Eag Dubh on Beinn Alligin (The Black Cleft)

The Eag Dubh on Beinn Alligin is one of the most prominent features on any mountain in the UK. The Eag Dubh, or Black Cleft, is a deep scar in the face in Beinn Alligin in Torridon and is clearly visible from the valley below. A huge rockslide slipped out of the mountain about 3750 years ago and spilled 3.5 million cubic metres of rock debris onto the floor below. In geological terms, this is a very recent occurrence. The deep gash left is now a prominent feature from below, while the tons of rock debris are clearly visible when looking down from the summit.

People usually walk/scramble Beinn Alligin as a traverse, first taking in the Horns of Alligin and the summit of Na Rathanan (866m). Then the route continues to the summit of Sgurr Mor (986m), after which you pass the Eag Dubh of Beinn Alligin. Next, a descent and then further climb to the summit of Tom na Gruagaich (922m) completes the traverse.

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