Munros Tables SMC Torridon: A Walkers Guide

 The Scottish Highlands


Liathach
The High Mountains of Britain & Ireland NW Highlands SMC

 

Liathach in the Torridon region of the North West Highlands of Scotland

Liathach

 one of the finest of the mountains of Scotland.


Its traverse,
particularly in winter conditions,
 is a serious undertaking.




Map for Liathach in the Torridon region of the North West Highlands of Scotland

Liathach from Beinn Eighe






Map for Liathach in the Torridon region of the North West Highlands of Scotland

Map for Liathach




LIATHACH - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location: Torridon
Map: OS Landranger 25
Distance: 7 miles ( 12km )
Time: 7-8 hours
Grade: Serious mountain walk


Liathach, the Grey One, with tiers of sandstone stacked into the sky
It looks impossible to climb - hillsides often look vertical when looked straight on at them.
Liathach isn’t impregnable, but it is a serious undertaking.
With two Munro tops it is surprising that more hillwalkers don't come to grief on this giant.
The mountain's ridge is a convoluted one, crossing six lesser tops as well as the two Munros, Spidean a‘ Choire Leith ( 3461ft / 1055m )
and Mullach an Rathain ( 3356ft / 1023m).
The usual ascent route starts just east of Glen Cottage in Glen Torridon and climbs to the steep upper slopes of Toll a‘ Meitheach, a shallow corrie high on
the hill's sandstone flanks.
The path runs alongside the Allt an Doire Ghairbh as it rushes down over its rocky steps. Rocky crags and steep grassy slopes intermingle before
the path climbs over a break in a rock band that appears to cross the face of the mountain.
Then it’s a steep scramble into the upper reaches of the corrie where a scree-filled gully gives access to the ridge itself, just west of Bidein Toll a’ Mhuic.
This is a good place to stop, the sweaty work of the day now over. Ahead the long ridge of Beinn Eighe stretches eastwards.
In the other direction the twisting ridge wriggles towards the triangular-shaped face of Spidean a’ Choire Leith, the first of the Munro summits.
Despite the rock and loose scree the ridge poses little difficulty, first of all flowing in a north-westerly direction, then west over a couple of subsidiary
tops, before the final boulder covered slope to Spidean’s summit.
This is the most elevated point on Liathach and the views are extensive, all the way from Ben Hope in the north to Ben Nevis in the south.
Chances are you won't even notice the views because your eyes will be set on the spectacular outline of the ridge ahead. This is where the ridge
narrows for a good 2km and for much of its length it is broken and shattered into a series of spectacular spires - the Fasarinen Pinnacles, the ancient sentinels of Liathach.
These fall away dramatically into Coire na Caime on the north side, one of a number of north-facing corries that make up the other face of Liathach, a
more broken and less austere aspect that is hidden from Glen Torridon. A traverse across the summits of the Fasarinen Pinnacles
is a wonderfully airy and exposed scrambie and those with some experience of rock climbing will seek out the holds willingly.
Others
will be happy to follow an exposed but well-used footpath that contours the southern side of the pinnacles.
This
path leads to the second Munro of the hill, Mullach an Rathain, the aptly named hill of the row of pinnacles.
A wide, grassy ridge leads to the summit and the OS pillar. To the north a short, stony arete runs out to the highest of the pinnacles and the
lower peak of Meall Dearg overlooks Coire na Caime.
A long ridge runs
westwards down to the subsidiary top of Sgorr a’ Chadail with fabulous views across Loch Torridon.
The best descent route goes west and south of the summit cairn, dropping towards a broadening slope of broken, scree-filled gullies and worn terraces and
then down towards the road alongside the Allt an Tuill Bhain.



Route:
Start and finish at the A896,
800m east of Glen Cottage ( GR: NG937566 ).
Just E ot Glen Cottage
climb steeply up the craggy hillside into the Toll a’ Meitheach.
Higher up the corrie
continue NE over sleep ground to the col on the main ridge.
Follow the ridge NW
then west over two tops to the cone of Spidean a’ Choire Leith.
Descend SW to
a level grassy section.
Continue over, or
around the pinnacles of Am Fasarinen. An exposed path avoids the difficulties on the S side.
Beyond the pinnacles it's an
easy stroll to Mullach an Rathain.
From
the summit the descent back to Glen Torridon is via the SW ridge, although a slightly quicker descent to Glen Torridon
is via the corrie of the Allt an Tuilt Bhain.



Liathach Photo Gallery Photo Gallery

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Guide Books & Maps - Scotland:-


Torridon - Ben Eighe & Liathach - OS Explorer MapLandranger Map 0024: Raasay, Applecross & Loch Torridon & Plockton

 

The Munros Map Torridon Map Kintail, Glen Shiel - Map Torridon - Beinn Eighe & Liathach An Teallach & Slioch - OS Explorer Map Applecross & Loch Torridon - OS Landranger Map Gairloch, Ullapool & Loch Maree OS Map Western Scotland & the Western Isles OS Road Map Northern Scotland OS Road Map Southern Scotland OS Road Map



 

The High Mountains of Britain & Ireland  Munros Tables SMC  The Munros - Scotland's Highest Mountains  Scotland - Lonely Planet  NW Highlands - SMC Guide  Exploring the Far NW of Scotland  Guide to Walks in NW Highlands

Walking in Scotland - Lonely Planet  Mountain: Exploring Britain's High Places  National 3 Peaks Walk Scottish Highlands Hillwalking Guide The Scottish Islands Bouldering in Scotland

Pathfinder Guide: Skye and NW Highlands Walks NW Highlands SMC Torridon: A Walkers Guide The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club Northern Highlands Northern Highlands, Volume 1 - SMC Northern Highlands, Volume 2 - SMC Highland Outcrops Scottish Winter Climbs

Knoydart to Morven West Highlands The Munros and Tops The Corbetts - SMC Munros & Corbetts Chart The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Pathfinder Guide: Skye and NW Highlands Walks

Ben Nevis - Scotland's Highest Mountain Ben Nevis: Rock & Ice Climbs The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland Rambler's Guide: Ben Nevis and Glen CoeWinter Climbs: Ben Nevis and Glencoe Ben Nevis Rock & Ice Climbs Great Snow & Ice Climbs of the British IslesPathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks Scrambles in Lochaber

Scottish Winter Climbs Munros & Corbetts Chart Call of the Corbetts Wilderness Walks 2 - Video

Rock Climbing in Scotland Classic Mountain Scrambles in Scotland Scotland - Lonely PlanetScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Highlands & Islands of Scotland - Hidden Places Scotlands 100 Best WalksCentral Highlands: Six Long Distance Walks Rough Guide Scotland

Scottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide The Munros - Scotland's highest mountains My Scotland by Hamish MacInnes Scottish Mountains - 50 Classic Routes The CuillinsScottish Mountains - 100 Best Routes

Munro Almanac The Munros Map The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club The Isle of Skye The Isle of Arran Wilderness Walks Ski Mountaineering in Scotland Classic Walks in Britain & Ireland

More Wilderness Walks 50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay Skye - W.A.Poucher Magic of the Munros Mountaineering in Scotland and Undiscovered Scotland by W.H.MurrayA Long Walk on the Isle of Skye

Classic Climbs - Central & Southern Highlands The Isle of Arran Lonely Planet, Walking in Scotland Pathfinder Guide: Skye and NW Highlands Walks50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay - Chris Townsend 100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains Scrambles in Skye Mountain Days & Bothy Nights

Walking in the Hebrides Torridon: A Walkers Guide Ski Touring in Scotland Rough Guide: Scotland A Mountaineer's Tale - W.H.MurrayDougal Haston: Philosophy of RiskOne Man's Mountains - Tom Patey Big Walks of Great Britain

The Glens of Rannoch Cairngorm Glens Glens of Trossach Knoydart to Morven Scottish Glens: The Atholl Glens Southern Highlands - Map Northern Highlands The Munro Show 1 & 2 - Muriel Gray

The Cairngorms Cairngorms Walks Cairngorm - Map Walks in the Cairngorms Lochnagar & Glenshee - Map The Cairngorms of Scotland Cairngorms - Mountain Bike Guide Winter Climbs in the Caingorms

West Highland Way: Official Guide West Highland Way: Rucksac ReadersWest Highland Way: TrailblazerThe West Highland WayWest Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map 100 Hillwalks around Glasgow

50 Walks in Glasgow & SW Scotland 50 Walks in the Scottish Highlands & Islands 50 Walks in Edinburgh & Eastern Scotland 100 Walks in Scotland Visit Scotland - Touring GuideScotland: Where to Stay - Hotels & Guest Houses Scotland: Where to Stay - Bed & Breakfast Walking the Munros Vol 2: Northern Highlands & CairngormsWalking the Munros Vol 1: Southern, Central & Western Highlands

Hillwalker: The Munros Hillwalker: The CorbettsWeather for Hillwakers & Climbers Mountain Weather Guide to the Weather Weather: Collins Gem Hillwalking Handbook for Mountain Leaders First Aid on Mountains

All Mountain Skier Off Piste World's most significant Climbs Mountain Travellers HandbookMountaineering: The Freedom of the HillsHillwalkers Guide to Mountaineering 200 Challenging Walks in Britain & Ireland

Ice & Mixed Climbing How to Ice Climb Complete Climbers Handbook Mountain Skills Training Handbook Autumn Road to the IslesDiscovering Scotland - Atlas & Guide Scotland Travel Guide Lonely Planet Scotland - The Wild Places - Colin Prior









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