| Beinn Eighe - Ruadh-stac Mòr | |
|---|---|
Sgurr nan Fhir Duibhe, one of the peaks of Beinn Eighe |
|
| Elevation | 1,010 m (3,314 ft) [1] |
| Prominence | 632 m (2,073 ft) [2] |
| Parent peak | Liathach |
| Listing | Munro, Marilyn |
| Translation | Big Red Stack (Gaelic) |
| Pronunciation | Scottish Gaelic: [peɲ ˈe.ə ˈrˠuəs̪t̪ak ˈmoːɾ] |
| Location | |
| Location | Torridon Hills, Scotland |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 19 |
| OS grid | NG951611 |
| Listed summits of Beinn Eighe | ||||
| Name | Grid ref | Height | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruadh-stac Mòr | NG951611 | 1,010 m (3,314 ft) | Marilyn, Munro | |
| Spidean Coire nan Clach | NG966597 | 993 m (3,258 ft) | Munro, Marilyn | |
| Sail Mhòr | NG938605 | 980 m (3,215 ft) | Munro Top, Murdo | |
| Còinneach Mhòr | NG944600 | 976 m (3,202 ft) | Munro Top, Murdo | |
| Sgùrr Bàn | NG974600 | 970 m (3,182 ft) | Munro Top, Murdo | |
| Sgùrr nan Fhir Duibhe | NG981600 | 963 m (3,159 ft) | Munro Top, Murdo | |
| Creag Dhubh | NG983604 | 930 m (3,051 ft) | SubMurdo | |
| Creag Dhubh North Top | NG985607 | 909 m (2,982 ft) | deleted Munro Top | |
| Ruadh-stac Beag | NG972613 | 896 m (2,940 ft) | Corbett, Marilyn | |
Beinn Eighe is a complex mountain massif in the Torridon area of the Highlands of Scotland. It forms a long ridge with many spurs and summits, two of which are classified as Munros. The name Beinn Eighe comes from the Scottish Gaelic meaning File Mountain. Unlike the neighbouring hills of Liathach and Slioch it has a cap of Cambrian basal quartzite which gives the peaks of Beinn Eighe a distinctive light colour. Its complex topology has made it popular with both hillwalkers and climbers and the National Nature Reserve on its northern side makes it an accessible mountain for all visitors.
Contents |
Located between Loch Maree and Glen Torridon on the west coast of Scotland, Beinn Eighe is a complex mountain. A main ridge runs on a line extending from close to Kinlochewe in the north-east to the narrow glen of the Coire Dubh Mor separating it from the neighbouring mountain of Liathach in the south-west. The slopes into Glen Torridon on the south side are steep with few features and covered in white quartzite screes. On the north side are four large corries between which are a series of spurs extending out from the main ridge.[3]
Two of Beinn Eighe's summits are classified as Munros. Ruadh-stac Mòr ('Big Red Stack' in Scottish Gaelic) is on one of the spurs off the main ridge and stands at a height of 1,010 m (3,314 ft). The second Munro, Spidean Coire nan Clach ('Peak of the Corrie of Stones' in Scottish Gaelic), is the highest point on the main ridge itself. It stands at a height of 993 m (3,258 ft) and commands an extensive view over both Glen Torridon and the rest of the Beinn Eighe massif.
One of the most famous features of Beinn Eighe is the corrie of Coire Mhic Fearchair, often simply known as the “Triple Buttress Corrie” after the three large rock features which dominate the view from the north. There are many rock climbs on the buttresses and hillwalkers can access the tops of the buttresses from the head of the corrie.
Beinn Eighe is unusual amongst the Torridon mountains in that its summit is not composed of Precambrian Torridonian Sandstone, but Cambrian basal quartzite, a very hard but brittle rock. This gives it its familiar light coloured summits, a notable contrast to the other peaks in the area. Underlying the quartzite is a bed of Torridonian Sandstone.
Beinn Eighe's complex topology offers both hillwalkers and climbers a wide variety of routes, climbs and traverses. For the hillwalker a popular route is the western traverse which includes both of the Munro summits and Coire Mhic Fearchair. A full traverse of Beinn Eighe includes navigating a series of pinnacles known as the Black Carls, which provide good scrambling and are located at the eastern end of the main ridge. Approached from the National Nature Reserve the Black Carls are a popular climb in their own right. Also within the National Nature Reserve, a moderate route ascends to the 'Conservation Cairn' at 560 m (1,837 ft) which offers extensive views of the surrounding landscape including Loch Maree and the nearby mountain Slioch.
The northern side of Beinn Eighe is a National Nature Reserve managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. Formed in 1951 it was the first such area in Great Britain.[4] Based around a visitor centre located two miles north-west of Kinlochewe the reserve covers 4,800 hectares. It has extensive marked trails through woodland on the lower slopes of Beinn Eighe, picnic areas and viewpoints.
The reserve covers a mixture of open moorland, woodland and bogs, and is home to a number of protected species, including red deer, golden eagles and pine martens. Many rare plants, including two variants of dwarf shrub heath and a western variant of moss heath, are also to be found on the reserve.
In addition to the National Nature Reserve facilities the area is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. This provides a field station with full laboratory facilities for up to fourteen people.[5] The station is used by scientists and researchers to co-ordinate field data recording and also provides a base for undergraduate fieldwork.
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