A fourth day of mountain walking just after Christmas brought the gift of the best views and conditions of the festive season on the Corbett, Beinn Damh in Torridon.
It was a late decision to head to Torridon, but a great one as it turned out. Less than 1.5 hours’ drive from home, Hubby G and I arrived at at the start of a path to the 903m summit. There are various spots for parking close to the Torridon Inn.
The walk begins on a path that winds through beautiful woodlands. Although it was late December, we quickly warmed up with the constant uphill.
We passed a few other walkers enjoying the calm and sunny weather before meeting, by chance, Hazel Strachan. The enthusiastic Munro bagger is closing in on her 11th round!
Looking back through gaps in the trees, including many Scots pines, we could see the stunning ridge of Liathach and across Loch Torridon to the distinctive outline of Beinn Alligin.
There are trods to follow for most of the route, although they come and go as you climb out of the woods and on to the upper level of a corrie, where the gradient steepens. It isn’t too severe but enough to make us know we were working harder.
G and I stopped every now and again to look back at the ever widening views over Torridon. In the winter sunshine, the vista was breath-taking.
Meeting more Corbett bagging friends
I already knew that our bagging friends Gus and his son Marc were planning to walk Beinn Dàmh, although they had set off earlier.
As we gained a flatter section of a broad ridge higher up the Corbett, Gus and Marc descended towards us. It was great to see them and to have a quick catch up.
I had last walked with them on Marc’s last Munro in the summer. In fact, we first bumped into the father and son walkers on Liathach in May 2017.
From the broad ridge, we walked in a south-easterly direction, enjoying superb views over Loch Dàmh, towards Kishorn, Applecross and out across the sea to the Island of Skye.
The path comes and goes, but in the fine weather it was obvious where we were heading.
The terrain also becomes more stoney and rocky and the ridge narrows higher up. It’s not a tricky ridge but it does undulate a bit and at times there are steep drops to one and then the other side.
As we made the final climb, I was aware of the slope dropping more steeply to my left and into a coire.
The summit is marked with a cairn – and the view is superb. We were lucky with the clear sky, while the snowy topped peaks only added to the magical panorama.
We stopped and stared, turning round and round, and exclaiming at how fabulous the Scottish landscape is.
A fabulously scenic descent, too
We followed the same route back. Walking in this direction, as the sun was setting, provided almost constantly amazing views.
Cloud had started drifting in from the west and it settled in beautiful strips below us and over Loch Torridon.
This is a Corbett to walk in good weather and it’s a relatively easy half day out.
Beinn Dàmh route details
Distance: 11.5km
Total elevation: 1188m
Summit: 903m
Corbetts bagged: 71