Where is torridon near?
Torridon is a tiny village in a big, big landscape. It gives its name to the Torridon sandstone which forms this section of coast plus Sleat the lowland part of Skye, and stretches up to Durness at the northwest tip of Scotland. The sandstone was laid down 1200 to 1000 million years ago in the Mesoproterozoic Era, those heady days when sexual reproduction was invented. (The continents then were roughly in their present shape, but far from their present arrangement.) The sandstone sits "unconformably" on Lewisian gneiss - that means a break in the time sequence, one helluva break as the gneiss is 3000 million years old - three billion. In several areas to the north the gneiss predominates, and it makes up almost all of Lewis (hence the term "Lewisian") and the Uists. The two rock systems have weathered very differently so Torridon has a landscape of stark scenery, with jagged peaks you can climb or at least photograph. As it's remote with difficult transport, it's unspoiled by quarrying or other industry. In 2004 this region became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the North West Highlands Geopark.
By car, follow A835 north-west from Inverness towards Ullapool. Turn onto A832 after Garve, then onto A896 at Kinlochewe. The road from Kinlochewe down Glen Torridon is scenic, but narrow with passing places.
Four trains run M-Sa from Inverness via Achnasheen, Achnashellach and Strathcarron, continuing via Plockton to Kyle of Lochalsh, for buses to Skye.
DMK Motors Bus 702 runs between Torridon and Strathcarron to connect with these trains. In good weather you could also hike or mountain-bike the 8-mile trail from Achnashellach over to Torridon: what will you do if it's pelting down and dropping dusk when your train gets there?
Westerbus 705 is just a school bus, once on schooldays, leaving Torridon at 07:30 for Gairloch and returning at 15:30.
You need your own wheels to get anywhere in this scattered district.
Bealach na Bà is the crest at 2054 ft / 626 m on the Applecross Pass road from Lochcarron to Applecross village. The road is narrow with tight bends and 1-in-8 gradients, and not suitable for caravans or other large vehicles. These must stay on A896 to Kinloch Sheildaig, where you can either continue into Torridon village, or reach Applecross by a coast road that is also narrow and winding but avoids the gradients.
Walking and climbing are the main reason to come to Torridon. There are several Munros - mountains over 3000 feet / 914 m. The highest are north of Loch Torridon, steep and rocky with some scrambling involved.
Hills south of the loch are not quite as high, but give great views across the loch to the mountains beyond. The main peaks are Ben Shieldaig, Beinn Damh and Beinn na h-Eaglaise.
Some lower level walks:
Shieldaig Adventures organise sea-kayaking and other activitities. Shieldaig is at the junction of A896 with the Applecross coast road.
Celtman! Triathlon is an extreme endurance event based in Torridon. Swim 3.4 km in a cold Atlantic where the jellyfish hunt in packs, cycle an on-road loop of 200 km, then run 42 km summiting two Munroes - what's not to enjoy? The winning time is under 11 hours. The next event is 17 June 2023.
As of July 2022, Torridon and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone, but no signal from other carriers. 5G has not reached this area.
NEARBY HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS
Heritage Rated from 1- 5 (low-exceptional) on historic interest
Coire Mhic Nobuil Waterfall - 2.2 miles (Countryside)
Beinn Eighe NNR - 8.6 miles (Countryside)
Rassal Ashwood NNR - 10.7 miles (Countryside)
Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) - 11.7 miles (Countryside)
Strome Castle - 12.9 miles (Castle)
Clachan Church, Applecross - 13.1 miles (Historic Church)
