Beinn EIGHE

The greatest of the Torridon giants, Beinn Eighe is a vast mountain offering one of the great ridge runs of Scotland, plus a little excitement on the Black Carls.

Approaching from Cromasaig, I followed the river up into the corrie before tackling the steep climb to Creag Dhubh. Above the pines, heather gives way to the quartz screes and rubble strewn ridge which characterises much of the route west.

The Black Carls are no more than Grade 1 scrambling but high on the ridge, in anything other than calm conditions, can provide more than their share of entertainment.

Ruadh-Stac Mor, at 1010m is the highest of Beinn Eighe’s summits and gives fine views over the Triple Buttress of Coire Mhic Fhearchair with its world class climbs.

A direct descent to the lochan is preferable to back-tracking for the walker’s path though the scree will not be to everyone’s taste, with a lot of sizeable quartz blocks waiting to follow the runner down.

From there, the well-travelled path through Coire Dubh Mor led beneath Liathach and eventually, to the road.