Munro · North-West Highlands
Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich
Tom na Gruagaich (922m) — "hill of the maiden" — is the southern Munro of Beinn Alligin in Torridon, the "Jewelled Mountain" of the western Highlands. The summit is a small platform with a trig pillar perched at the top of the steep south face above the Coire nan Laoigh approach. The classic Alligin traverse takes both Munros and the Horns — one of the great Highland ridge days.
Quick facts
- Height
- 922m/ 3025ft
- Prominence
- 155 m
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 811 m
- Time
- 6–9 hrs
- Grid ref
- NG859601
- Parking
- NG868576
- Nearest
- Ullapool· Inverness 82km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
Moorland path 25% · Steep hillside 40% · Summit / ridge 35%
Park at the Coire Mhic Nobuil bridge on the Diabaig road north-west of Torridon village. Take the path west over the small footbridge into Coire nan Laoigh and follow the well-built stone staircase steeply up the south face. The summit gives spectacular views down Loch Torridon to Applecross. Continue north-east over the steep drop and re-ascent to Sgurr Mhor and the Horns. Around 11km with 1200m of ascent for the full circuit.
Terrain
The Coire nan Laoigh path is a remarkable stone-pitched staircase climbing the steep south face on Torridonian sandstone slabs. Above the corrie rim the ridge between Tom na Gruagaich and Sgurr Mhor is exposed and stony with one sharp downward step. The trig point sits at the very edge of the south face — give the lip wide berth in mist.
In winter
A serious Torridon winter mountaineering objective. The Coire nan Laoigh face holds wind-loaded slab and the connecting ridge ices to Grade I/II terrain. SAIS Torridon publishes forecasts for the area. The Diabaig road is single-track and rarely gritted; daylight is brief at this latitude.
This hill is in the Torridon SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow4h 0m
- Edinburgh4h 28m
OS maps: OS Landranger 19, OS Landranger 24
Mobile signal: No bars above 300m. Limited signal at Torridon. The Beinn Alligin circuit is the standard approach to both summits.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:00
- Sunset
- 21:58
- Civil dawn
- 04:02
- Civil dusk
- 22:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich.
Around Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich — common questions
- What difficulty is Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich comes in at 5/5 — very challenging. Expect roughly 16km and 811m of ascent on the usual route — 6-9 hours for most parties. Underfoot: The Coire nan Laoigh path is a remarkable stone-pitched staircase climbing the steep south face on Torridonian sandstone slabs.
- What is Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich's prominence?
- 155m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich?
- Most walkers start from NG868576 near Ullapool. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich?
- May, June, July, August, September give the most reliable conditions on Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich dog-friendly?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich?
- No bars above 300m. Limited signal at Torridon. The Beinn Alligin circuit is the standard approach to both summits.
- Is Beinn Alligin - Tom na Gruagaich safe in winter?
- A serious Torridon winter mountaineering objective. The Coire nan Laoigh face holds wind-loaded slab and the connecting ridge ices to Grade I/II terrain. SAIS Torridon publishes forecasts for the area. The Diabaig road is single-track and rarely gritted; daylight is brief at this latitude.
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