M268 | 922 m. | 3025 ft.
Translation: Hill of the maiden
Pronuncation:

1991 Traverse from Tom na Gruagaich to Squrr Mhor. We left the actual ascent to Tom on the left – it couldn’t be, it’s much too steep – we wanted to climb the Toll a’ Mhadaidh Mor first. Then however came the insight that this was even a worse idea: it was much steeper. The ascent was really very, very steep – i thought – maybe because it was one of the first mountains ever I climbed in Scotland. In 1991 Tom was not yet a Munro. Very nice the fissure in front of Sgurr Mor. We bypassed the Horns on a slippery, narrow path. Well, that’s how it all started.

1993 New Munro in 1997 revision. Complete traverse of Beinn Alligin from Sgurr Mhor to Tom na Gruagaich. Bypass of the Horns. Good visibility. Cleft directly after the Sgurr quite impressing. (Cord had the most severe knee problems I’ve ever experienced with him – he even backed Tom down on all fours)


Description 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 Mhor 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 Mhor 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 Mhor, 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 Mhor. 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.