“Torridon sparkled for us in early June. Mountains rising steeply from sea level have just enough green to draw you upwards for the rewards of tiny flowers in rocky crevices, views out to Skye and into the wilderness of the north and balcony paths to circumnavigate those horns and pinnacles. At lower levels dragonflies, waterfalls, no ticks, hardly any midges and a restful lodge as our base. A perfect week.” Becky
Trip members: Becky, Damien, Humphrey, Jane, Janet, Matilda, Pravin, Sarah, Yvonne
The June Red Rope trip to Torridon was blessed with perfect weather for summer mountains, with light winds, warm but not too hot, mild temperatures at the tops and absolutely no rain, with just enough wind to keep the midges away. The accommodation at Incheril Lodge was a fantastic location and with great facilities. Nine of us were on this trip, most for the whole week, and the others blending across the remaining spaces. We came from various directions, some coming directly from the south, Pravin, Yvonne and Damien via Ronnan Cottage and Coll and Tiree, Janet from a week on Mull, and Matilda from mountain walking at Killin.
The Torridon mountains feature a mix of ancient Lewisian Gneiss, white quartzites and crumbling reddish sandstones, among others, which make for spectacular scenery and ‘interesting’ walking.
Becky, Sarah, Jane, Pravin, Yvonne, and Matilda enjoyed assorted walks and scrambles on Beinn Eighe, the Black Carls (Beinn Eighe again), Beinn Alligin, Ruadh Stac Mor and Ben Damph, which prompted a later rescue of some tadpoles from an evaporating puddle.
The Beinn Eighe visitor centre’s ‘taster’ Mountain Trail proved surprisingly challenging in reverse for Becky, Janet, Humphrey and Damien. Similarly a shorter ramble around some minor hills in Flowerdale proved almost pathless and not exactly a rest day, although with superb views.
Janet and Damien ticked off longtime ambitions to scale Slioch above beautiful Loch Maree in an epic 12 hour day (long walk-in and back), thank goodness our food was waiting for us on our return.
Other superb days included a coast walk at Diabeg, walks along the river to the shores of Loch Maree, and along Glen Bianasdail, Janet and Yvonne both made a long day out by bike and on foot to hidden Loch Fada, with cuckoos calling and dragonflies hovering while Pravin cycled to Heights of Kinlochewe and an extra cycle ride around Lochs Clair and Coulin.
Proper rest days (i.e. including at least one tea shop) took place at Torridon village, Gairloch and Opinan, with the fantastic Gairloch book/coffee shop, Gairloch beach and a dip in the sea at quiet Opinan for some hardy souls, despite spotting jellyfish floating about.
At the end of the trip Becky, Sarah and Jane just wanted to keep going and squeezed in an extra Munro on their way back on Ben Wyvis.
As usual the trip food was sumptuous, with breakfast and evening meals prepped in the roomy kitchen and served in the cottage posh dining room. Each evening we relaxed in the comfy lounge and planned the next day’s activities.
The trip was made even more special by news of Boris Johnson’s resignation from Parliament on the last Friday night. Hooray!
Thanks to Sarah for organising, Becky for masterminding the menus and food and Humphrey for treasuring, and to all the cooks, washers-up and drivers. An unforgettable week.
More Quotes:
“Thank you to everyone on the trip to Torridon for making me so welcome. It was my first with Red Rope and I enjoyed every minute. Highlights were definitely the scramble on the Black Carls and Beinn Eighe. And all the food especially the scones!” Jane
“Thanks for a lovely trip and thanks to everyone else for making it a success, a wonderful culmination of a three week visit that included whales, dolphins, seals, waders, beaches, Munro’s, Corbett’s: including an unforgettable day on Slioch, and finally a one-minute dip in the Sea.” Damien
“It was brilliant with great company. Proper mountain therapy.” Matilda
“Had a brilliant time, cottage and company lovely, great walks and scrambles and NO TICKS!” Sarah
Trip Report by Janet