Sunset and sunrise on Spidean Coire nan Clach - Beinn Eighe
The rocky ridge between Spidean Coire nan Clach on Beinn Eighe towards Coinneach Mhor and Ruadh-stac Mòr
The Beinn Eighe massif in Torridon was designated as Britain's first National Nature Reserve in 1951. The NNR website details how the massif 'embraces a vast area of 48 square kilometres' between Loch Maree and Glen Torridon, 'stretching from loch-side to mountain top', with a 'huge cluster of rugged peaks, ridges and scree-covered slopes' in between. Two of these peaks are Munros, or Scottish peaks over 3,000ft / 914.4m meters high. To the west is Ruadh-stac Mòr, above the fantastic Loch Coire Mhic Fearchair, and to the east, at the end of a c2.5km long ridge that includes the Black Carls, is the rocky Spidean Coire nan Clach.
This was my thirteenth (and fourteenth*) ascent of Spidean Coire nan Clach on Beinn Eighe above Glen Torridon (I used to photograph the Celtman Extreme Triathlon and always made a point of going to the summit) but it was the first time I’d chosen to spend the night. After a hot and muggy ascent, I was blessed with a cool breeze which increased to c.40mph through the night and saw me cooried in beside the trig point at 972/977m with a warm jacket on but no sleeping bag. Sunset and sunrise wasn't the best I imagine it could be for photography but the joy of being alone on top of a Munro never stops. A midnight clamber along the rocky ridge to Spidean Coire nan Clach’s summit was fun - if regrettably too short - as is the continuation of said ridge out to the Black Carls (which I've done before, on an east to west traverse of Beinn Eighe from Kinlochewe - and would highly recommend).
I’d have loved to have stayed out but unfortunately work needs pressed and I was home for 9am.
(*) The additional ascent was due to my losing a memory card at the car park in Glen Torridon when I opened my camera bag to retrieve my car keys, and losing all my sunset images from the night before. Which was both annoying and embarrasing. I put out a message on Walk Highlands and UK Hillwalking to no avail - my bad - and, after a few weeks of stewing about it, I decided I was just going to have to go back and take some new photos . No great hardship for me other than the 850m climb - and I struck lucky with even better light - but it was a large lesson learned as regards to backing up cards on location.
Strong afternoon sunshine lights up the rocky summit of Spidean Coire Nan Clach on Beinn Eighe
The view over Allt Coire Ruadh-staca and Glen Grudie towards Poolewe
The sun sets behind the summit of Ruadh-stac Mòr, a Munro on Beinn Eighe
The sun sets behind Loch Ewe from the summit of Spidean Coire nan Clach
The moon rises above Loch Clair in Glen Torridon, Scotland, as seen from the summit of Spidean Coire nan Clach
The morning sun colouring the sky pink behind Spidean Coire nan Clach summit ridge
Looking east at dawn from the summit of Spidean Coire nan Clach, including the Black Carls
Dawn light on the rocky ridge between Spidean Coire nan Clach on Beinn Eighe towards Coinneach Mhor and Ruadh-stac Mòr
The morning sun rising over the shoulder of Spidean Coire nan Clach, with the rocky ridge out to the Black Carls
Spidean Coire Nan Clach at sunrise looking north-east towards Sgurr Ban and the Black Carls
Looking west from the summit of Spidean Coire nan Clach on Beinn Eighe towards Liathach and Ruadh-stac Mòr
Looking west from the rocky ridge of Spidean Coire nan Clach towards Liathach and Ruadh-stac Mòr