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Beinn Damph has to be one the top corbetts with its distinctive shape and fine ridge and that's without taking into account its location and views so near the shores of Loch Torridon. It did feel like we were cheating winter by choosing a walk in the north west when we knew there would be very little, if any snow, and the weather forecast was for +C summit temperatures
, especially after reading reports of walkhighlanders epic struggles with wind and snow further south. But after several weeks of vainly chasing snow flurries we decided we would enjoy rather than berate the mild conditions.
.
Our route on Beinn Damph went up via Glas Bhuide on the east side of Toll Ban and then descended on the path on Toll Bans western arm.
- The Route
We started out from the Torridon Inn, at 09:30, feeling sorry for the bedraggled highland cattle, some of whom looked very miserable as they waded through the knee deep mud in their small field.
Once off the road it was a pleasant, but very warm walk through the natural woodland where, despite the lack of buds, you could sense that spring was just around the corner.
As we emerged onto the open hillside we could see the lower section of our planned route up Beinn Damph, but little above that, because in defiance of the weather forecast, the cloud was sitting low on the hills
.
We had wondered how easy it would be to cross the burn to gain the start of the ridge, as the gully sides looked very steep, but just past a large scar on the far side of gully wall there was a deer path running down to the stream, an easy crossing and straight forward walk up the other side.
- Making our way up from the stream.
Having crossed the stream was no obvious single path but a choice of people and deer tracks, the walking was initally on damp but not boggy grass and but then became progressively bouldery as we gained height. The rock was very greasy and any misplaced foot was quick to slide away.
- The Ridge in the Mist
When walking in poor visibility I find I am far more conscious of my immediate surroundings and the nature of the hill / mountain I am actually on and at the end of the day have a sense of satisfaction that I have done it justice as opposed to clear days when my senses can be filled with the magnifence of surrounding mountains, which overshadows my memory of the walk. It was quite atmospheric picking our way through the slippery rocks and the lack of views probabley improved concentration and prevented any painful slips
.
For a while we followed the deer paths meandering through the rocky terrain to one side of the crest, enjoying some shelter from the blustery wind, before gaining the broad crest where the gusts were just enough to give some buffeting, although they eased off whenever I got my new windmetre out and the highest speed I measured was 30mph.
Although the route involved some rough terrain there was only one steep section where an easy bit of hands, but no real scrambling, was required.
- The steepest section
- A little hands on
As we were approaching the lower summit of Beinn Damph (868m) spot point, we took advantage of a sheltered plateau to take the compass bearing we would need to reach the summit ridge. Pleased with our foresight, we both made exactly the same mistake and took bearings heading in the wrong direction over a cliff. The fools on the hill have been let out again
. The cloud was very thick on the lower summit so it was lucky the mistake was noticed and corrected as soon as we set about following it.
- 868m A fine shelter on the north top
There was some up and down and in and out of the cloud as we approached the narrow summit ridge. The first narrow section of the ridge was across more slippery boulders and then the path to the summit, which runs very close to edge of a cliff, was covered with some large patches of snow, all making the walk more interesting.
- Beinn Damph summit and summit ridge
- 13:30 On the Summit, Lunch on the edge of the abyss
Whilst we were enjoying our leisurely lunch on the edge of the abyss, the cloud out to the west began to lift.
- Sky's starting to clear to the west
Four other walkers arrived, said hello and had a celebratory drink but they didn't stay too long.
- Other Walkers heading into the mist
Finally it was time for us to begin our descent, with the visibility still poor we required a bearing to make sure we were heading the right way,
- Won't get fooled again
but then the cloud lifted and the magnificence of The situation was revealed.
- Across Loch Damph
- And further west
- Meall Chean-Dearg, Sgorr Rhuadh Beinn Liath Mhor
- Liathac
- Beinn Damph summit
We walked back up to the minor 865 summit and then along the top of a boulder field before descending it to gain the path and ridge leading down.
- Heading down the boulder filed
From this perspective the descent looked deceptively steep but once the boulder field was over it was easy going on a good path which led to the base of Meall Gorm before descending from the bealach.
- Meall Gorm and Sgurr na Bana Mhoraire
- Looking back at the Toll Ban
It then became unpleasantly eroded for a short section, but the views more than made up for the paths defiencies.
- Across Loch Torridon
- A break looking across at Beinn Alligin
- Last look back at Beinn Damph
- Back into the woods
And back to the car for 17:30 with no regrets about cheating winter and making the most of the mild conditions, rather we had the best of both worlds with the atmospheric ascent and then amazing views on the way down. We also have a great excuse to come back to Beinn Damph and taste it in true winter conditions, although that may have to wait until next year.
