Here is a late report of a grand day’s Corbett bagging. An Ruadh-stac is usually climbed from the Achnashellach road, with an optional “safe” ascent over rough moorland. A much more interesting approach is to take a long run in from Annat on the shore of Upper Loch Torridon. The south Torridon area is well served with a network of good stalkers’ tracks.
Starting in from Annat I was soon into wild hill country with the impressive peak of Maol Chean-dearg looming over the horizon. Further on I passed by Loch an Eoin, hopping over the outflow from the loch by a line of stepping stones. As the track climbed higher the shapely remote side of Beinn Damh came into view. Later, I viewed it beautifully over the water of Loch Coire an Ruadh-stac. By this time An Ruadh-stac had come into view and it looked a beast to climb – bare rock all the way up with hardly a blade of grass to be seen.
The first part of the climb was guarded by a wide band of smooth quartzite rock – easy to walk up in the sunshine but it would be a very different proposition in wet weather. I took the directissimo approach by a sustained rocky scramble nearly all the way to the summit. Several times I found myself wondering how I was going to get down again. The views from the summit were sensational – hills in every direction, the snow-white tops of Beinn Eighe to the east and a tangle of sea and islands to the west.
On the way down Providence guided me to a less hazardous descent. I then had a long run out, back the same way in the late afternoon sun. This time I had dramatic views across to the Torridon hills on the north side of the road. It was one of those perfect days that will stay in my memory for a very long time.
Nigel Rose