Beinn Elegant

[jacob]

Well ofcourse, everything's elegant after two cold, spiky, here and there a tat dangerous, long and boggy walks.
(https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=71974 & https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=71991)
But even without those parameters Beinn Alligin is a great and interesting walk, even more so than it's silhouet from the roadside suggests. I was happy enough to apparantly still have some brownie points after formentioned two adventures. Plus the day was excellent for it, perfect weather but with an early start we were still the only two people on this mountain untill the second summit. Hot sun, lights breeze, fantastic views but a little ache in my heart knowing this will be the last Scottish mountain for another year.

The walk starts on an excellent path with immediate great views backwards on Loch Torridon.

As soon as your over a big hump with no apparant name on the map, the views on the complete mountain open up.

The well laid path continues to join a stream Alltan Glas into Coire nan Laogh. A walkreport by Bobmcbob described a scramble onto Tom na Gruagaich, but we skipped that after the dissapointing offtrack adventure on An Teallach.

Some impressive walls on your left hand side

Looking back at the corrie, the mrs just right of the big boulder

With higher up still some patches of snow, despite the hot sun of the last few days

Higher up you arrive at a wide and fairly level boulderfield. The summit is to your right.
Here's the mrs with Beinn Damh in the background.

The summit proved to be a fantastic viewpoint in really al directions, although the second summit, the three horns and the view on Torridon demand most attention.

Thanks to the good weather we really took our time having a snack and drinking in the views.

Then on we go. This is me descending from Tom na Gruagaich onto the ridge between the two summits.

Halfway the ridge there's a little bump you can either cross or walk around behind. We chose the latter.

Still on the ridge

And then it's up again. Not too steep though. Traversing some more leftover patches of snow.

Melting snow

And on goes the climb

View on Torridon from in between the cleft near the summit of Sgurr Mor

From the summit of Sgurr Mor you get the first good glimpse of the horns. From here, the climb onto the first horn looks terribly scary.

So we'll have our confidence building picnic first.

Then it's downhill for the first pinnacle

The ridge towards it. The way up still doesn't look any easier at all.

But before you know it you're on the first horn. No dangerous nor difficult scrambling, no vertigo inducing moments. Just wonderful views all along.

The mrs on the second horn

Views from in between 2nd and 3rd horn towards Beinn Dearg and Liathach

From the 3rd horn it's downhill on a clear but steep path, descending the terrace southflank of Sgurr Mor. In the Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil I took my time for a refreshing skinny dip, but for viewers discretion (or is it because I already posted the maximum of 25 photos?) I won't post any proof of that. Just a classic view from close to the carpark

[Mal Grey]

One of the very best hills, the combination of mountain and sea views is fantastic.

Seems you had an excellent trip this year, hopefully the memory of it will keep you going until the next one.

[BobMcBob]

Well! I was only a few miles away from you across Loch Torridon, sunbathing in Shieldaig

I find it amusing that a man who considered doing chockstone gully in the snow thinks the Horns of Alligin look scary

If I'm honest I think you saved the best mountain till last on this trip.

[jacob]

One of the very best hills, the combination of mountain and sea views is fantastic.

Seems you had an excellent trip this year, hopefully the memory of it will keep you going until the next one.

It's been fantastic, that's for sure. But a year is long when you're living in the Flatlands

Well! I was only a few miles away from you across Loch Torridon, sunbathing in Shieldaig

I find it amusing that a man who considered doing chockstone gully in the snow thinks the Horns of Alligin look scary

If I'm honest I think you saved the best mountain till last on this trip.

That's funny, cos it was on one of the summits that I thought I'd like to meet an active WHer.
Well, and scary....it's all between the ears isn't it. Expectations is all that matters. I came fully prepared to chockstone gully, which is comforting.
And I saw a very steep ascent onto the first ridge when I understood it's nothing more than an easy scramble. I quess that makes all the difference.
I can't say if it's the best: it's difficult to compare when the conditions where so much different on An Teallach. I can say I have very very good memories to this day and this mountain.