"Taps Aff" in Torridon - A Moontin Porn Production :)

[dooterbang]

No fake news on this forum, so here you go...


This image pretty much summed up a fabulous 4 days spent up the NW Coast, it was taken on my 4th day when walking the brilliant Beinn Eighe with my friend Woodsy. To start this report one has to rewind to the morning of Friday 16th March 2018. I left Glasgow at 09.30am and headed for Torridon, I had booked 3 nights in the Youth Hostel.

My plan for this trip was to revisit some previous walks whilst exploring new locations, especially in and about Applecross. My first port of call would be Slaggan Bay near Mellon Udrigle/Laide. Heading here first meant I had yet another opportunity to drive pass the stunning Gruinard Bay.

Day 1 - 16th March 2018
Gruinard Bay.


Zoomed from further round the road


And finally from Laide








Slaggan Bay is on the West Coast of the Peninsula near Aultbea. I arrived here around 15.30pm. A young couple had just returned to their car so I knew I had the Bay all to myself . Its 5k along a very good landrover track to reach the bay.

The track.


An old ruin is passed before reaching the sandy bay, it took me 50 minutes. I spent another hour here exploring all the different view points and coastline.

Slaggan Bay








Slaggan Sea


A great start to my trip, I was feeling good vibes about the next few days I had over na hours drive to Torridon but I would stop at Gairloch in the hope of a nice sunset to finish my first day.

Driving down the coast it looked promising...


I arrived at Gairloch, the last of the sun belting of the beach.


Looking out to sea at the beautiful sunset




The following evening the Northern Lights made an appearance from this very spot, sadly I missed that. So I drove down the coast in the dark to Torridon Youth Hostel, the last 10 miles pretty dodgy on the single tracked narrow road.

Didn't get a great sleep due to it being very cold! The hostel wasn't very busy so showering and preparing breakfast was swift. Today I would be exploring Applecross

Day 2 - 17th March 2018
The drive down the coast to Applecross presented some stunning scenery, so I stopped on several occasions.

Views back across Loch Torridon to the mountains, Beinn Alligin promenent on the left.




Shieldaig


Shortly after Shieldiag I turned right, driving the peninsula anti - clockwise. The sun was shining, but it was extremely windy when stepping out of the car

The peninsula is very arid and barren, it has a very remote feel to it. A few little hamlets strewn along the coastline. When hitting the Western Coast the views across to Skye opened up

Isle of Skye


Isle of Skye from Applecross Bay




Next I drove up to the bealach, the car park at its highest point on the road. Again great views over to Skye. Its a popular spot as rewards great views for no effort, easily accessible for all.

Skye form the Bealach na Ba


The road at the bealach has a 10ft wall os snow, quite a spectical






Having driven for a couple of hours it was now time to get walking

I would be tackling the Corbett Sgurr a Chaorachain. The great advantage here is that you start from 600m Its a starightforward walk that advises you to take a path to a TV mast before following a pathless ridge. Seeing that the snow was compact I chose my own route to the ridge, this allowed me to don the crampons from the off

Views South to Meall Gorm


My target NE


Whilst nearing the summit I stopped for a photo, only to be blown over by an almighty gust of wind! My crampons got stuck and I almost landed on my ice axe Somehow my axe had slashed my water bottle and the contents of lemon diluting juice went allover my crotch area, freezing instantly and looking like I'd wet myself

Onwards I went and soon reached the summit


I dropped down from the summit to take shelter from the wind and grab a bite to eat. I noticed the frozen lemon juice had melted away, must've been packing some heat down there


Making my way back down I set up the camera for one last shot of Skye


Back at the car I checked the map to see what I could do next, I noticed a couple of beaches at the SW point of the peninsula near Toscaig. So I drove back down to Applecross Bay and took the single track road to Toscaig.

I drove to the roads end first at Toscaig as it had a pier. It was super remote down here, with only a handful of houses. Took in the views then drove back 1km and parked at a junction signposted for Aird Dubh.

I walked 100m up the road before striking left over the moorland. The walk is well signposted and recommends visiting one beach, returning to a junction in the woodland and walking another 1km to the next beach.

On route


I reached the North bay first, there was a row of two houses here. I guess only accessible by boat. Again I was the only person around

The Bay


Views to Skye




The tide was out so I was able to scramble over the large rocks to the next bay, Coral Beach. This was by far the most beautiful. I spent over an hour here wandering around and sitting by the sea.

The rocks


The beach, beautiful turquoise water.






Looking into the sun and over to Skye




Cloud covering the sun


With daylight fading fast I got in the car and headed for Torridon. Descending Bealach Na Ba I spotted a lone cyclist just starting its ascent, by all accounts a super tough climb. I gave him the fist pump for encouragement, he smiled broadly
I plan to do this very soon, can't wait

Back at the hostel I chatted with fellow walkers and we exchanged stories of our day, pulling out maps and pinpointing where we'd been. I ate, showered, then made my way to my private room with 5 beds At this point I was still unsure what I'd do tomorrow because of the high winds.

Another restless night, however eager to get out and explore. I had decided on the Corbett Meall a Ghuibhais from near Loch Maree. A steep start through woodland to an expansive plateau before the final pull up a steep face to the summit.

Day 3 - 18th March 2018
A beautiful start through some lush birch & pinewood.




Views back to Loch Maree with Slioch towering over it.




Exiting the woodland the terrain remains rocky and very steep, a real heart pumper Respite is given when reaching the vast plateau, views of Beinn Eighe's Eastern summits on show.






The wind was absolutely ferocious, easily double the forecasted 30mph! The camera stayed in the zipped pocket as I battled my way up to the summit, at some points on my hands and knees crawling Not far behind me was a fella I'd chatted to at the car park, a retired fireman. We took shelter behind the large cairn out of the wind.

Whilst eating some food another hardy walker joined us, I'd watched him also struggle to stay on his feet. He was a young trainee GP based in Beauly. So at the summit was a fireman, a GP, & a nurse...I'm sure there's a joke in there somwehere

We all decided to take the quickest route down, the steep South face. Turned out great fun due to the hard snow. And soon again we hit the woodland.

Descent


Woodland


Back at the car park we all said our goodbyes.

It was still early afternoon so I decided to head for Redpoint to vist its Western Beach. A drive of about 20 miles. A magical spot, which again was deserted...bliss

Redpoint Beach










I spent an hour here before returning to my car. A check of the time, was 16.30pm, meant I could sneak in the 6k Fairy Lochs walk near Badachro. Part of this walk takes in the crash site of a WW2 USA bomber that got lost returning to America. All 15 aboard died, the wreckage scattered everywhere.

The start of the walk is boggy and uneventful but when the first lovh is reached things improve.

View from Loch




Crash Site and Memorial Plaque.




The route continues following a sometimes faint path. I veered off path 1km to try and get better views of the Torridon mountains, which I did

Torridon Mountains






Back on path I came to the final Loch, sporting some fine sand


My friend Woodsy and his girlfriend would be arriving in Torridon this evening, so I headed back to the hostel. I arrived just before darkness fell, Woodsy had arrived 5 minutes earlier. We had dinner and some chat about walks for the Monday. Woodsy likes to bag so he was hellbent on Beinn Eighe & Slioch.

I was still unsure but eventually decided to walk Beinn Eighe with him as the weather was looking tremendous, I didn't get much of a view the last time I done them. Having two cars would save us a couple of Kilomteres nearing the finish

Day 4 - 19th March 2018
Surprisingly Woodsy was up before me, but I was ready an hour before him...he likes to take his time
Eventually we had parked both cars and would start walking for 09.15am, doing the route anti - clockwise.

The sun was out in full force, and unlike the previous two days the wind was minimal. It was a pefect day to tackle the Torridon Giants

I set off pretty quickly with Woodsy well behind.


We headed straight up the Coire instead of taking the South ridge, well I did! It soon got extremely steep, and I hadn't put my crampons on yet. Got to the stage it was too steep to try and put them on but I was able to slip on the microspikes, phew!

I basically headed straight for the summit, on the almost vertical face. Thankfully there were some remains of steps in the snow, this helped greatly and soon I was on the very narrow small summit. I waited here for half an hour until Woodsy arrived 5 metres below the summt and decided to have a bite to eat, another half hour gone by

I was much bothered as on days like this you want to soak it all up, the views from the summit were nothing short of sensational

Woodsy making his way up the coire.




The Views






And the usual summit posing








We both had big grins being up here in such wonderful conditions, we knew days like these don't come along that often Ahead of us lay a wonderful narrow ridge, all the time the mighty Liathach in our eyeline

The ridge, and on our way to Munro number two.






Wider part of the ridge




Looking back


The going was now easy to the next summit, the ridge wider than before.




More stunning views


A final push had us on the summit, the heat was intense It was time for "taps Aff"

Taps Oan


We sat for 30 minutes milking the views and having a bite to eat. Ahead of us lay a steep descent into the coire and and views of the Triple Buttresses

Descending the gully into the Coire Mhic Fhearchair




Looking back up to our entry point


We had timed this perfectly, by default, as the sun was bouncing of the buttresses




View from Loch Mhic Fhearchair






All that was left now was the easy 7k walk back to the car park. Around 6k from the finish I broke into a gentle jog which carried me to the finish I think after 4 days the adrenalin must've been pumping Woodsy arrived 25 minutes later and I drove him to the start where his car was waiting.

What an absolute belter of a day this was, one to live long in the memory . I'd now be driving home, at 16.30pm I projected getting to Glasgow aroung 9pm. 10 miles down the A9 from Inverness there was a crash and huge tailback. I decided to head back and then down through back roads to Fort Augustus and home vie Fort William & Glencoe.

A nice sunset at Loch Tarff, just before Fort Augustus.


Eventually arrived home at 22.30hrs, slightly shattered but still elated

I had the most amazing 4 days exploring the NW Coast, a real mix of locations and activities. Met some nice people at the hostel, enjoying great chat.

Here's to the next adventure...which is this weekend, again in Torridon, with a bunch of hillwalking friends. Should be fun

[dav2930]

Those pics of Liathach from Spidean Coire nan Clach are sensational. We missed all those views when we were there on 8th March. That summit did have an airy feel to it but we couldn't see a thing. We did the round in the opposite direction and descended into Coire an Laoigh from the col just before the Stuc; it was a whiteout and we had to go back up from the col to avoid the cornices, which we hadn't been able to see until we were almost on them. Looked an interesting route you took, though I think I would have preferred crampons to Microspikes!

Great report and pics - you certainly got some cracking weather!

[Mal Grey]

Stonking views!

You certainly packed a lot of special places into jest a few days.

[malky_c]

If I had such a thing as a Christmas card list, you would rapidly be getting removed from it .

NW Scotland really has had the best of the weather recently, and you seem to have taken in lots of the best corners of it there. Glad your little accident on Sgurr a Chaorachain was amusing - could've had the potential to be quite painful .

[Alteknacker]

Not a bit envious! The north west is the best place in the world when the weather's like that (although I'll gladly do without the destabilising winds!). And some sensational pics, the gentle ones as well as those of the mighty mountains.

[dooterbang]

Those pics of Liathach from Spidean Coire nan Clach are sensational. We missed all those views when we were there on 8th March. That summit did have an airy feel to it but we couldn't see a thing. We did the round in the opposite direction and descended into Coire an Laoigh from the col just before the Stuc; it was a whiteout and we had to go back up from the col to avoid the cornices, which we hadn't been able to see until we were almost on them. Looked an interesting route you took, though I think I would have preferred crampons to Microspikes!

Great report and pics - you certainly got some cracking weather!

I did eventually put on the crampons

I'd read your report, similar to when I first done this walk.

Not a bit envious! The north west is the best place in the world when the weather's like that (although I'll gladly do without the destabilising winds!). And some sensational pics, the gentle ones as well as those of the mighty mountains.

It ceratinly is, so much wild beauty...and as you say more to it than just big mountains

If I had such a thing as a Christmas card list, you would rapidly be getting removed from it .

NW Scotland really has had the best of the weather recently, and you seem to have taken in lots of the best corners of it there. Glad your little accident on Sgurr a Chaorachain was amusing - could've had the potential to be quite painful .

Oh I know, was very lucky Was more interested in my camera

[litljortindan]

What a whirlwind of a trip and an excellent day on Ben Eighe. Good to have an appreciation of the coast as well as the hills for those days when it is a bit gusty albeit I suppose being on a hill in strong wind does have its own appeal too.

[Collaciotach]

'S math sin a bhalaich

[rockhopper]

Yup, I guess your reports were getting a bit monotonous....what with all the blue sky, white snow and sun which just seemed to follow you around. Can fully understand why you felt the need to bring in something a bit different.....just not too sure that adding a bit of flesh wholly appeals.......

PS - cheers

[bigkeith]

I've been lucky and only been up the "main three" Torridon hills in good weather. They are truly spectacular, especially so with the more snowy conditions you had. Fabulous pics. Loved reading that report although I'm glad it was dominantly taps oan. You've inspired me to head for some of those off the beaten track beaches 👍😀😀.