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Day 4: Sgurr Mor (986m) Tom na Gruagaich (922m)
Beinn Alligin from the carpark
Eag Dubh and the Horns of Alligin
Tom na Gruagaich
Waterfalls
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Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil 
Bridge
Path heads to An-t Sail Bheg
Looking back to Loch TorridonI've really been in two minds about whether to share this walk. My recollection of the my time on the Horns was unclear and it wasn’t until I looked at the Viewranger track and then followed the timeline of my photos (often blurred too) that I began to get a clearer perspective on the walk.
I am not going to say much about before and after the Horns, as there are already plenty of detailed walk reports on Beinn Alligin. In good conditions Beinn Alligin is a straightforward circular walk, whether you choose an clockwise or anticlockwise (as I did) route. The two Munro summits, Sgurr Mhor at 986m and Tom na Gruagaich at 922m were further additions to my Munro total for that week, but for me that's what they were: pleasing additions, bit players to the three Horns.
Before climbing the Horns of Alligin I was fearful. I was very concerned after watching Youtube videos of the Horns that I would bottle it; which was one of the reasons I was taking the anticlockwise route with the Horns first. What was interesting for me was that even though the walk wasn’t entirely successful I never felt any fear. The image of the Horns from the Sgurr Mor makes them look terrifying.
The Horns from Sgurr MorThey are not terrifying.
I was expecting to be crawling on my hands and knees, sweat dripping from my face onto the sandstone hugging the path in a blind panic. Instead I walked with assurance. All the usual caveats apply about wind/rain/ice etc. but in summer conditions with minimal wind I found them absolutely fine.
Except that isn’t completely true. It wasn’t fear or exposure but the scrambling manoeuvres I found troublesome. I have completed one other Grade 1 scramble and that was accompanied on Moel Siabod and that was all ascent.
An-t Sail Bheg
Beinn Dearg
Cairn before the Horns
Loch Torridon
CairnSo here is my 46 minutes on the Horns. The out of focus photos don't really reveal the grandeur of the area but I suppose they capture the reality of my time.
After a snack before tackling the Horns I looked ahead and felt confident, the route up the first Horn appeared to be very easy - 11.23 to 11.31 I must have been particularly confident.
11.23
11.23
11.23
- 11.23
11.31
11.31
11.31It was on reaching the end of the first Horn, with the prospect of the scramble down what seemed like a short chimney, that I became less sure. I tried to shuffle down finding footholds with my back against the rock but found that the rucksack was awkward and obstructive. I also put a lot of weight on my right arm which did hurt, so I stopped and re-ascended. I then decided to lower my rucksack to the ground below. What a mistake. Dropped would have been more accurate. Time slowed as the rucksack fell to the ground and rolled and rolled and rolled....and stopped; I had clearly not learnt my lesson from Beinn Eighe about keeping hold of gear. At that moment the walk changed for me. I scrambled down with my chest against the rock and it was fine. I picked up my bag but some of my earlier confidence had gone. Heading directly to the second Horn I remember coming up against a steep face with few footholds. I did attempt to get up but came down. I am sure I could have got up but I was concerned about the descent from the second Horn. From reading other reports since it would appear I should have ascended to the left (some of you might advise here). As my Viewranger track shows I took the bypass path. I did feel disappointed and I didn't start taking photos again until the descent route of the second Horn.
- Suggested route in blue,my route in black
11.46From then on the ascent and descent of the third Horn was straightforward. Reflecting on the experience I think I would have benefitted from being with someone else, perhaps to give encouragement in places. I carried on and the photos show the rest of my walk.
11.59
11.59
11.59
12.05
12.09
The ridge to Tom na Gruagaich from Sgurr Mor
View to Skye
Torridon panorama
Clefthanger
Summit of Tom na Grugaich
Rain 
Moody corrie
Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil
Na Fasreidhnean and Tom na GruagaichSo not quite the day I was expecting and it gives me a lot of food for thought. It might not have seemed dramatic but I think this was quite a significant walk for me. In the moment of attempting the second Horn I retreated, but it felt right at the time to do that. I intend to return and climb the Horns in a clockwise direction.
