Torridon Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty ***
Region: Caithness, Sutherland & Ross
© Copyright Ian Taylor and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Description:
Considered by many to embody the North Highland landscape, Torridon is an ancient and enchanting wilderness of water and rock. The rugged mountains are incredibly old – the Torridonian sandstone that forms the bulk of all the mountains dates back 750 million years. On the west side of the estate the hilly and loch-strewn landscape is even older. Composed of Lewisian Gneiss, it’s over 2,600 million years old and it was the erosion of this land that provided the sediment, laid down in shallow seas, for the sandstone we know today.
Part of the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve is on the Torridon estate and, along with other designations, the estate supports an impressive variety of flora and fauna, including important plant colonies, rare mosses and lichens, and the elusive pine marten and golden eagle.
There’s an amazing choice of walking and climbing routes on the property, with over 18 miles of paths to choose from. Five of the Trust’s Munros are found here, including Liathach, peaking at 1,054m (3,456ft), and Beinn Alligin at 985m (3,230ft).