walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Grade Eighe for Torridon

Grade Eighe for Torridon


Postby gordon l » Wed Apr 03, 2013 10:17 am

Route description: Beinn Eighe (western summits)

Munros included on this walk: Ruadh-stac Mòr (Beinn Eighe), Spidean Coire nan Clach (Beinn Eighe)

Date walked: 30/03/2013

Time taken: 10 hours

Distance: 18.5 km

Ascent: 1185m

7 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

P1160448.JPG
Beinn Eighe from the road

Two weeks ago when we were nearly blown off Aonach Mhor in a freezing whiteout and squelched back to the car in darkness, utterly sodden, and hours over our expected trip time we knew that we had earned mountain karma points. We couldn't have imagined that we would be so lucky to spend them on our first trip to the hills of Torridon over the Easter weekend.
On the day of our Aonachs adventure the MWIS prediction had been for a 70% chance of cloud free summits with little wind so it was with hope, rather than real expectation that we travelled to our base at Ledgowan Lodge in Achnasheen where we would be camping for 3 nights. This time the forecast was "superb" visibility and to our great delight, MWIS was 100% right.
Beinn Eighe is a fantastic mountain system that leaves a lot of itself hidden from the roadside. It is Liathach that grabs all the attention as you drive towards the starting point along the A896: suddenly you find yourself driving into a calendar photo
P1160447.JPG
March 2013
As much as Liathach looked hugely impressive from the road we weren't confident about the snow conditions of the pinnacles so we had decided to leave for another visit. Today was all about Beinn Eighe.
We left the car at the carpark and walked 2km back along the road to begin the gentle walk up the excellent path leading towards Coire an Laoigh. As we ascended the stalker's path the views became more and more impressive and we knew we were in for a great day. I was taken by the view back at Sgurr Dubh and the jigsaw-piece-like Loch Bharranch
P1160451.JPG
The ascent towards the ridge was brilliant fun: sunshine blazed off the snow giving the area (and us) an alpine glow
P1160492.JPG
up the corrie
P1160487.JPG
ridge on the left

The ridge itself is a stunner, views in all directions taking the breath away. We took plenty of time to soak it all in, couldn't really think of a better place to be.
P1160489.JPG
P1160510.JPG
With crampons now fixed we made the short haul up to the main ridge and over to our first summit of the day, Spidean Coire nan Clach.
P1160520.JPG
P1160540.JPG
The toothy ridge leading to Ruadh-stac Mhor now revealed itself, beckoning us onwards. What amazing views we now had in all directions.
P1160546.JPG
westward ho!
P1160552.JPG
P1160555.JPG
P1160566.JPG
P1160575.JPG
looking back east at the ridge
P1160578.JPG
and looking west past Sail Mhor
The descent from Coinneach Mhor was steep but straightforward. The sun bouncing off the icy snow gave it the appearance of a giant lemonade sparkle.
P1160579.JPG
The ascent of Ruadh-stac Mhor would be quick but we slowed ourselves down by constantly turning back to take in the new view of Triple Buttress and Coire Mhic Fhearcharr on our left.
P1160583.JPG
We knew that out descent would be down there and it looked mighty steep! The summit views were simply stunning too.
P1160589.JPG
P1160593.JPG
over towards Dearg and Alligin
These are days to take it easy and enjoy every moment. The views stretched out into the blue beyond and we tried to identify the peaks we saw before us... Skye, the Fisherfields, the Fannichs, Assynt, Knoydart, Kintail...The mountain karma chips were well and truly cashed in! The descent into Coire Mhic Fhearcharr turned out to be a lot of fun.
P1160597.JPG
descent
A good chance to test out the crampons on a steep slope whilst enjoying more great views and blazing sunshine.
P1160603.JPG
P1160616.JPG
triple buttress
P1160617.JPG
P1160630.JPG
The walk past the frozen lochan was a chilled out stroll. We took our time, hatching plans for more walks in the area, taking yet more photos and
P1160639.JPG
even a quick spot of bouldering as we made our way down the glen past Liathach on our right and to the car park. This was our Torridon initiation, a truly great hill in truly great weather. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?
Last edited by gordon l on Sun Apr 21, 2013 11:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
gordon l
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 169
Munros:247   Corbetts:45
Fionas:13   Donalds:11
Sub 2000:2   Hewitts:19
Wainwrights:19   
Joined: May 15, 2010

Re: Grade Eighe for Torridon

Postby BlackPanther » Wed Apr 03, 2013 10:56 am

There can't be a better experience than Beinn Eighe in winter glory :D :D My ever favourite hill!
Saturday was the best of the four Easter days, very little wind and the sky "oh so blue". We were across Loch Maree, doing one of Fisherfield Corbetts, and we sat on the summit for over half an hour, gazing towards the panorama of Torridon...

Liathach in such conditions would be a wee bit too risky, at least to my taste. It was scary enough as a summer climb :wink:
User avatar
BlackPanther
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 3839
Munros:268   Corbetts:182
Fionas:136   
Sub 2000:75   
Joined: Nov 2, 2010
Location: Beauly, Inverness-shire

Re: Grade Eighe for Torridon

Postby kevsbald » Wed Apr 03, 2013 10:57 am

Stunning stuff - let's hope it holds for Saturday.

Kevin
User avatar
kevsbald
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 2248
Munros:273   Corbetts:134
Fionas:82   Donalds:53
Sub 2000:16   Hewitts:17
Wainwrights:29   
Joined: Jan 15, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: Grade Eighe for Torridon

Postby audreywaugh » Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:14 pm

Stunning pics! Thanks for sharing, I love Torridon, Beinn Eighe is one of my fav mountains. That descent down into Coire Mhic Fhearcharr looks much more fun than slogging up the scree!! :clap:
User avatar
audreywaugh
Wanderer
 
Posts: 193
Munros:196   Corbetts:46
Fionas:14   Donalds:13
Sub 2000:25   Hewitts:48
Wainwrights:47   Islands:20
Joined: May 10, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: Grade Eighe for Torridon

Postby audreywaugh » Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:14 pm

Stunning pics! Thanks for sharing, I love Torridon, Beinn Eighe is one of my fav mountains. That descent down into Coire Mhic Fhearcharr looks much more fun than slogging up the scree!! :clap:
User avatar
audreywaugh
Wanderer
 
Posts: 193
Munros:196   Corbetts:46
Fionas:14   Donalds:13
Sub 2000:25   Hewitts:48
Wainwrights:47   Islands:20
Joined: May 10, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: Grade Eighe for Torridon

Postby dooterbang » Wed Apr 03, 2013 5:08 pm

Only you could incorporate lemonade sparkle into a walkhighland trip report :lol:

Simply amazing. This day will live long in the memory...more so doing it with your special lady :wink:
User avatar
dooterbang
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 1828
Munros:262   Corbetts:58
Fionas:18   Donalds:10
Sub 2000:10   Hewitts:18
Wainwrights:21   Islands:19
Joined: Oct 27, 2009
Location: Isle of Skye from Feb 2019 (Originally Glasgow)

Re: Grade Eighe for Torridon

Postby Graeme D » Wed Apr 03, 2013 10:40 pm

Stunning..... one of several recent TRs that have really whetted my appetite for the coming weekend- my first visit back to Torridon since the heady summer of 2009! :D
User avatar
Graeme D
 
Posts: 3996
Munros:251   Corbetts:123
Fionas:75   Donalds:22
Sub 2000:59   Hewitts:36
Wainwrights:28   Islands:6
Joined: Oct 17, 2008
Location: Perth

Re: Grade Eighe for Torridon

Postby gordon l » Thu Apr 04, 2013 7:50 am

such a stunning place and looking like favourable weather for the weekend. look forward to reading some spectacular reports. enjoy guys :D
User avatar
gordon l
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 169
Munros:247   Corbetts:45
Fionas:13   Donalds:11
Sub 2000:2   Hewitts:19
Wainwrights:19   
Joined: May 15, 2010

Re: Grade Eighe for Torridon

Postby Verylatestarter » Thu Feb 10, 2022 8:49 pm

A stunning day on a mountain that looks so much better in Winter.

Great report.

John
Verylatestarter
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 195
Munros:35   Corbetts:11
Fionas:3   
Islands:5
Joined: Oct 14, 2020
Location: East Anglia (South Norfolk)

Re: Grade Eighe for Torridon

Postby past my sell by date » Sat Feb 12, 2022 12:26 pm

Fabulous - but judging by Dave San's recent report on An Ruadh-stac
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=110437
these are conditions that may seldom - or even never - be seen again :( :(
past my sell by date
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 1067
Munros:282   Corbetts:86
Fionas:27   Donalds:6
Sub 2000:8   Hewitts:146
Wainwrights:159   
Joined: Apr 24, 2013

7 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: mishaptitsa and 74 guests