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After Alligin last week we were getting confident around the bigger stuff. With a great forecast we decided to go for Beinn Eighe.
We left early and arrived around 8am, but still couldn’t get into the car park, where there lots of camper vans. Parked on the verge facing back east and headed up Coire dubh between Liathach and Beinn Eighe
- The dark corrie
We has been up here before, but hadn’t noticed this split stone, couldn’t resist a photo
- Jaws
The path up is great and quite a bit of height is gained. Just keep an eye open for the cairn marking the turn off to the right! It is just above the loch down to the left, but at a spot where the fantastic views open up and you are distracted. The clear path winds below Sail Mhor and climbs steadily into Coire Mhic Fhearchair. We came up here early in the year when there was snow on the path and the wee climb up to the corrie loch was tiring. No problems today and as before it’s a great moment to pop up into the corrie and see the cliffs rising above you! Ahead of us we could see the scree chute we would have to negotiate
- The chute
. I had researched our route a bit and decided to go clockwise, against the WH route. We were aware of the scree and although it looked tough it didn’t look too far, whereas the climb from the other side seemed much longer. Having done it now, this is definitely the way we will come back again. We found the crossing of the outfall and worked our way around the loch shore
- Crossing
The corrie is a fabulous place, and views back west are great
- Corrie loch
with the hills stretching away to the sea
- Torridon hills from the corrie
The path onwards isn’t that obvious. We found our way up the first crags by staying to the right and reached the level of the wee lochans fairly easily. Then headed left toward the scree chute! This photo is looking back into the corrie from low down on the scree, it’s the last one as the whole slope was a bit slithery and loose.
- On the scree
. The scree itself is the worst part, but not really too bad, just tiring. I stayed to the right which was fine, but you have to cross the scree at the top, Ellen kept left and didn’t like how loose it was in parts, I suspect there isn’t really an easier way, but once you reach the narrow chute itself, it’s better on the left, so when we go back I think that’s how we’ll tackle it. The chute itself is quite easy and good fun, little bits of hands on, but certainly not climbing. Mind you, it was obviously steep enough that I didn’t stop to take a picture! One of the best moments ever on the hills when we get to the top of the ridge and see the whole bulk of Beinn Eighe before you🤭
- Wow!
after a few minutes of staring we headed left up a fairly gentle slope to Ruadh Stac Mor. From the top, views are fantastic again
- From Ruadh Stac Mor
We were on our own briefly and sat down for lunch, until a wee dog arrived with its owners, so we headed back down toward the top of the chute and onwards up the steep ridge to Tom a coinnich.
- Into the corrie, buttresses from above
This was quite a stiff climb and needed to use hands regularly, but we were soon at the top