Beinn Alligin Traverse

Approach

1 – (NG 86900 57669) Starting from a cap park behind the Torridon Hotel, cross the road bridge and follow a good path on the eastern bank of the Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil north for about 2 km until a an obvious footbridge is reached.

2 – (NG 88161 58893) Cross the bridge and follow the path for a few hundred meters, taking the left fork at the next path bifurcation. From this point on the paths become considerably vaguer requiring careful route finding is required at all times. Continue along the path, crossing the river to reach another fork in the path marked by a small cairn. This point is away from the river, with the main path seen to be continuing on between the mountains of Beinn Alligin (on the left) and Beinn Dearg (on the right).

The Scramble

3 – (NG 88242 60149) This is where the fun begins. Take the left path and climb steadily up the steepening slope crossing several rocky bands which seemingly circumnavigate the entire ridge proper. The path up this remains reasonable, indicating the easiest way of breaching the rock steps, which become gradually more exposed the higher you climb up. This section provides the most sustained section of the entire traverse climbing on wonderfully grippy Torridonian Sandstone, some of the finest scrambling rock in the UK and maybe the world! Continue up to where the angle eases following the path (with the odd hands on section) to the top of the Horns (An t-Sail Bheg).

4 – (NG 87614 61156) A traverse of this section of the ridge makes for continually interesting (and in some places exposed scrambling) however following the crest itself is not compulsory, with good paths to be found on the south western side of the ridge skirting most of the difficulties. Follow the ridge (or the path) down a few rock steps to reach the bealach between An t-Sail Bheg and Squrr Mor (NG 87135 61304). From here follow the well-defined ridge crest to the summit of Sgurr Mor.

Descent

5 – (NG 86568 61272) From the summit head south west down along the broad ridge over a subsidiary top before following the more defined and blocky arête to the main summit of Beinn Aligin. The views from here across the wider Torridon Range including Beinn Dearg and Liathach are spectacular.

6 – (NG 85962 60159) Victory photos collected and remaining sandwiches consumed. Take the (initially vague) path southwards into upper Coire nan Laogh, which can be a bit loose and also contain a large snow patch depending on the time of year you’re visiting. The easiest entry is to skirt the top southwards for a short way before skirting hard left down and into the Coire basin. A recently constructed armoured path is soon reached which is followed back to the start.

Recommended Guidebook & Map

The best guidebook for this route is found in the Cicerone Scotland’s Mountain Ridges book, which is available via Paperback or Kindle Book here.

The best map for this route is the Ordnance Survey 433, Torridon, available on Amazon here.

Recommended Scrambling Guide: (coming soon)

Recommended Accommodation

You can find good value accommodation nearby on Booking.com here.