Sgurr Mhor, (Beinn Alligin)

This beautiful mountain, one of the three great Torridonian giants, stands at the head of Loch Torridon and forms a crescent-shaped ridge enclosing a big corrie, the Toll a' Mhadaidh. There are two Munros; Sgurr Mor in the northern half of this ridge, and Tom na Gruagaich in the southern half. The northern end of the ridge to the east of Sgurr Mor is a narrow rocky crest with three lower tops, the Horns of Alligin or Na Rathanan to give them their Gaelic name. Other impressive features of Beinn Alligin are the south face of Sgurr Mor, split by a great gully, the Eag Dhubh (black cleft), directly below the summit, and the east face of Tom na Gruagaich whose terraced sandstone cliffs overlook the Toll a' Mhadaidh.

The traverse of the Beinn Alligin ridge over the two Munros is a fine expedition with, in summer, some easy scrambling. In winter the difficulty may be much greater. To do this traverse in an anti-clockwise direction go up the path in Coire Mhic Nobuil on the south side of the stream for 1½ kilometres and after crossing it climb north on the path which heads directly towards the Horns. Traverse these with some mild scrambling and descend to a col before the steep but easy climb to Sgurr Mor. The next section of the ridge is broad and easy down to a col, but from there the climb to Tom na Gruagaich is steep and rocky and has one or two short bits of easy scrambling. The summit of Tom na Gruagaich is right on the edge of the great east cliff. The descent goes down Coir' nan Laogh and across the rough moor to the road at the foot of Coire Mhic Nobuil.

(Copyright The Scottish Mountaineering Club)