Weekend meet to Torridon - 26-28 June 2026

Torridon is accessible as a day meet for many, but the club had booked Ling Hut for the weekend, facilitating other options and early starts. Ling is an old-style bunkhouse, with bottled gas and recently modernised with solar panels to provide lighting instead of gas mantles. A mixed forecast meant most people opted to come down on Saturday, rather than Friday night.

Greg came early and climbed Beinn Eighe on Friday under heavy clouds. On arrival at the hut he was found attempting to start the generator to top up the batteries and visiting the river for buckets of water. Only Agnes, Martin and Emma shared the hut with Greg on Friday night, with a few nips of whisky around the kitchen table.

Taking advantage of a window before mid afternoon forecast rain, an early start was made on Saturday. Emma takes up the story:

 “On Saturday, four of us (Martin, Agnes, Emma and Greg) set out from the hut early with the aim of climbing two Corbetts just behind Ling Hut - Sgòrr nan Lochan Uaine and Sgùrr Dubh.

Making our way along Allt Frianach, the Corbetts sat to our left, and we could see the silhouettes of Beinn Liath Mhòr and Sgorr Ruadh ahead. As we walked, we got some lovely views to the west as the sky brightened over Loch Torridon and Liathach. We spotted our first frogs of the day (there were many more to come!) and saw sundews and spotted orchids too.

Soon we turned off the path and were navigating up the boggy and rocky slopes of Sgòrr nan Lochan Uaine. Upon reaching the ridge to this first summit we were hit by the wind that had been forecast, but made it to the top and had incredible views in all directions (including of a cloud free Beinn Eighe - which was highlighted to us on numerous occasions throughout the rest of the day, by a somewhat miffed Greg who had climbed it in the cloud the day before).

We picked our way along the landscape between the two Corbetts, which is dotted with lochans and outcrops. Below the summit of Sgùrr Dubh we climbed a steep gully to reach a lochan (home to some Palmate newts [currently the highest known population in Scotland]) before we continued up over a boulder field to reach our second Corbett of the day.

The descent was challenging, following next to an impressive gorge. On the way down we found pieces of pipe rock, and saw yet more frogs. There was one tricky section of scree to go down, and Emma decided this is where poles would have been useful. Still, we made it down safely, though quite tired and trudged the last distance through the bog back to the hut for a well deserved cup of tea and some board games.”

That evening most of the expected attendees rocked up, adding much chatter to the setting. Greg was exhausted and took himself off homewards. Unfortunately at this point the batteries were drained and with the generator not responding to the pull cord, the rest of the evening was spent in the ambient light. Torches were needed for the window-less visits to the toilet, and wind-up lamps for cooking be. A truly rustic experience, aided by a need to boil all water, and using buckets to flush the toilet too. Was there a shower? No, the river was nearby!

Sunday

Sadly Sunday’s forecast deteriorated, getting windier, putting pay to the high tops. Various groups split for Moruisg and Sgurr nan Ceannaichan, a couple of Flower forest Marilyns, and for Beinn Damph. Becky takes up the tale:

“On Sunday morning the forecast was showery and breezy with increasing wind later, not the conditions for the Liathach Ridge or other big days, so four of us decided on the Corbett, Ben Damph. Martin, Emma, Agnes & Becky parked at the Beinn Bar carpark then headed up the beautiful trail through the pinewoods, filled with birdsong, passing an impressive waterfall. We emerged above the trees and headed up the path, stopping for 2nd breakfast before getting up to the breezy col.

The wind was gusty but manageable so we continued along the ridge past several false summits which called for a few 1st/2nd/3rd lunches. The views were excellent, out west to Loch Torridon, Loch Shieldaig and the Applecross Peninsula, northeast to the clearing ridges of Liathach and Beinn Eighe and east to other fine Torridonian Munros. The final approach to the summit, yes the actual summit this time, was along an impressive fairly narrow ridge round a deep coire.

We deserved 4th lunch at the summit and plenty of view admiration before retracing our steps through a misty windy rain shower and back down in increasingly gusty winds. As we were down by about 2.30pm we had time for a relaxed drink in the bar before heading for home.

A lovely day out in lovely company following a sociable Saturday night out at the Ling Hut.”

Taking part: Agnes, Becky, Dan, Emma, Ewen, Greg, Hugh, Irene, and Martin.

Words and Photos: Emma, Becky and Martin.