Sgurr Fiona, (An Teallach)

Although it is some distance north of Torridon, An Teallach may well share with Liathach the title as the supreme example of a Torridonian mountain. It is a range of nine sandstone peaks, some of them capped with pale quartzite, and its two great east-facing corries, Toll an Lochain and Ghlas Tholl, are backed by huge cliffs of terraced sandstone. Possibly its finest feature is the splendid pinnacled ridge linking Sail Liath to Sgurr Fiona on the south side of Toll an Lochain. In complete contrast to the main ridge and the east-facing corries, the western side of An Teallach is a wide open corrie of gravelly slopes.

There are two very different ways to the twin summits of An Teallach. The easy way, which is hardly worthy of the mountain, goes up a path from the A832 road near the head of Little Loch Broom to the broad ridge at the head of the western corrie. The path continues to Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill, from where an easy descent followed by a steeper ascent up a rocky ridge leads to Sgurr Fiona. The classic traverse is a much finer climb, but it involves some serious scrambling. The start is from the A832 road at Corrie Hallie and the route goes by the Shenavall path to the foot of Sail Liath. Climb this peak and traverse the ridge north-westwards, culminating in an exposed scramble along the ridge of Corrag Bhuidhe to reach Sgurr Fiona. Continue to Bidein a' Ghlas Thuill and descend its north ridge to the col at the head of Ghlas Tholl. The descent of the headwall of this corrie is steep, but lower down the way becomes easier and continues to the road near Corrie Hallie.

(Copyright The Scottish Mountaineering Club)