Beinn Alligin

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Summary

Beinn Alligin means the Mountain of Beauty or Jeweled Mountain - and it lives up to the name. This is the easiest of the three famous Torridon ridge traverses, with spectacular views and stunning terrain. It includes a traverse of the Horns, which offer reasonably straightforward summer scrambling.

Grade (key)

Bog Factor (key)

Rating

Terrain

There is a good path for the whole distance, but the going is steep and mountainous throughout. The route just merits grade 5 for the airy but reasonably straightforward scramble over the horns and the steep final descent.

Public Transport

None to start.

Start

Car park on west bank of Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil. Open in Google Maps.

Hillwalking in Winter

Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Skills page for basic information on the essential skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 10.5km / 6.5 miles
Time (summer conditions): 7 - 8 hours
Ascent: 1190m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NG868576

Summits Climbed

Munro: Sgùrr Mòr
Munro: Tom na Gruagaich

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Accommodation

Walk Description

User reports (85)

Stage 1

Park in the car park on the west side of the Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil, about three kilometres west of Torridon village. Have a look at the river from the bridge- there are some attractive waterfalls here- before taking the path up the west side of the stream (not the much larger path on the east side).

Photo shows Beinn Alligin from across Loch Torridon.

Stage 2

The path soon crosses the deer fence at a stile, continuing up the moor to reach the stream issuing from the deep scoop of Coir nan Laogh. Continue up the path into the corrie.

Stage 3

The clear but rough path zig-zags straightforwardly up the corrie, keeping to the west side of the stream. After a long climb, it emerges on a fairly flat plateau. The triangulation point marking the summit of Tom na Gruagaich, at 922 metres, is soon reached over to the right. This was once a mere Top but in 1997 it was promoted and it is now the lower of Beinn Alligin's two Munros. It is a fabulous viewpoint, with a vast swathe of the sea topped off with the Isle of Skye, whilst to the east, Liathach is seen end-on.

Stage 4

Best of all, however, is the view of the ridgewalk ahead. Head down the narrow north ridge of Tom na Gruagaich, which is steep and rocky in places with some simple scrambling - easier ground is on the left. From the col, climb up over a minor top; beyond this the ridge levels off briefly before beginning the final steeper climb up to Sgùrr Mhor.

Stage 5

Shortly before reaching the summit, the ridge is split by the Eag Dubh or Black Cleft, a tremendously dramatic gully on the southeast side. This is easily passed on the left side. Beyond, the second and highest of Beinn Alligin's two Munro summits, Sgùrr Mhòr at 986 metres, is quickly reached.

Stage 6

This is an even better viewpoint, with Baosbheinn looking fabulous across Loch a Bhealaich to the north; but the pick of the view is that of the incredibly steep peak of Beinn Dearg with the Horns of Alligin as a foreground. If you don't like scrambling or if the weather is poor, you can return from here back the way you came; taking this option would reduce the difficulty of the walk to Grade 4.

Stage 7

Descend the ridge that dips steeply towards the first of the Horns. The three Horns of Alligin, Na Rathanan in Gaelic, are a landmark from many points miles around, and together with the steep domed top of Sgùrr Mhòr make Beinn Alligin easy to identify in distant views. There is a faint path which traverses the very steep grass slopes to the right of the first two horns, but this can be very slippery and is probably more dangerous than climbing over the Horns themselves. Instead follow the path which winds up the first Horn, with some very simple - a rocky staircase. The top is a narrow but level ridge, before a steep descent to the foot of the second Horn. The ascent of this one is short and direct with one steeper scrambling move and little alternative.

Stage 8

The final Horn has three options; it can be avoided entirely by a bypass path on the right, tackled fairly direct initially before heading right along a ledge and then heading up a chimney, or via a path which makes an ascending traverse to the right and reaches the top via a simple rocky staircase. The descent of the far side is straightforward. The way down then continues for some distance before easing at around 600m. Beyond this flatter section, the descent becomes extremely steep, and would be very tricky with sandstone terraces hidden from above if it wasn't for a clear path; as it is, it still requires care with some easy scrambling. There are superb views looking to the hidden side of Liathach. From the foot of the ridge keep heading down towards the Allt a Bhealaich, soon another path joins from the left at a cairn.

Stage 9

The path leads on down to reach a footbridge and then crosses this before descending the east bank, passing some waterfalls, before crossing the Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil on another footbridge. Continue on the excellent path down the east bank, which returns to the car park.

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