An Ruadh-mheallan from Bealach na Gaoithe

A hike up An Ruadh-mheallan begins a few miles west of the small village of Torridon, located around 10 miles west of Loch Maree in the north-west Highlands of Scotland.

From Torridon village, take the narrow, single-track road with passing places that leads towards Diabaig. It follows the northern shore of Loch Torridon before beginning to climb and twist uphill. After flattening out briefly and descending past the Beinn Alligin car park, ignore the turn-offs for Inveralligin and Wester Alligin, and continue straight ahead. The road climbs steeply once more, winding through sharp bends before reaching its highest point at Bealach na Gaoithe.

Just beyond the bealach, you'll find a small roadside parking area with a bench offering fine views over Loch Diabaigas Airde. Space is very limited - there's room for only about three vehicles. There are a couple of other smaller places to park in Bealach na Gaoithe.

From the car park, An Ruadh-mheallan's summit lies directly ahead, its slopes marked by distinctive sandstone terraces, though much of the terrain remains hidden at first glance.

Begin by striking out over the rough ground to your right. As you crest a minor rise, the broader landscape opens up - rolling, pathless ground clad in grass and heather, dotted with small lochans nestled among low ridges.

Head roughly in a straight line toward the base of An Ruadh-mheallan. The undulating terrain includes a bit of up-and-down as Loch nan Tri-eileanan is approached. From here, the gradient steepens gradually, with a scattering of striking erratic boulders nearby and distant.

Around 2km from the car park, a short, steeper grassy slope is reached that requires a bit of light scrambling. This leads to a small plateau, where a lochan lies tucked beneath the hill's rounded dome. Skirt around a patch of boulders and scree to pick up a grassy line just east of some craggy ground. At one point, the faint sound of a stream can be heard bubbling underground, only revealing itself higher up.

A short final climb leads to the summit - a broad, flat area with no distinct marker. From here, effort is rewarded with wide-ranging views: over Loch Torridon, westward to Skye, and northwards toward the Flowerdale hills.

Rather than retracing steps directly, from the summit, head east along the flat summit with Beinn Alligin dominating the view ahead. Turning southeast, a more gradual descent is made over gentler terrain - the ground is softer and more grassy than the way up.

Lower down, after crossing a small burn , a route is made roughly parallel to the ascent, but 300-400m further east. Although this return leg is less dramatic as it doesn't pass as close to the lochans, it offers a smoother and arguably more enjoyable walk back to the car park.