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| Liathach   | 
| Page Type: Mountain/Rock Location: Torridon area, Scotland, Europe Lat/Lon: 57.56438°N / 5.4827°W Elevation: 3456 ft / 1053 m | Page By: desainme Created/Edited: Sep 26, 2003 / Jul 20, 2009 Object ID: 151909 Hits: 4500 Loading... Page Score: 89.72% - 28 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Overview
This mountain is the largest in the vicinity of Loch Torridon a sea loch(lake) on the west coast of Scotland. You can see the Isle of Skye from Liathach. The mountain has a large prehistoric look to it and the main ridge line runs east and west. Remember it does arise from sea level at the northeast end of the upper loch and therefore will be somewhat larger than what one might expect given the modest elevation.
The peaks of Liathach are as follows:
Meall Dearg Red Hill 3150ft 960m Top
Mullach an Rathain Summit of the Pinnacles 3358ft 1023m Munro
Am Am Fasarinen The Talons 3050ft 927m Top
Spidean a'Choire Leith Pointed Peak of the Grey Corrie 3456ft 1054m Munro
Bidean Toll'a Mhuic Pointed Peak of the Pig's Hollow 3200ft 975m Top
Stuc a'Choire Diubh Bhig Peak of the Deep Black Corrie 3004ft 915m Top
A Munro is an objective of the Scottish hillwalker and some climbers. Much as folks in Colorado visit "fourteeners" or climbers in the Alps do "4000 m" peaks, the Scottish hillwalker has a list of 3000 foot mountains which (s)he visits in a more or less systematic way. Liathach is one of the more worthy targets of this pastime akin for example to an ascent of Crestone Needle or some such peak in Colorado. Some writers advise carrying a rope because escape off parts of the mountain may be treacherous. The northern pinnacles are one such place.
One way to tour this mountain is to start at the Ling Hut and walk north up the valley east of Liathach and turn westward along the foot of its North face. You ascend Meall Dearg by walking southward after some effort reach its 3150 summit. Then do the northern pinnacles and gain the main ridge after which you climb eastward along the spine of the mountain hitting Am Fasarinen The Talons 3050ft and then Stuc a'Choire Diubh Bhig 3456 feet the summit. Continue walking east to the east end and descend the southeastern ridge of the mountain. A corrie is a Scottish term for a Colorado "basin". It can snow in June and during the winter Liathach is a challenging climb with the usual alpine gear. The above tour is 12 miles and one might expect to spend 8 hours. Of course in the summer at this latitude you have a whole lot of daylight. The main ridge is graded Scottish grade II.
I think you pronounce it LYEE-uh-ghuch meaing the grey hoary one.
Getting ThereGet to Glascow and drive north 101km on the A82 toward Fort William.
Continue on the A-82 northeast up past Loch Lochy (Great Glen is a big valley the bisects the Scottish highlands from Fort William up to the northeast end of Loch Ness) At Inverarry, leave the Great Glen and pick up A87 westbound. Continue north on A-890 til A-A896 which takes you to the village of Torridon at the head of the loch and the foot of Liathach.
I reckon that this is about 300km.
Mappy recommended a more easterly approach:
0 Km 0H00 Glasgow City (United Kingdom)
0 m 0H00 Exit from Glasgow City [930m]
at the sign
M8
Carlisle
Stirling
Edinburgh
930 m 0H02 Take the M8 [3.0km]
3 Km 0H05 Rejoin the M80 [6.9km]
in the direction of M80
Kincardine Bridge
Stirling
10 Km 0H09 Exit and take the A80 [16.7km] while following
Stirling
in the direction of A80
A80(E)
Stirling
via North Lanarkshire
27 Km 0H22 Take the M80 [11.7km] while following
Crianlarich - Perth
in the direction of M80
Perth
Stirling
39 Km 0H29 Carry on the M9 [9.8km]
in the direction of M9
Perth
49 Km 0H35 Exit and take the A9 [223.3km] while following
Crianlarich - Inverness
in the direction of A9
Perth
via Perth And Kinross
via Highland
Kessock Bridge
272 Km 03H25 Carry on the A9 [8.8km]
281 Km 03H31 Go through a place and carry on the A835 [69.0km]
via Highland
350 Km 04H37 In Highland turn left on the A896 [16.0km]
366 Km 04H52 Enter into Highland [1.2km]
367 Km 04H59 Torridon (Highland, United Kingdom)
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=192500&y=857500&z=3&sv=192500,857500&st=4&ar=N&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=842
Map
When To ClimbIt is a late spring through early fall climb. Remember that the northerly latitude and proximity to the Atlantic can bring rain and snow very quickly.
CampingThere is a youth hostel in Torridon and camping is available on request The Scottish Mountain Club own a cabin near the mountain called the Ling Hut. It appears to be3 km or so east of Torridon and is at the S.E. corner of Liathach.
Maps include:
Ordnance Survey 1:50000 Sheet 25
Ordnance Survey 1:25000 The Cuillin & Torridon Hills
http://www.mountaineering-scotland.org.uk/huts/hutlist2.html#ling
Ling Hut
If planning a trip to this area I think it would help to write to the Scottish Mountaineering Club at
http://www.smc.org.uk/about_us.htm
Weatherhttp://www.onlineweather.com/v4/uk/city/Fort_William.html
Weather
Info update from Climber Andrew Hagen:
As I recall, when we drove into Glen Torridon from the East (July 2003) we passed a house by a bridge where there was an up to date mountain weather forecast up on a board. This proved to be accurate when we did the climb that day.
I wouldn't know if this is permanent, but it was certainly useful to us as we were touring and didn't have TV or internet access at the time.
Lodgings Bed and BreakfastSTB Three Star
"Cromasaig", Torridon Road, Kinlochewe, Wester Ross, IV222PE
Tel: 01445 760234 or email: cromasaig
Map of LiathachMap Images
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