Beinn Dearg

Peaks: Stuc Loch na Cabhaig (888m), Beinn Dearg (914m)
Area: Beinn Dearg, Torridon
This is the last piece in the Torridon jigsaw, and the peak that is most often missed by visiting enthusiasts. Indeed, it is perhaps the ultimate illustration of the foolishness of munro bagging because it is two feet under the magic mark, but a superb little mountain and just as interesting as the more celebrated Torridonian peaks. I'd expected it to be less busy than the 'big three' but was still surprised by just how unpopular it clearly was and the consequent trackless nature of the terrain. I started very early from the Alligin car park in more stunning, cloudless weather (early mist dissipating). Very fast running led quickly up the Coire Mhic Nobuil to where the path forks to the Horns of Alligin (familiar from 2005). Above this, more good running led to the Bealach a Chomhla in the wild interior of the range. No hint of a path up the NW spur of Stuc Loch ma Cabhaig, which was if anything even steeper than the frontal assault on the main peak (which I had avoided because I wanted to do the entire ridge). The terrain was comfortable though, short grass and boulders leading to some short rock walls higher up. I finally gained the ridge in around 80 minutes and a vague path. I then had the entire ridge to look forward to in perfect weather, completely alone. Good easy scrambling up the crest led quickly to Cabhaig summit. Then a combination of mild scrambling and brilliant, exhilerating running along the broader ridge led to the main summit of Beinn Dearg. Alligin looks particularly good from here, particularly in the morning sunshine with the early mist peeling away. From the summit, the ridge kinks east above Loch a Choire Mhoir and narrows considerably over a flat-topped tower with good scrambling. After this, a large gendarme lower down blocks the way. I took the crest direct, which gave short-lived but excellent scrambling, reminiscent of An Teallach in that it was easy but nicely positioned. From the narrow top, two chimneys led down to a grassy col. From here, I ran up the next unnamed peak, then descended direct. This was tricky and required a bit of scouting from above, but eventually I settled on a gully that went down from the col. This was untravelled but perfectly reasonable and led steeply down to Lochan a Chaorainn in a wonderful position between Dearg and Liathach. From here, I ran flat out back to the car park - 2:30 for the round - as I had promised to get back to the cottage by 11.30am for our planned family attempt on the Beinn Eighe mountain trail.