Today we were going to make an assault on Beinn Alligin.
It was a damp but mild morning, as we geared up in the car park above Torridon House. The kids were in great spirit and raced up the new path to the plateau before the entrance to Coire nan Laogh. As we entered the corrie, the group were absolutely buzzing and they were in great spirits about the great time they were having - very nice to hear. I remember the corrie being steep from being up here last October on a scouting mission with Emily, but I certainly don't remember getting to the top so quickly! Everyone was doing brilliantly and we all linked arms for the short walk up to the summit of Tom na Gruagaich. It was rather windy at the top but the clouds had cleared and we were blessed with a great view of the main ridge leading to the mighty Sgurr Mor and The Horns of Alligin.
It was a damp but mild morning, as we geared up in the car park above Torridon House. The kids were in great spirit and raced up the new path to the plateau before the entrance to Coire nan Laogh. As we entered the corrie, the group were absolutely buzzing and they were in great spirits about the great time they were having - very nice to hear. I remember the corrie being steep from being up here last October on a scouting mission with Emily, but I certainly don't remember getting to the top so quickly! Everyone was doing brilliantly and we all linked arms for the short walk up to the summit of Tom na Gruagaich. It was rather windy at the top but the clouds had cleared and we were blessed with a great view of the main ridge leading to the mighty Sgurr Mor and The Horns of Alligin.
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| Entering Coire nan Laogh, Beinn Alligin |
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| Looking down into Coire nan Laogh and Loch Torridon, Beinn Alligin |
After admiring the view, we pushed on along the ridge and with James' help, we spotted the kids through 'the tricky step'. The wind was now well and truly buffeting us but the kids were troupers and powered on without any complaints - they really wanted to get to the top and bag the second peak of the day.
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| Team effort approaching the summit of Tom na Gruagaich, Beinn Alligin |
We stopped to peer into the impressive Eag Dubh (Black Cleft) before the final slog up to the summit of Sgurr Mor.
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| Sgurr Mor and The Horns of Alligin (Na Rathanan) from the summit of Tom na Gruagaich, Beinn Alligin |
The group had made amazing time and we had been really lucky with the weather. James and I had chatted about how we could manage the group going over The Horns if the conditions were right (we planned to split the group in half and take 6 each under our wing). But today the conditions were far from reasonable and it was an easy decision to turn back and head home the way we came.
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| Heading along the main ridge towards Sgurr Mor, Beinn Alligin |
As we approached the col below the ridge leading back up to Tom na Gruagaich the wind really picked up, the clouds rolled in around us and I was very happy that we made the decision to turn back - a great call.
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| Eag Dubh, Beinn Alligin |
Once again, the kids set a blistering pace on the descent and we were back at the hostel in no time. There was time for a quick shower and a change before we headed along the road to the Torridon Inn for a good evening meal; a treat for the group and the perfect way to say goodbye to Margot, who was leaving us in the morning.
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| The group on the summit of Sgurr Mor, Beinn Alligin |
James and I were buzzing that we had just done a 'smash and grab job' on the magnificent Beinn Alligin with the kids in double-quick time - what a feeling, what a day!
