Torridon 7
- hiking scotland
Today, I’m having a rest day. I’ve put the memory of my stressful drive up north aside and decide to drive to Applecross, a peninsula that can be reached via a legendary and very steep mountain pass to Bealach na Ba. At the bealach is a car park, and from there you can walk up to a mast and then continue along a nice little ridge to the top of Sgurr a’ Chaorachain, a corbett.
I’m quite comfortable with single track roads now - it’s easy to stay in my lane when that’s the only lane there is! However, I’ve heard a lot about the steep serpentines on this road, and I’m a little bit nervous.
But no need! Traffic turns out fairly light, and my little car is strong and enjoys the climb. Up at the bealach, I walk up to the mast and turn right - and walk right up the wrong bump first. Oops. Eventually, I find the right ridge to follow - it would have been easier if the clouds were higher up. Two other walkers are ahead of me, and that’s good to know. With scrambles, I seem to need permission to go, but if other people are doing them it must be ok.
There are a few small peaks to climb over, some of them very rocky and hands are being used. Such fun! It’s like being a monkey child in the trees again.
To my left, I can see the next ridge with almost vertical slopes. To my right is clouds. I reach the end of the spur, which is the top, and have lunch. I turn back, do the scrambles again the other way, giving the bypasses a miss. The clouds lift and I see Skye.
Back at the car park I enjoy the view a bit more before driving over the pass to the Applecross villages. This side is less steep, and the views ahead are lovely - the sea, the islands, the trees and villages by the water.
I stop near the Applecross Inn and have a coffee outside, watching the sea. A little dog really really doesn’t like the rocky beach and presses all four feet into the ground, against the pull of its owner. There is a stag in a garden next to the pub. I drive along the coast back to Torridon village, making many stops to let the ten Ferraris pass that have been following me, and enjoy the sun that has come out properly now, and the views.
A quiet day. Lazy. I’m getting ready to leave Torridon tomorrow, but I’ll be back for sure. There are a few ridge walks with my name on them. I chat with someone in the hostel who texts his mum because he says she can sense it when he is out hillwalking, and she might worry. I call my parents too.
I’m quite comfortable with single track roads now - it’s easy to stay in my lane when that’s the only lane there is! However, I’ve heard a lot about the steep serpentines on this road, and I’m a little bit nervous.
But no need! Traffic turns out fairly light, and my little car is strong and enjoys the climb. Up at the bealach, I walk up to the mast and turn right - and walk right up the wrong bump first. Oops. Eventually, I find the right ridge to follow - it would have been easier if the clouds were higher up. Two other walkers are ahead of me, and that’s good to know. With scrambles, I seem to need permission to go, but if other people are doing them it must be ok.
There are a few small peaks to climb over, some of them very rocky and hands are being used. Such fun! It’s like being a monkey child in the trees again.
To my left, I can see the next ridge with almost vertical slopes. To my right is clouds. I reach the end of the spur, which is the top, and have lunch. I turn back, do the scrambles again the other way, giving the bypasses a miss. The clouds lift and I see Skye.
Back at the car park I enjoy the view a bit more before driving over the pass to the Applecross villages. This side is less steep, and the views ahead are lovely - the sea, the islands, the trees and villages by the water.
I stop near the Applecross Inn and have a coffee outside, watching the sea. A little dog really really doesn’t like the rocky beach and presses all four feet into the ground, against the pull of its owner. There is a stag in a garden next to the pub. I drive along the coast back to Torridon village, making many stops to let the ten Ferraris pass that have been following me, and enjoy the sun that has come out properly now, and the views.
A quiet day. Lazy. I’m getting ready to leave Torridon tomorrow, but I’ll be back for sure. There are a few ridge walks with my name on them. I chat with someone in the hostel who texts his mum because he says she can sense it when he is out hillwalking, and she might worry. I call my parents too.
