The Torridon Mountains, North West Highlands

Torridon Youth Hostel, £13 per person per night (2007 prices): This is a well equipped Youth Hostel with very good kitchen facilities and a big effective drying room. The dorms vary in size from six bed to sixteen bed dorms. Overall since my last stay, it feels like they've removed some beds thus increasing the amount of personal space for each person.

Communal spaces are also generous. The dining area is big, with large windows letting in a lot of light. Similarly the TV room is spacious with a large southerly view out across the coulins.
Gerry's Hostel, £12 per person per night + sheet hire (2007 prices): The oldest independant hostel in Scotland. It's found in Craig near Achnashellach in Glen Carron. It's well suited for foot access to many of the hills - particularly those on the south side of Glen Carron. However shops and pubs are not within walking distance.

The hostel itself is small, with beds for ~24 people. The common/dining room has a rustic style, and has an old record player dating back many decades. Gerry likes his classical music and often entertains his guests with it. Kitchen facilities aren't really all that good, but they are funcional. The oven and many of the cooking rings run off 13 amp sockets, though there also gas rings. The drying room is effective, and there is a washing machine, but I don't think the drying room is large enough to dry out 24 sets of wet clothing in a night.
Ledgowan Lodge Bunkhouse, Achnasheen £12 per person per night + sheet hire (2007 prices): This bunkhouse is part of the Ledgowan Lodge hotel. The bunkhouse is quite small and very basic, maybe catering for just 16 people or so. Each room has 2 beds in a bunk format and it has effective electric heaters. The kitchen facilities are terribly basic, consisting of just a microwave oven, a fridge and some cooking rings. On the basis of this, the bunkhouse isn't suited for long stays, just a weekend. The general idea is that you buy food in the bar, which was reasonably priced from what I recall. Drying facilities are in the main hotel, though be warned, the route to it is rather complicated so do ask reception where it is!!

On it's own, the price of the bunkhouse is over the top, however you must consider that you have full use of communal hotel facilities, and there is nothing like sitting down in front of a log fire in the public lounge on exquisite old leather sofas with deep pile carpets. Do remember to take your boots off beforehand won't you!

Travel
Wester Ross Timetables Detail all bus and postbus services for this area

Trains to Achnasheen, Achnashellach & Loch Carron from Inverness

Introduction
The mountains around Torridon take on a different form compared to those mountain areas further east and south. The mountains stand out separate and proud rather than linked by huge long ridges. They really are quite unique and the general area is regarded as the finest in Scotland.

The Horns of Alligin seen from Beinn Dearg

Torridon has the famous trio of Beinn Alligin, Liathach, and Beinn Eighe. These three mountains are all Scottish classics. They all provide grand ridge walking with Liathach having what is the most serious winter mainland ridge in Scotland. The other mountains will also offer something in the way of steepness but provide much less formiddable introductions to the area.

The Principle
summit of
Liathach seen
across Coire na
Caime

Smooth steep cliffs on Beinn Eighe

Let's not forget the Coulin forest south of Glen Torridon and other surrounding mountains. These mountains have some similar characteristics to their northern neighbours but without the narrow ridges. This area is has many peaty lochs and pools among the moorland between the mountains and although the moorland is quite wet, the paths that cross the area are generally regarded as the best to be found in Scotland.

Loch Shieldaig