Beinn Alligin (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Àilleagan) is one of the classic mountains of the Torridon region of Scotland, lying to the north of Loch Torridon, in the Highlands. The name Beinn Alligin is from the Scottish Gaelic, meaning Jewelled Hill. The mountain has two peaks of Munro status: Tom na Gruagaich (922 metres (3,025 ft)) to the south, and Sgùrr Mhòr at 986 metres (3,235 ft) to the north.[2]
One of the most prominent features of Beinn Alligin is a great cleft known as Eag Dhubh na h-Eigheachd (black gash of the wailing) or Leum na Caillich, which cuts into the ridge south of the summit. It is the scar of the most spectacular rockslide or rock avalanche in Britain, which runs out into the corrie of Toll a' Mhadaidh Mor. It occurred around 3750 years ago and is around 3.5 million cubic metres in volume.[3] According to local folklore shepherds on the mountain would hear cries from the gash; those who investigated the source of these cries would inevitably fall to their deaths.[4]
The usual route of ascent starts from the minor road between Torridon village and Inveralligin, following the route of the Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil (a river), before heading up into the corrie of Coir nan Laogh. Steep grassy slopes then lead to the summit of Tom na Gruagaich. The main ridge of Beinn Alligin is then followed round to the north, leading the hillwalker towards Sgùrr Mhòr. Below the summit of this peak is a deep gash in the hillside known as Eag Dubh, the black notch, one of Beinn Alligin's most recognisable features.
View east from Sgùrr Mhòr over the "Horns"
From the summit of Sgùrr Mhòr, it is possible to continue along the ridge, now heading in an easterly direction. The ridge at this point becomes much rockier, and a series of pinnacles known as the "Horns of Alligin" (Scottish Gaelic: Na Rathanan) must be negotiated. The horns provide good summer scrambling for those with a head for heights, but in winter they are a much more serious proposition.
An alternative descent, avoiding the horns, can be made by leaving the Beinn Alligin ridge at the bealach between the two summits, from where grassy slopes can be followed westwards down into a neighbouring glen. This route is not straightforward under winter conditions.
External links
Computer-generated virtual panoramas Beinn Alligin Index
References
^"Beinn Alligin". Hill Bagging - the online version of the Database of British and Irish Hills (DoBIH). 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
^Donald Bennet & Rab Anderson, ed. (2016). The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club Hillwalkers' Guide. Scottish Mountaineering Trust. pp. 212–213. ISBN9780907521945.
^Ballantyne CK (2007) in Mass Movements of Great Britain, ed. RG Cooper, JNCC, 111-116.
^Ian Mitchell (2004). Scotland's Mountains Before the Mountaineers. Luath Press. p. 136. ISBN0946487391.
beinn, alligin, scottish, gaelic, beinn, Àilleagan, classic, mountains, torridon, region, scotland, lying, north, loch, torridon, highlands, name, from, scottish, gaelic, meaning, jewelled, hill, mountain, peaks, munro, status, gruagaich, metres, south, sgùrr,. Beinn Alligin Scottish Gaelic Beinn Ailleagan is one of the classic mountains of the Torridon region of Scotland lying to the north of Loch Torridon in the Highlands The name Beinn Alligin is from the Scottish Gaelic meaning Jewelled Hill The mountain has two peaks of Munro status Tom na Gruagaich 922 metres 3 025 ft to the south and Sgurr Mhor at 986 metres 3 235 ft to the north 2 Beinn AlliginSgurr MhorBeinn AlliginHighest pointElevation986 m 3 235 ft 1 Prominencec 601 mParent peakBeinn EigheListingMunro MarilynNamingNative nameBeinn Ailleagan Scottish Gaelic English translationBig PeakPronunciationEnglish ˌ b eɪ n ˈ ae l ɪ ɡ ɪ n bayn AL ig inScottish Gaelic peɲ ˈaːʎaken GeographyBeinn AlliginTorridon ScotlandOS gridNG865613Topo mapOS Landranger 19 24Listed summits of Beinn Alligin Name Grid ref Height StatusSgurr Mhor NG865686 986 m 3 235 ft Munro MarilynTom na Gruagaich NG859601 922 m 3 025 ft Munro MarilynNa Rathanan NG873613 866 m 2 841 ft Corbett TopOne of the most prominent features of Beinn Alligin is a great cleft known as Eag Dhubh na h Eigheachd black gash of the wailing or Leum na Caillich which cuts into the ridge south of the summit It is the scar of the most spectacular rockslide or rock avalanche in Britain which runs out into the corrie of Toll a Mhadaidh Mor It occurred around 3750 years ago and is around 3 5 million cubic metres in volume 3 According to local folklore shepherds on the mountain would hear cries from the gash those who investigated the source of these cries would inevitably fall to their deaths 4 Beinn Alligin lies on the National Trust for Scotland s Torridon Estate 5 which has been owned by the charity since 1967 6 and forms part of both a Site of Special Scientific Interest SSSI and a Special Area of Conservation SAC 7 8 Ascent EditThe usual route of ascent starts from the minor road between Torridon village and Inveralligin following the route of the Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil a river before heading up into the corrie of Coir nan Laogh Steep grassy slopes then lead to the summit of Tom na Gruagaich The main ridge of Beinn Alligin is then followed round to the north leading the hillwalker towards Sgurr Mhor Below the summit of this peak is a deep gash in the hillside known as Eag Dubh the black notch one of Beinn Alligin s most recognisable features View east from Sgurr Mhor over the Horns From the summit of Sgurr Mhor it is possible to continue along the ridge now heading in an easterly direction The ridge at this point becomes much rockier and a series of pinnacles known as the Horns of Alligin Scottish Gaelic Na Rathanan must be negotiated The horns provide good summer scrambling for those with a head for heights but in winter they are a much more serious proposition An alternative descent avoiding the horns can be made by leaving the Beinn Alligin ridge at the bealach between the two summits from where grassy slopes can be followed westwards down into a neighbouring glen This route is not straightforward under winter conditions External links EditComputer generated virtual panoramas Beinn Alligin IndexReferences Edit Beinn Alligin Hill Bagging the online version of the Database of British and Irish Hills DoBIH 2019 Retrieved 19 June 2019 Donald Bennet amp Rab Anderson ed 2016 The Munros Scottish Mountaineering Club Hillwalkers Guide Scottish Mountaineering Trust pp 212 213 ISBN 9780907521945 Ballantyne CK 2007 in Mass Movements of Great Britain ed RG Cooper JNCC 111 116 Ian Mitchell 2004 Scotland s Mountains Before the Mountaineers Luath Press p 136 ISBN 0946487391 Ordnance Survey 1 50000 Landranger map Sheet 24 Raasay amp Applecross National Trust for Scotland 2020 Guide Page 109 Torridon Forest SSSI Scottish Natural Heritage Retrieved 17 July 2020 Loch Maree Complex SAC Scottish Natural Heritage Retrieved 17 July 2020 57 35 27 N 5 34 22 W 57 59082 N 5 572764 W 57 59082 5 572764 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beinn Alligin amp oldid 1081548817, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
