Beinn Eighe

Beinn Eighe is the Torridon Peninsula's largest massif, a long Ridge with two Munros and making for a wonderful circuit, or traverse.

This quartzite mountain has a numinous majesty, charisma even: with vast cliffs and corries, long, high, narrow, dramatic ridges looming over a harshly beautiful, treeless  landscape, and with enormous views including hints of sea, it grabs the imagination and lingers in the memory. It is one of Scotland's best-loved mountains, and that is saying something.

Beinn Eighe is a demanding walk on very steep and rough paths, particularly the descent route.

The Munro circuit from the south

There are two main paths, approaching from the A896 road to the south, which are usually joined to make a superb circuit. The path up through the Coire an Laoigh, although itself steep and rough, is marginally less difficult than the path round the back and up the steep, giddy scree above the extraordinary Coire Mhic Fhearchair, so those with problems with exposure may want to ascend and descend by this path, or descend by it - this is the most often-described (clockwise) way of tackling the mountain.

That said, for the experienced walker, we follow Walking Highland’s approach, enabling you to park on the road to the west and get your road section over early, walking to the Coire an Laoigh path. The initial walk is a gentle climb, which becomes a steep slog until enters the harshly beautiful corrie. From there it is a very steep climb straight up the head of the corrie, to gain the subsidiary ridge to Stuc Coire an Laoigh.

 From there, you climb to the main ridge and out (north-east) to the Beinn Eighe summit. The ridge is tricky in places, but not difficult. The views are stunning at the summit.

You then turn back west, and follow the amazing high ridge for a long and thrilling walk, dropping to a grassy pass then climbing up to the minor summit of Coinneach Mhor; you then turn north to drop steeply to a pass and leave the main ridge to bag the stunning peak of Ruadh-stac Mhor, the highest of the Beinn Eighe peaks at 919m.

The really keen can also bag Sail Mhor, further along the ridge to the west.

The way down to the stunning Coire Mhic Fhearchair begins at the pass between Coinneach Mhor and Ruadh-stac Mhor. The path drops down a difficult, steep and slippery scree chute, which needs a steady head and a lot of caution.

The corrie cradles a lovely lochan, with waterfalls below it, which may well insist on a foot dip while you admire the famous cliffs above (take a bow, the Triple Buttress). You then trudge out round the flanks of Sail Mhor and down a long valley back to the road.

18km / 7.5-9hrs.

The route is well described at the excellent https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torridon/Beinneighe.shtml

Good map here: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/maps/map2_2tg.shtml

Eastern Ridges

To be written up: much harder than the western ridges, can be combined to make the Traverse.

Traverse

To be written up: a long combination of the western Munros and the eastern ridges. A truly amazing walk.

Mountain Trail

To be written up: a steep climb to a quarzite plateau with staggering views. 6.5km, climbing 586m.

Coire Mhic Fhearchair

A lower-level delight would be to walk up a long glen and round the flanks of Sail Mhor to the lovely lochan, with waterfalls below it, in huge Coire Mhic Fhearchair, to admire the famous cliffs above it (take a bow, the Triple Buttress).

This is tough walking in high, remote mountains with plenty of exposure. Come prepared.

We would love to give more! Please help us by making suggestions and sending photos! Thank you!