© P.D.G. Meredith (Canon EOS1000F)
Beinn Eighe
Some feel that Beinn Eighe with its quartzite scree slopes is "graceful and inviting", others, myself included, feel that it has a "disheartening appearance". The name Beinn Eighe is variously interpreted as the 'ice mountain', 'comb mountain', or 'file mountain'. The first of these interpretations refers to the quartzite screes that deck its tops and flanks, the latter refer to the serrated toothy ridge - particularly that at its eastern end.
Some views on Beinn Eighe:
- Looking back from Coire an Laoigh.
- The triple buttress.
- Coire Mhic Fhearchair.
- The Black Carls on Beinn Eighe.
A commonly walked route over the mountain that takes in the two of its peaks that are classified as Munros starts from the road in Glen Torridon and ascends a well maintained path into Coire an Laoigh. This path zigzags steeply into the corrie that lies below and to the south east of the Spidean Coire nan Clach. Looking back from here one can see across the glen to Loch Clair.
Once into the corrie the route leads straight to the grassy slopes at its back. A path leads up these slopes to a point on the spur that seperates this corrie from the Coire nan Clach after which the Spidean is named. This path is steep. At the top there is a large cairn, from which there is a view of the eastern ridge and the Black Carls. From here the path turns to the right and ascends to the summit at a height of 3,188 ft.
From this first summit the path proceeds west along the ridge around to the summit of Ruadh-stac Mor at a height of 3,309 ft. From there a descent is made by returning along the path a short way and descending a short steep scree into the Coire Mhic Fhearchair.
