The Big Grey Hill, the Red Peak & the Cold Hole of Torridon

[Graeme D]

I can't believe it has been nearly a month since the Torridon meet and I'm only now posting a report from that weekend. Not any old report either, probably one of my top 3 or 4 hill days ever. Things have just been so busy with one thing or another since then that to be honest I've kind of lost the will. So I will keep it brief and let the 60+ photos do most of the talking!

I first set foot in Torridon in August 2008, on a week long road trip up to Wester Ross, the research for which led me to this site for the very first time. On that visit we climbed Slioch as well as the Beinn Eighe Munros. I went home with my Munro tally at a modest 9. We were back 12 months later, in August 2009, staying for a week in the Kinlochewe Mountain Chalets behind the hotel (not affiliated in any way to the hotel I hasten to add) which I would not recommend to anyone. Cheap yes, but as for cheery........nah! Anyway, by the time we went back home that time, I had the Alligin and Liathach Munros under my belt, and my tally sat at a more respectable 55.

Now it was April 2013, allegedly springtime but you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise! I was back up for the WH Torridon meet and having recently climbed my 141st Munro, was itching to kick off the second half of the journey.

Stuart had upped the ante by opting for Torridon, and I had already had great days on the so called Big Three in Torridon, so I was looking for other options.

Over the days and weeks ahead of the meet, a number of folks threw their hat into the ring, so to speak, for the Achnashellach Munros, with the option of adding the Corbett Fuar Tholl. I was away from Perth at ridiculous o'clock and parked at Achnashellach by around 8.30 (if I remember right!). Andy (Londonwalker) was in shortly after that and kindly offered me a brew and a seat in his fabby van!

By the back of 10 (when, surprise surprise!), Bod and Val were the last to show with Ritchie in tow, our group was fully assembled and we were off. The pace was, well, quite leisurely and we were soon strung out as we left the forestry and onto the path that winds up into the lower reaches of Coire Lair. By the time we reached the 876 spot height and cairn, still a long way short of the Beinn Liath Mhor Munro summit, it was clear we would not make the whole round if we stuck together as a group. So after a few group photos, we were swiftly whittled down to a big group and a wee group, the latter consisting of myself and Charlie (Trekker53), who set off at a faster pace with the two Munros and the extremely tasty looking Corbett in our sights.

Anyway, here are the photos. Cheers to everyone for a cracking day, especially to Charlie for his company for the whole 9.5 hours, and to Stu for finally getting a WH meet to the Torridon wonderland!


10am by the phone box.......


This is Achnashellach!


Fuar Tholl looming ......... hmmmmmhhhh????


Through the pine forest


Not the most user-friendly gate!


Valerie and Andy heading into Coire Lair


Bod and Ritchie - Sgorr Ruadh to the left, Beinn Liath Mhor to the right


Coire Lair pit-stop


Fuar Tholl, Valerie, Maja, Lucas, Keith and Sgorr Ruadh


Lucas, Keith, Andy, Charlie.......... and Sgorr Ruadh!


The majesty of Coire Lair


Maja, Valerie, Nathan, Lucas, Andy, Fuar Tholl.......


Sgorr Ruadh looking quite tasty!


Fuar Tholl, two blokes and a dog


To the Fannaichs


Phwoaaaaarrrrr Tholl!!!!!!!


Strung out on the Beinn Liath Mhor ascent


**** man, spank the monkey!!!! (Lucas, Andy and Keith will get it if nobody else does!)


Looks like the WH meet bug is getting to Nathan!


Sgorr Ruadh looking mean across Coire Lair


Into the depths of Coire Lair


It would appear I have taken yet another shot of that Corbett!


Under April sun on the ascent of the boulder fields


Sgorr Ruadh and a distant Beinn Bhan


Liathach and Beinn Eighe from the 876m spot


Early arrivals at the 876m cairn, Fuar Tholl in the background


Scanning the way ahead along the BLM ridge


BLM ridge and Liathach across Glen Torridon


The whole gang have arrived!


Charlie making tracks for the summit


The others dropping down from the 876m top


Beinn Liath Mhor, Loch Torridon, Beinn Alligin and Liathach


Across Beinn Liath Bheag to Liathach and Beinn Eighe


Approach to the summit


Figures on the summit


Smile Charlie - it's Beinn Liath Mhor again but with views this time!


Charlie, is that Leithy and Basscadet on Liathach??????


Coire Lair and Robertson's Buttress on Sgorr Ruadh


Charlie on descent to the bealach before a towering Sgorr Ruadh


Down Coire Lair


The mighty Liathach from the BLM/SR bealach


The whole Beinn Liath Mhor ridge


Charlie pulling up onto Sgorr Ruadh, Liathach and Beinn Eighe as a backdrop


Maol-Chinn Dearg and An Ruadh Stac


Loch Torridon and Beinn Alligin from Sgorr Ruadh ascent


Charlie closing in on summit of Sgorr Ruadh


Charlie framed by Loch Carron and An Ruadh Stac


Myself about to tackle the final pull


The Corbett Boys on Sgorr Ruadh with Fuar Tholl behind


Charlie setting off for that Corbett


Fuar Tholl in all her glory across the frozen Lochan a' Bhealaich Mhor


Back over Coire Lair to the start of the BLM ridge


The Mainreachan Buttress and a nice cornice


Mainreachan Buttress close-up


Along to the summit of Fuar Tholl


Charlie slogging up the scree slopes of Fuar Tholl


Sgorr Ruadh, Liathach and Beinn Liath Mhor from summit of Fuar Tholl


Soaking it up on Fuar Tholl


Early stages of descent

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

[Alan S]

What a cracking set of pics there Mr D You were really lucky with the weather.
I had a look at this route at the weekend, I will use this in the future, cheers

[PeteR]

Superb Graeme

You certainly got the best weather for that round Looks simply stunning

BLM and SR are two fantastic hills, and rank as one of my best days in the hills. I didn't quite have your weather on BLM, but still such a great area Your report confirms I need to return one day and add on that Corbett too

[Bod]

Great report Graeme, I will add in a couple of my buttress shots later. It sure was a stunning day

[David-Main]

Great report Graeme and stunning photos

[NevJB]

Great report and pictures - as you'll see shortly it wasn't like that a couple of weeks later!!!

[gordon l]

Smashing set of pictures there Graeme. I decided to keep Fuar Tholl for a separate day when I did the munros (the grey yin and the red yin). Thought it looked so good it deserved a day to itself.

[trekker53]

Hi Graeme,
Saw your report early this morning on the nightshift but unfortunately my workplace didn't allow the photos to come through.
So it was home, some sleep and a few hours later I logged on and it was worth waiting for.
A fantastic report and as you said let the photos do the talking.
Its always good when there's at least two of you with cameras unlike being solo with just mountain shots. I like people in the pics to give it scale and a sense of wonder.
Look forward to catching up with you in Skye.

[Sunny Speyside]

Lovely photos Graeme - just added this route to my 'to do' list. Having had a wee taste of Torridon on the WH meet I have decided to head back for week in June - so fingers crossed for some more glorious days.
Cheers

[quoman]

stunning picture's Graeme,Torridon looks fantastic.

[pigeon]

Ace

[mrssanta]

oh my that was amazing, I just want to go there now! mountain porn at its best.

[malky_c]

Slightly disappointed to have missed this walk - looks like the best of the meet for sure

[The Rodmiester]

Welll what can I say, looks superb, fabulous photographs and wonderful record of a great day on the hills, just wish I'd been there.

[BlackPanther]

Superb set of photies Obviously, you lot had a cracking time!
BLM ridge walk is a must-do and and the porniest mountain porn one can experience - especially with snow about.