Coronation Weekend in Torridon, May 2023

         Feral Beauties on Tour in Torridon

Celebrating our (running) way the Coronation Weekend

Torridon what a place! I remember and will always remember the first time driving into the area with Paul, the view never fails to amaze me!! Mountains, ridges, and this time lovely blue skies. 

We broke the six hour drive with a stop at Aviemore. Natalie is usually the planner behind our adventures and I contribute! This was my contribution- a bivvy alongside Loch Morlich. Natalie’s challenge (or one of) for the year is a monthly bivvy, I have promised to join her.  This was to be my first, her 5th for May. We eventually found the perfect spot, sheltered and on the beach. Full moon, gentle breeze, water lapping, (thankfully the loch is not tidal, we could sleep safe in the knowledge we would not get wet!).

Loch Morlich Bivvy

We awoke to a lovely blue sky, had breakfast on the beach, then got on our way.  Two hours further up the road to our final destination and meet up with Harry and Karen (H&K). The drive was lovely, we touched base with Summit Ultra heading out to the Scafell’s back home, arriving at Torridon to a perfect day.

We drove to Shieldaig, our start point today, for a reccy of a fairly big challenge, if conditions allowed we may pull the whole thing off, but if not the time spent would be very useful for next time! The Ring of Stirling (Ros), a swim run challenge. 

The first hiccup of the day was soon visualised, the white horses dancing in the bay that is the first swim! This is a tidal swim over Loch Torridon, which can only be swum at slack tide. Conditions weren’t favourable so back to the drawing board! 

Bags packed, Natalie headed off in the opposite direction to the original plan, up and over Beinn Shieldaig, swam over Loch Damh, where I joined her to climb Beinn Damh. Karen met Natalie for the start of the swim, Harry and I paddled over to the other side of the loch to fish her out! A little bit choppy but so far so good!  We set off steady to let Natalie recover, admiring her legs as we went - oohh the heather roots had a lot to answer for.  We were thanked for adapting to the change of plan so obligingly!

       

I’m ready for my first climb of the day. Unfortunately we left the path too soon, making the climb harder than it needed to be, but never mind we made it. A large herd of deer passed at a distance, lochs for as far as the eye could see. Eventually we made the summit, it was a grand view. I didn’t think Beinn Damh was such a big climb, how foolish of me! It was a smooth run down with a nice finish through some woodland, and a mile or so along the road to the start of the climb up Liathaic. 

   

Karen and Harry met us here with provisions and a surprise pot of pasta, I got a little too comfortable but after a gentle reminder we had a job to do we were then on our way. We were royally titled here “Feral Beauties”. A name that will remain for some time to come!! 

The climb up Liathaic was surprisingly ok, once on the first top, Mullach an Rathain, we got the view we were both waiting for – the pinnacles. It was a pretty wow moment! On the way up we were questioned on our choice of direction – it sounded like our descent may be quite a challenge ~ something to look forward too!! I actually described the munro as a gentle giant – but this kind of diminished when we reached Spidean a’ Choire Leith looking over to Stuc a’ Choire Dhuibh Bhig.  From here there was another marathon before we descended!! It was all amazing the sun lowering over the bay and we were safe in the knowledge of another meet up with K&H. The descent wasn’t too bad!

Pasta pit stop behind a large boulder looking up at the scree slope we had to climb on our next ascent to Beinn Eighe. Quick massage from Karen relieved some tension in my shoulders. Bellies filled, and news K&H would walk up to the next swim, we got on our way. The scree was hard work and it felt like we would never reach the bealach. As we had summised we should reach Ruadh-stac Mor on Beinn Eighe, just in time for sunset. It was timed to perfection!

So we are nearing the end of our day, the decision made to call it a reccy.  My cold is worsening, two swims in the dark in unknown territory not ideal, and there will be no H&K until the final swim tomorrow. I am running with a GP, so safe in the knowledge if anything happens to me I will live. Not quite the case for Natalie! There is always another day.

   

The final swim over Loch Coire Mhic Fhearchair (for Natalie).  As Nats got changed under the Triple Buttress, I sussed out the path! Goggles on/rucksack laiden we both set off, I couldn’t see her in the water just had to hope she re-emerged at the other side! There was a light at the other end, guiding us both!! Rather cold Natalie got dressed assisted by K&H (what a great support team they are). Head torches on we began the descent down the corrie guided by a full moon. Wow what a day! We ended the day on a high, finding the perfect bivvy stop overlooking Loch Torridon, no midges, gentle breeze, full moon. We had earned our sleep!

Day 2: We have a pass for upto three days, the weather forecast in Torridon is an improving one. What is the plan for today? Iv hiked Beinn Alligin with Paul, but not the Horns of Alligin. We girls believe in getting through our ‘to do lists’.  Decision made whilst we rose from our bivvies, had breakfast and got on our way.  Sun tan lotion applied, we were soon running in t’shirts. Alligin has two summits Tom na Gruagaic and Sgurr Mor. It is included in the RoS, being either the first or last depending on the direction taken. It gave us very good views over the RoS route.  

 Today is also the day of King Charles coronation, we did fly the flag! The day went by almost without incident, the Horns were descended without any problem and then I fell. A moments lack of concentration I literally flew through the air. I seemed to have escaped unscathed. A welcome dip in the river on the way down and back to the car. Pot Noodles with a seat and a view over Loch Torridon. Perfect!

The plan is to go home now and we actually did set off to drive home. “It would be nice to see K&H one last time”, “its such a nice afternoon, lets stay for a drink”. We turned around (we hadn’t driven far!!), and ended up staying the night. A dip, a sunset meal for four over looking the bay from Diabaig, and an attempted third bivvy. This was not to be. My cough increased, Natalie attracted the midges! Tent up at midnight, we both slept sound. 

Day 3: Lets make the most of the day. We overlooked a very nice looking Corbett yesterday, (only not a Munro by 1ft! @ 2999ft.) Beinn Dearg and Carn na Feola. 

We did the long walk in first, up and over, and a shorter walk out. Also we might have a final final meet with K&H who are doing the walk in reverse. Maybe lucky on the choice of direction a nice climb up a ‘bad step’, (wouldn’t have been so nice down climbing), Natalie kindly sent me up first, to test and inform on the rest of the route! It was here we spotted a golden eagle, oohhh what a sight! Highlight of the day, but not lucky enough to get a photograph. Some sights just have to be savoured! 

I went a bit down hill from here, my cold taking its toll against the efforts of the weekend. We summitted, posed, took in the views, met H&K and had a final, final meet.  For all the running we do, we can also take it easy and just enjoy being in our surroundings. 

   

The best dip of the weekend, bikinis on, the feral beauties have a had an amazing time. 

   

Back at the car, love note left for H&K, we did leave Torridon. The only rain we saw was as we drove off. It didn’t last long!

What a weekend, one I will remember forever, as I do the first and second trip here with Paul.  Torridon holds a very special in my heart. 

That is not the end, Natalie returned the following weekend and completed the Ring of Stirling, with the support of Karen & Harry. This is her story to tell. 

I await our next adventure!