Tom na Gruagaich (Beinn Alligin)

Tom na Gruagaich, at 922 metres, is the lower of Beinn Alligin's two Munros — "the Mountain of Beauty" — and forms part of what's widely regarded as the easiest and most accessible of Torridon's three great ridge traverses.

The route starts from the car park on the west bank of the Abhainn Coire Mhic Nobuil, about three kilometres west of Torridon village, with attractive waterfalls visible from the road bridge. A path on the west side of the stream — rather than the larger path on the east side — crosses a deer fence stile and climbs steadily onto open moorland before entering the deep scoop of Coire nan Laogh. The clear but rough path zig-zags up the corrie, keeping to the west side of the stream, before emerging on a flatter plateau where the trig point marking Tom na Gruagaich's summit is soon reached.

The mountain was only promoted from a subsidiary top to a full Munro in 1997. From the summit, most walkers continue north-west along the ridge, with steep cliffs to the right, towards Beinn Alligin's higher summit, Sgùrr Mhòr.

The round trip to Tom na Gruagaich and back by the same route is around 8 kilometres; continuing over the full ridge and Horns of Alligin extends this considerably, with most parties allowing seven to eight hours for the complete traverse.

Despite its reputation as Torridon's gentlest big ridge, this remains steep and genuinely mountainous terrain throughout — rocky outcrops require some scrambling even on the standard ascent, and the ground beyond towards Sgùrr Mhòr and the Horns should not be underestimated in poor weather.

Parking at the Coire Mhic Nobuil car park is free but fills quickly in summer; bus services to Torridon are very infrequent.