Beinn Dearg

Beinn Dearg stands in the Torridon Hills of the Scottish Highlands. It is the fourth highest hill in the group, with steep terraced sides cut by steep gullies. The summit ridge is narrow and airy, offering easy scrambling or a safer path along the southern terraces. The hill misses the 3 000 ft mark by just 2.42 ft, so it is not classed as a Munro. In 2007 the Munro Society asked CMCR Ltd to measure the summit precisely. The survey confirmed the hill’s height and its non-Munro status. The usual starting point is the car park at the foot of the Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil, shared with Beinn Alligin. Walkers follow the river to its junction with the Allt à Bhealaich, then climb to the bealach between the two hills. From there the western end of the summit ridge is reached. Other routes follow the same river under the hill’s south side, using two gullies to reach the ridge near the subsidiary peak of Carn na Feòla. A full traverse of the 4 km ridge can be made by combining any two of the three main routes. At the top the views are excellent. Surrounding Torridon peaks rise sharply against the sky. The terraces and gullies on the way up show the rugged character of the hill. The narrow summit crest gives a sense of height without serious climbing difficulty. The southern traverse keeps the scrambling to a minimum. From the top the eye travels over the wide glens and lochs of the Highlands.