Home » Hills » Munros » Northern Highlands » Beinn Eighe
Beinn Eighe in Torridon
Beinn Eighe is a vast mountain, its crests and summits almost entirely made of quartzite.
The mountain boasts 7 peaks, two of which are afforded Munro status.
When viewed from the Glen Torridon, Beinn Eighe south facing slopes appear as a uniformed wall of scree, however the northern side of this mountain is complex with corries pushing out on a grand scale.
The most dramatic feature is Coire Mhic Fhearchair - a spectaular amphitheatre with the famed Triple Buttress.
Main route summary
The 'Main route' described here is simply is the quickest and most direct way to bag the two Munro summits, which therefore allows time in the day for more Munro-bagging on Liathach or Beinn Alligin.
Listed in the 'Alternative Routes' below are longer routes which include a visit to the stunning Coire Mhic Fhearchair and some entertaining scrambling which can be enjoyed on Sail Mhor and the Black Carls on Sgur nan Fhir Duibhe.
Try and take some time to explore and enjoy this huge mountain !
| Munros |
Spidean Coire nan Clach (993m, Munro 150)
Ruadh-stac Mor (1010m, Munro 120)
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| Corbetts |
Meall a'Ghuibhais* (886m)
Ruadh-stac Beag* (896m)
*See 'Alternative Routes' below
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| Ascent |
1250m (4,100ft)
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| Distance |
11km (7m)
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| Time |
walk : 4:50hr*, run : 2:30hr
*Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
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| Start/finish |
2km east of Liathach car-park
(grid ref : NG97757)
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Profile
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Maps
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Which map to choose ?
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Downloads
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| Terrain | | easy |
 | difficult |
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| Navigation | | easy |
 | testing |
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| Effort | | stroll |
 | long day |
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| Scenery | | ok |
 | stunning |
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| Meanings |
Beinn Eighe : 'file hill'
Ruadh-stac Mhor/Beag : 'big/little red conical peak'
Spidean Coire nan Clach : 'peak of the corrie of stones'
Meall a'Ghiubhais : 'hill of the fir tree'
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Route detail & map »
Getting there
- On the A896, 2km east of the Liathach's eastern car-park, there's a rough track up to a bunch of trees.
Fine with a 4x4, but probably best not to drive up this short track if you've got a low slung car.
Alternatively there is a decent car-park on the other side of the road - although this can be blocked off with large boulders.
Spidean Coire nan Clach
- From the roadside, aim up the track to the patch of trees, where the track becomes a path.
This well maintained path climbs in zig-zags up towards Coire an Laoigh, then, just as the coire is about to be entered, it stops abruptly.
- Continue up a worn wet path into the coire, then climb steeply up grass and fine gravel onto a grassy bealach between Spidean Coire nan Clach and the knobbly Stuc Coire an Laoigh.
- Turn north, and after an initial easy climb on grass, cross gravel and scree to climb up to a trig point - this is not the summit !
- The summit, with its small cairn, is 200m north-east and reached via a narrow ridge and short climb. Note that although the OS Landranger has the spot height marked, the contour features are completely missing !
This is a great vantage point to view the entire Beinn Eighe range of peaks and ridges.
Ruadh-stac Mor
- Return to the trig point, then head west down a path on boulders and rock.
- Start to change direction, turning north-west before reaching the bealach at c820m.
- Up along the ridge to a minor bump, then cross grassy ground to climb up Choinneach Mor's eastern rise.
- Head north-east down the loose, sandstone-rock ridge to a narrow gap (note this is the descent down into Coire Mhic Fhearchair on the alternative route).
- Cross the gap, then up more rock to reach a flat grass area with the white summit on Ruadh-stac Mor ahead.
- Reach the summit and take in the views - north and west are particularly fine over Baosbheinn and Letterewe to the Outer Hebrides.
Return
- Return to the narrow gap and, if the views on the way haven't enticed you down into Coire Mhic Fhearchair, head back up Choinneach Mor's eastern rise and back down to the bealach at c820m.
- Just to the east of the lowest point is the start of a scree run that heads south-east-south down to Coire Dubh Mor.
- This is not a well-visited route, therefore the scree is perfect for running fast down on !
Upon reaching the bottom, hopefully intact and with a big grin on your face, cross heather and some wet ground to pick up the Coire Dubh Mor path.
- Follow this for 2km back to the road.
Photos of route »
Beinn Eighe from Baosbheinn in Flowerdale
Beinn Eighe's long ridge from Liathach
Beinn Eighe from the Ling Hut car-park
Ruadh Stac Mhor and the approach into Coire Mhic Fhearchair
Coire Mhic Fhearchair in winter
Heading up from Coire Mhic Fhearchair to Ruadh Stac Mhor
From Ruadh-stac Mor, looking over Choinneach Mor to Liathach
Scrambling down Coinneach Mor
Plaque on Sail Mhor's summit to those who died in plane crash
Beinn a'Chearcaill from the top of Coire Mhic Fhearchair
Ruadh-stac Mor from Spidean Coire nan Clach
Looking to Sgurr na Fhir Duibhe from Sgurr Ban
Scrambling to Spidean Coire nan Clach's summit
Chilling out below Stob Coire nan Clach
Sgurr Dubh from Coire an Laoigh
Ruadh-stac Beag, Meall a'Ghuibhais and Slioch from Beinn Eighe
More photos are on Flickr !
Alternative routes »
Beinn Eighe's tops and coires
Spending some time on the mountain, will get you scrambling to the outlying tops and walking out via Coire Mhic Fhearchair and its magnificent triple buttress.
| Ascent |
1650m (5,400ft)
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| Distance |
20km (12m)
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| Time |
walk : 7:45hr
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| Terrain | | easy |
| difficult |
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| Nav | | easy |
 | testing |
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| Effort | | stroll |
| long day |
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| Scenery | | ok |
| stunning |
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- Start from the A896 by the entrance to the Coulin Pass (at NH002581).
Head north-west-north for just over 1km, then start climbing the heather clad slopes of Sgurr na Fhir Duibhe's eastern arm.
- Upon reaching the crest, turn west and head up to the summit.
For some fun, enjoy a de-tour north for some easy rock-scrambling on the Black Carls !
- From Sgurr na Fhir Duibhe's summit, head west following a faint path over boulders and rock down to a bealach, then up Sgurr Ban.
- West again over more of the same to reach Spidean Coire nan Clach.
- Continue to Choinneach Mor's eastern rise as described in reverse of the 'Main route', then west to its summit.
- To reach Sail Mhor, head west for a few metres to be greeted by a drop preventing progress.
An enjoyable scramble will get you down this ! Reach the bealach, and continue up easy ground to Sail Mhor's summit.
- Return up Choinneach Mor and head to its eastern rise.
- Reach Ruadh-stac Mor as described in the reverse of the 'Main route', then return to the gap.
- Head westwards down very steep sandstone scree and gravel to wet grassy ground with hidden boulders and burns.
Try not to stumble as you awe at the Triple Buttress !
There is some wreckage of a Lancester plane at the top of the loch.
- Head around the loch to the outflow, cross it and pick up the well constructed path around the base of Sail Mhor.
- Follow this path into Coire Dubh Mor and back to the road at the east end of Liathach.
Interactive OS map
Via Loch Maree, Meall a'Ghiuthais and Ruadh-stac Beag
From Loch Maree paths head up towards Beinn Eighe, with de-tours to bag a Corbett peak or two on the way.
Other hill routes nearby »
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Liathach
Situated in the heart of Torridon, Liathach has some fine scrambling and the hardest mainland Munro Top
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Slioch
Majestic and appearing quite impenetrable, Slioch is actually easily accessed from Loch Maree
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Coulin Forest North
Often when the tops of the Torridon Giants are sulking in mist, the nearby Corbett peaks of Sgurr Dubh and Sgorr nan Lochan Uaine will be cloud free.
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Beinn Alligin and Beinn Dearg
Beinn Alligin's sandstone terraces are split by the dramatic Eag Dhubh. Some fine scrambling to be enjoyed
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Flowerdale Corbetts
A long route in made easy by a fine cycleable track. Two superb Corbett hills with unique views of the surrounding Torridon giants.
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Accommodation & food »
Forecasts & other useful info »
Guided days on these mountains »
Our next guided event on Beinn Eighe will be over the weekend of
14-16 May when we'll be aiming up all of the Torridon Giants (Beinn Alligin, Beinn Eighe and Liathach).
More information on the event is
here.
Alternatively, if you would like a bespoke day or two hiking over these peaks, we would be delighted to organise something for you and your group.
Check out our
Bespoke Guiding page for more information.
Previous guided events on our blog :
