Beinn Alligin, Tom na Gruagaich and Sgurr Mor

Climbed by year and month

YearNewTotalJanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSepOctNovDec
unknown2323
201022
2016781142
2017242724443334
201810131132321
20192634115189531
202017331
2021141111
20223321
20237113611

You have climbed 104/282 munros.

Climbed by year and month

YearNewTotalJanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSepOctNovDec
unknown11
2017111
201911
20203111
2021681211111
202223111
202323111

You have climbed 12/221 Corbetts.

We started out early. I'd been awake since around 4am and dozed for an hour or so after, finally getting up around 6:30. Sunrise had taken it's time to get going but once the sun peeped above the hills the temperature lifted quickly. It was going to be a warm day. Jumping out the camper around 7:45am I soon found the midges were out and being annoying, there was little breeze in the car park to carry them away.

Date started:12/05/23
Distance:6.1 miles
Ascent:1288m
Descent:1289m
Time taken:9:23
Moving time:5:50
Average speed:1.05mph
Maximum speed:2.91mph

Tom na Gruagaich - Beinn Alligin

Upper loch Torridon
Upper loch Torridon

Maol Chean-Dearg to Beinn Liath Mhor
Maol Chean-Dearg to Beinn Liath Mhor

We took the path on the west side of the river, as before, it was as tedious and knee destroying as before. This time I seemed to find some energy and made reasonable progress up the staircase. Still, a steady stream of people overtook me. Skye was just soo excited, staying ahead and looking down on me from a rock waiting for me to catch up. Oh to be more dog.

Sgurr Mor and the Eag Dubh - Beinn Alligin
Sgurr Mor and the Eag Dubh - Beinn Alligin

Rona and Skye from Beinn Alligin
Rona and Skye from Beinn Alligin

As I reached the col below the first munro I contoured around to end up on the path down the ridge, my thinking was to visit it on the way back. Which worked out quite well as a couple from Florida caught me up just as I was contemplating how to get down an 8foot drop. He dropped down okay, spotted for her, and then helped Skye down the drop. And spotted for me. It felt pretty horrible, but okay. That done the rest of the ridge down and then up to Sgurr Mor was rough, interesting, and a lot more pleasurable than 'the staircase' by a country mile.

Skye on the Beinn Alligin ridge
Skye on the Beinn Alligin ridge

Na Rathanan - the Horns of Alligin
Na Rathanan - the Horns of Alligin

The deep gully below the summit of Sgurr Mor is called Eag Dhubh na h-Eigheachd or the black cleft of the wailing on account that if you edge closer to the drop you'll be the one wailing as you fall down it! It's often shortened to just Eag Dubh.

Slioch from Sgurr Mor - Beinn Alligin
Slioch from Sgurr Mor - Beinn Alligin

Sgurr Mor - Beinn Alligin
Sgurr Mor - Beinn Alligin

When we set out I had no intention of climbing the Horns of Alligin, Na Rathanan. I wouldn't have the energy to safely look after myself or Skye. Looking down on them that view was confirmed, completely. The views all around were absolutely spectacular.

Looking down Eag Dubh, Sgurr Mor - Beinn Alligin
Looking down Eag Dubh, Sgurr Mor - Beinn Alligin

Tom na Gruagaich - Beinn Alligin
Tom na Gruagaich - Beinn Alligin

Tags: munro, outdoor, scotland Written 16/05/23 

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