Northwest Highlands
Torridon Hills (Liathach, Beinn Alligin) — Parking
Torridon Village Car Park · Grid ref NG 896 565 · IV22 2EZ · No charge published — check the signs on site
Quick facts
- Grid reference
- NG 896 565
- Postcode (satnav)
- IV22 2EZ
- Spaces
- A small village car park; no space count is published.
- Cost
- No charge published — check the signs on site
- Surface
- not recorded
Parking charge: No charge published — no operator publishes a tariff for this car park that we could find (28 Oct 2026); check the signs on site.
From the car park
The car park sits in Torridon village beside the General Store, at the foot of Liathach's massive southern face. The usual Liathach paths leave from lay-bys on the A896 east of the village and climb steeply into the corries. For Beinn Alligin, drive about 3km west to its own car park on the Diabaig road at NG 869 576.
Heading for the top? Torridon weather — wind, cloud & which forecast to use →
The walk
Torridon's two major Munros — Liathach and Beinn Alligin — rank among Scotland's finest and most demanding ridge walks. Liathach's main ridge involves unavoidable scrambling on the Pinnacles traverse. Beinn Alligin's Horns of Alligin ridge is slightly more moderate but equally spectacular. Both routes offer Torridonian sandstone architecture that feels uniquely ancient. Allow a full day for either.
Facilities
- Information board
- Torridon General Store nearby
Busy times
Torridon never reaches the crowds of Ben Nevis or Ben Lomond but is very popular with experienced hillwalkers in summer. July and August weekends are the busiest. Winter is very quiet but the routes are serious mountaineering terrain in full winter conditions.
Getting here without a car
Very limited, but there is a bus. Westerbus 705 (Shieldaig – Gairloch) runs on weekdays only, with stops at Torridon General Store, the Youth Hostel and Torridon Road End, and on to Kinlochewe (bustimes.org, read 28 Oct 2026). Check the current timetable before relying on it; for most visitors a car is still the practical option.
Winter access
The A896 approach can be snowbound or icy in severe winter weather. The single-track sections between Kinlochewe and Torridon are particularly susceptible. Liathach's Pinnacles are Grade II/III in winter, requiring full mountaineering equipment. Check sais.gov.uk for the Torridon avalanche forecast.
Overflow parking
A896 roadside lay-bys — never block passing places. The Beinn Alligin car park on the Diabaig road (NG 869 576) is a separate start, about 3km west.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:31
- Sunset
- 16:40
- Civil dawn
- 06:50
- Civil dusk
- 17:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Is Liathach suitable for beginners?
- No — Liathach is one of Scotland's most challenging Munro ridges. The main ridge involves unavoidable Grade 2–3 scrambling on the Pinnacles section with significant exposure. It should only be attempted by experienced hillwalkers with scrambling ability.
- How long is the drive from Inverness to Torridon?
- Allow around two hours from Inverness, via Achnasheen and Kinlochewe and the A896 — the last stretch is slow, and much of the wider area is single-track with passing places.
- Is parking at Torridon free?
- No operator publishes a charge for the village car park or the Beinn Alligin car park that we could find (28 Oct 2026), but that is not the same as a guarantee — read the signs on arrival.
- What is the best Torridon hill for a first visit?
- Beinn Alligin is generally considered more approachable than Liathach, with the Horns of Alligin traverse providing exciting scrambling that can be bypassed if desired. Tom na Gruagaich (the westernmost top at 922m) can be climbed and returned without committing to the full horseshoe.
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