones.

BTW I was on Beinn Eighe and Liathach on the same day, but the colour in my pix is nowhere near as good as on yours - do you use a special camera setting or something?

[dogplodder]

Sometimes the best views are from the lower hills. Thanks for the heads up on this one - must keep it in mind.

[Silverhill]

What a great trip! When you look at Liathach from where you were, it seems impossible to get up there. I´m yet to do it….

[Sgurr]

Lovely report. We did it under similar conditions, but with a shorter day. Fully agree about Peter Barton. He even has a back-door ascent of Beinn Dearg which I persuaded husband and friend to try, as we had left behind a step by step account of how to tackle it head on that the author (Cameron McNeish) had claimed was the safe way up, thereby implying that any other route you might stray onto round that end was dangerous.

Very brave of you to divert from Barton and head down direct towards the village.

[AnnieMacD]

Lovely report. We did it under similar conditions, but with a shorter day. Fully agree about Peter Barton. He even has a back-door ascent of Beinn Dearg which I persuaded husband and friend to try, as we had left behind a step by step account of how to tackle it head on that the author (Cameron McNeish) had claimed was the safe way up, thereby implying that any other route you might stray onto round that end was dangerous.

Very brave of you to divert from Barton and head down direct towards the village.

I am going to follow PB's instructions for Beinn Dearg as it really does look impenetrable. I also believe there is a difficult scramble half way (approx.) along the ridge so may have to retreat from that. Haven't done enough research yet though! How did you find it?

[Collaciotach]

A grand wee hill

[BlackPanther]

Ouch! I didn't realise this little lump next to Liathach was a Sub'2
So this time you are my guide have to remember about this hill, good one for shorter days.

From Liathach it looks tiny... More like a shoulder of one of the Munros behind it:

[clivegrif]

Great report and terrific photos!

Hope to be up there myself the first week in June and your pictures are already most useful - such as how do you get down off Sgurr Dubh....

Thanks for posting.