Torridon provides craggy hills like no other area, a great base for the EMC to gather and play for the long Easter weekend.
I set off on the Wednesday getting the train to Achnashellach and camping at about 630m in the snow with my hood freezing to my tent in the night. I ascended the delightfully rocky Fuar Tholl and Sgorr Ruadh in the morning on my way over to Torridon on foot. Nikki and I stayed at the lovely Torridon Youth Hostel for the night, rising to find the low cloud forecast had flipped and we marvelled at some spectacular views jogging over the horns of Alligin, enjoying a dip in the river and getting back in time for tea and cake at the Torridon stores.
On Friday evening we gathered at Mol Mor, which was cosy and beautifully situated. Doug B, Martha, Shireen and Sarah had made the most of the day with an early start, meeting at Loch Maree to climb Meall a’ Ghiubhais via the very enjoyable mountain trail. They were rewarded with stunning views over to Beinn Eighe and Slioch. The Easter bunny had been and we all enjoyed some chocolate eggs at the hut.
We headed off of Saturday into some promising weather, with a slight panic at the lack of toilet roll. Claire, Ash, Doug, Alison, Nikki and Martha made for Beinn Damh. Whilst the first three branched off to add in Beinn na h-Eaglaise, the latter continued to the Drochaid Coire Roill and enjoyed the scramble up to Beinn Damh’s summit. There, they watched two eagles circling above the enticing looking prey (if it was the walkers or the sandwiches they were interested in was unclear) before they carried on to Sgurr na Bana-Mhoraire. This was advertised as a great viewpoint – but the only 30 minutes of bad weather this weekend with rain and strong winds appeared almost out of nowhere, so no views were had. They generously sprinted back to the car to grab toilet roll from the shop (shuts at 3pm) whilst the others sat in the Beinn bar.
After perusing some hill descriptions the other party (me, Sarah and Shireen) were drawn to “the rockiest hill in Scotland” and met with Fiona R and Mike W to climb Sgorr nan Lochan Uaine “WA-NIA” and Sgurr Dubh. There were lovely rocky steps and the sun was so intense between the two hills it we could have sunbathed. It was glorious. The hailstorm and winds hit us at the top of Sgurr Dubh, but it eased off on the way down, and we were able to enjoy the dramatic gorge on the descent. We were able to steal Fiona and Mike’s emergency loo roll from the back of the car to contribute to the supplies (thanks guys!).
David had a very prompt start on An Ruadh-Mheallan, meaning he was back in plenty time to get some toilet roll from the shop. Kenny had a more relaxed start and climbed the same hill as Ash, Doug and Claire.
The afternoon was filled with small walks and dips with seal spotting (well done Nikki) along the loch edge and visits to the deer museum. Martha was particularly impressed by the exhibit of a lung worm inside a deer’s windpipe; until Claire pointed out it was a bit of fallen ceiling with a dead daddy longleg stuck onto it. Kenny, Alison and Doug ventured a little further to the diff slabs at Bealach na Gaoithe for an evening climb. The Easter bunny had been again in the evening to fuel us for Sunday.
Sunday was THE blue sky day, no hail or high winds forecasted, allowing for long fulfilling days out. Kenny set off on a point-to-point walk from near the diff slabs over An Ruadh Mheallan and around the back of Beinn Alligin. Nikki, Alison, David and Martha did a traverse of Beinn Dearg. It was a stunning day, and height was quickly gained with views to Beinn Alligin, Liathach and Beinn Eighe. There was some exciting down scrambling, expertly led by Alison, before a much better descent than feared back to the glen.
Meanwhile Doug and I, after two years of waiting, leapt at the chance to do a Liathach traverse in good weather. Setting off from near the Ling hut, we relished the scrambling over Liathach and enjoyed the surprisingly soft and bouncy descent towards Torridon house. By complete fluke, we all converged on the Beinn Alligin car park at the same time, and David was good enough to run us along to pick up the car – much effort saved!
Ash and Claire set off on their own epic adventure, a casual 37km run over Beinn Lair, Meall Meinnidh and Beinn Airigh Charr, they followed an excellent network of stalkers paths into the hills, spotting an Eagle en route.
Nikki had scouted out the perfect swimbling spot the previous evening, so Doug, Rhi, Alison, Nikki and Martha went for a swimble in crystal clear water and harvested some mussels. These were expertly prepared by Doug with some left-over red thai curry sauce, remnants of sour cream and Ossian beer. A super tasty starter!
As everyone was tired from their long walks and slightly confused by the old time – new time clock change jetlag, Claire, the only one with still lots of leftover energy, searched in vain for people to play a board game with her. We happened upon an earlier guest book entry by the EMC from September 2017, and found surprising parallels in the meet report (https://edinburghmc.org.uk/1st-to-3rd-september-2017-mul-mor-torridon/ – someone walks in from Achnashellach, people stay at the youth hostel, Claire wants to do something fantastically ambitious….). We all enjoyed some easter eggs and collapsed into bed.
By Monday the weather was turning. West was Best, and so Doug, Claire, Nikki, Martha and I set off for a surprisingly brilliant walk up An Ruadh-Mheallan – we had to find out what everyone else had seen up there. Accompanied by a mini-triceratops, they enjoyed all the fun scrambling opportunities, beautiful views and even a horse ride just off the summit, before final Easter eggs and heading back to Edinburgh. Shireen and Sarah headed up little Wyvis on the way home, with mixed clouds and views.
A truly fantastic weekend, with a healthy volume of very rocky hillside. For anyone wondering there was, of course, a surplus of toilet rolls after all that panic.
Rhi W
