Coordinates: 57°35′N 5°46′W / 57.58°N 5.76°W / 57.58; -5.76

Loch Torridon
Upper Loch Torridon from the A896. June, 2011.
Loch Torridon  Loch Torridon shown within Scotland
OS grid reference	NG857557
List of places: UK • Scotland

Loch Torridon (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Thoirbheartan) is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland in the Northwest Highlands. The loch was created by glacial processes and is in total around 15 miles (25 km) long. It has two sections: Upper Loch Torridon to landward, east of Rubha na h-Airde Ghlaise, at which point it joins Loch Sheildaig; and the main western section of Loch Torridon proper. Loch a' Chracaich and Loch Beag are small inlets on the southern shores of the outer Loch, which joins the Inner Sound between the headlands of Rubha na Fearna to the south and Red Point to the north.^[1]

The name Thoirbhearta has a similar root to Tarbert and indicates a place where boats were dragged overland.^[2]

Islands[link]

The islets in the loch include:

• in Loch Sheildaig: Eilean an Inbhire Bhàin, Eilean Dùghaill and Shieldaig Island.
• in Upper Loch Torridon: Eilean à Chaoil, Eilean Cnapach, both of which are tidal.
• in outer Loch Torridon: Eilean Mòr, Eilean Tioram, Sgeir Ghlas, Sgeir na Trian.^[1]

Shieldaig Island has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland since 1970. It has a coverage of Scots Pine, which may have grown from seeds taken from Speyside in the mid-19th century.^[3]

Surrounding villages[link]

Loch Torridon as seen from Torridon village

Torridon village lies at the head of the loch and is surrounded by the spectacular Torridon Hills. To the north are the villages of Redpoint, Diabaig, Wester Alligin and Alligin Shuas. To the south is Shieldaig.

Hills[link]

The view north west from the summit of An Ruadh-stac takes in Beinn Damh, Upper Loch Torridon and Beinn Alligin.

The loch is surrounded by various mountains to the north, including Liathach, Beinn Alligin and Beinn Eighe, all of which are over 3,000 feet (910 m) in height.

The Torridon Hills exhibit some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the British Isles, surpassed in grandeur perhaps only by the Cuillins of Skye^{[citation needed]}. The rocks of which they are made are known as Torridonian sandstone, some of which are crowned by white Cambrian quartzite. They are amongst the oldest rocks in Britain, and sit on yet older rocks, Lewisian gneiss.

Fishing[link]

Loch Torridon is an important prawn and shellfish fishery and is home to several salmon farms and industrial mussel production.

Langoustines are fished by creels baited with herring or prawns, which are deployed on lines of up to 120 creels and left on the seabed for at least a day. Most of the catch is exported to Spain. The sustainable seafood certificate for Loch Torridon langoustines was suspended by the Marine Stewardship Council on 11 January 2011, due to increased fishing pressure in the area caused by creel-fishing boats that had not signed-up to the fishery's voluntary code of conduct.^[4]

See also[link]

• Wester Ross

References[link]

1. ^ ^{a b} "Get-a-map". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
2. ^ Iain Mac an Tàilleir. "Placenames" (PDF). Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesP-Z.pdf. Retrieved 2007-07-23. 
3. ^ "Shieldaig". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
4. ^ "MSC Certification Suspended for Loch Torridon Langoustine". Certified Sustainable Seafood. Marine Stewardship Council. 25 January 2011. http://www.msc.org/newsroom/news/msc-certification-suspended-for-loch-torridon-langoustine. Retrieved 26 January 2011. 

Links[link]

• Earth’s earliest non-marine eukaryotes

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Coordinates: 57°32′43″N 5°30′59″W / 57.545313°N 5.51651°W / 57.545313; -5.51651

Torridon
Scottish Gaelic: Toirbheartan
Torridon village
Torridon  Torridon shown within the Highland council area
OS grid reference	NG8956
Civil parish	Applecross
Council area	Highland
Lieutenancy area	Ross and Cromarty
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Achnasheen
Postcode district	IV22
Dialling code	01445
Police	Northern
Fire	Highlands and Islands
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Scottish Parliament	Ross, Skye and Inverness West
List of places: UK • Scotland •

Torridon (Scottish Gaelic: Toirbheartan) is a small village in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. However the name is also applied to the area surrounding the village, particularly the Torridon Hills, mountains to the north of Glen Torridon. It lies on the shore of Loch Torridon.

Location[link]

Torridon is on the west coast of Scotland, 109 miles (175 km) north of Fort William and 80 miles (130 km) west of Inverness. Situated in an area well known to climbers, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, hikers, and countless visitors from around the world, the surrounding mountains rise almost vertically to 3,500 feet (1,100 m) from the deep sea lochs. There is a large hotel,The Torridon, which holds 3 AA Rosettes as well as 4 red stars and is Scottish Hotel of The Year 2011, a popular public bar (The Torridon Inn), and a youth hostel within walking distance. The Torridon area is widely acknowledged as having some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the whole of the British Isles.

Mountains[link]

Liathach seen from Beinn Eighe. With the Munro “Top“ of Stuc a' Choire Dhuibh Bhig (915 metres) in the foreground and the two Munro summits in the background.

The loch is surrounded by numerous mountains to the north, including Liathach, Beinn Alligin and Beinn Eighe, all of which are over 3,000 feet (910 m) feet in height. Specifically, they are:

• Liathach
• Beinn Eighe
• Beinn Alligin
• Beinn Dearg

Hills between Glen Torridon and Strath Carron share much of the splendour and character of the main hills, although perhaps less of the drama:

• Beinn Liath Mhòr
• Sgorr Ruadh
• Maol Cheann-dearg
• Beinn Damh
• An Ruadh-stac
• Fuar Tholl

The triple buttresses of Coire Mhic Fearchair behind Beinn Eighe

See also[link]

• Loch Torridon
• Shieldaig
• Torridon Hills
• Wester Ross

External links[link]

• Torridon.org is the local website, listing accommodation and useful information.
• Torridon walks gives comprehensive information on walks and places to stay in the area, including Gaelic pronunciations and OS maps.
• The Torridon The Website of The Torridon Hotel

This Highland location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e