Torridon is an area on the west coast of Ross and Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands. The settlement straggles along the shores of Loch Torridon and takes in Torridon village (also known as Fasaig), Inveralligin and Diabaig to the north of the loch, Annat to the south-east, Shieldaig to the west, and Kinlochewe to the east. It's backed to the north by steep mountains, including several Munros, and the main reason to visit is for hill-walking and climbing.
Get in
By car, follow A835 north-west from Inverness towards Ullapool. Turn onto A832 after Garve, then onto A896 at Kinlochewe. The road from Kinlochewe down Glen Torridon is scenic, but narrow with passing places.
Four trains a day (M-Sa) run from Inverness via Achnasheen, Achnashellach and Strathcarron, continuing via Plockton to Kyle of Lochalsh, for buses to Skye.
DMK Motors Bus 702 runs between Torridon and Strathcarron to connect with these trains. In good weather you could also hike or mountain-bike the 8-mile trail from Achnashellach over to Torridon: what will you do if it's pelting down and dropping dusk when your train gets there?
Westerbus 705 is just a school bus, once on schooldays, leaving Torridon at 07:30 for Gairloch and returning at 15:30.
Get around
Public transport around Torridon is very limited, bus services are infrequent (see Get in above).The easiest way to get around is by car.
Walking or cycling is possible, most of the roads are fairly quiet. Depending on where you are staying, it can be a fairly short walk to get to the routes up the mountains.
You could try hitchhiking.
See
- The Torridonian mountains have striking scenery. Liathach, Beinn Alligin and Bein Eighe (with a nature reserve) are the best known mountains but don't neglect the smaller ones.
- 1 Deer Museum (NTS Countryside Centre) (Near the village, half a mile from the information centre.). Apr-Sept Su-F 10:00-17:00. A small museum run by the National Trust for Scotland, about the life and history of red deer. It has an interesting collection of deer skulls and antlers. There is often a herd of red deer in a nearby field. Free.
- See Gairloch for Inverewe Gardens.
Do
Walking and climbing are the main reason to come to Torridon. There are several Munros - mountains over 3000 feet / 914 m. The highest are north of Loch Torridon, steep and rocky with some scrambling involved.
- 1 Beinn Alligin (3235 ft / 986 m) is a curved ridge, including the Horns of Alligin. It's usually climbed from the lane to Inveralligin: there's a car park at the foot of the path.
- 2 Liathach (3461 ft / 1055 m) is a very steep rocky ridge, and a serious challenge in winter. It's climbed from the A896 in Glen Torridon.
- 3 Beinn Eighe (3310 ft / 1010 m) is a large complex mountain, with multiple summits, spurs and corries. It can be climbed from Glen Torridon or from Kinlochewe.
- 4 Beinn Dearg (2999 ft / 913 m) misses out on Munro status by less than a metre, so it is much less climbed than its neighbours. Use the same start point as for Beinn Alligin.
Hills south of the loch are not quite as high, but give great views across the loch to the mountains beyond. The main peaks are Ben Shieldaig, Beinn Damh and Beinn na h-Eaglaise.
Some lower level walks:
- Follow the path along the north side of Loch Torridon, past Inveralligin, Diabaig and around the coast to Craig bothy. This links to the end of the road at Red Point.
- From the Torridon Hotel, old road/track along the south side of Loch Torridon, to Badan Mhugaidh and Balgy.
- The rugged peninsula to the west is Applecross.
Consult walkhighlands.co.uk for detailed hiking suggestions.
- Or hire a rowing boat at Inveralligin and enjoy the views from the water.
Buy
The village store is well provisioned. It's open M-Sa 10:00-17:00 and has a café.
Eat
- Torridon Hotel has fine dining in their 1887 Restaurant, and pub grub at the Inn.
Drink
- Torridon Inn: see sleep listing. Limited bar opening in winter.
Sleep
- There's a moderate supply of B&B and self-catering accommodation. Try also in Kinlochewe, 10 miles east at the junction of A896 and A832.
- 1 The Torridon, Annat, Torridon IV22 2EY, ☏ 44 1445 791242, ✉[email protected]. The main hotel is an upmarket affair with 18 bedrooms in a 19th C Baronial cod-castle; from £235 per night. Accommodation also in the adjacent Inn, and there's a self-catering cottage. They're open Feb-Nov.
- 2 Torridon Youth Hostel (In village, 200 yards after turning off A896), ☏ 44 1445 791284, ✉[email protected]. Clean well-run hostel open March to October. Dorm £25 ppn.
- 3 Torridon Camp Site, IV22 2EZ (In village just after turning off A896). Basic camp site open all year with toilet and showers, can get boggy. No booking, the Leisure Centre is the contact point. Donation.
- Mol Mor Base Camp (on shore by Deer Museum), ☏ 44 131 458 0305, ✉[email protected]. Bunkhouse run by National Trust for Scotland, sleeps 10 in two 4-bedded and one 2-bedded rooms. Within a converted farm steading at the head of Loch Torridon. Showers, kitchen laundry, oil-fired c/h. Bookings run M-F and F-M. £20 ppn, minimum £100.
- Stalker's Cottage (next to Deer Museum), ☏ 44 131 458 0305, ✉[email protected]. Self-catering cottage run by National Trust for Scotland, sleeps 4 in one double and two singles. In summer it's let Sat-Sat, shorter lets available out of season. £600 / week.
- Applecross Inn is a gem of a small hotel on the west coast looking out towards Raasay.
Connect
Go next
- The road south winds around Loch Carron to Plockton, Dornie and Kyle of Lochalsh, which brings you to Skye.
- Or go east via Kinlochewe and Loch Maree to Gairloch.