Southern Fannich’s
25th January 2026
Todays forecasting was in the Southern Fannich’s and a visit to the wild and remote area north of Loch Fannich including the east facing Garbh Coire Mor and Garbh Coire Beag below the Munro, An Coileachan. Whilst other forecast areas (particularly those on the East) continue to accumulate fresh deposits of snow, over in the north-west it remains dry. Grey, dry and cool would sum up conditions today.
Plenty of snow remains on all aspects above 500m. Patchy in places, but increasing in coverage at higher elevations, becoming firm/icy with height. The snowpack continues to consolidate and is generally stable.
The photos below give a flavour of conditions in the Southern Fannich’s today and are representative of snow cover elsewhere within the Torridon region.
Heading up the ‘Hydro Road’ from Grudie towards Loch Fannich. Garbh Coire Mor in the background.
A closer look into Garbh Coire Mor. This low lying East facing corrie was once a popular winter climbing venue. Forming ice lines such as the classic grade five routes of Crystal Tripper and Ravenshead. The corrie floor is c500m so it needs a prolonged cold spell for these low lying routes to come into condition. I wonder when they were last climbed?
Snow patches are present above 500m. Here on a south-east aspect looking up towards An Eigin.
A view looking towards the north-east aspect in Garbh Coire Beag below An Coileachan. Some ice still hanging on. Sadly, the cloud never lifted above c 800m.
Snow cover on a south-east aspect. The summit of An Coileachan (923m) somewhere above in the cloud…
Snow crescent on the south aspect of Beinn Dearg (687m)
Loch Fannich (like many remote areas in Scotland) was significantly changed by the development of hydro electric schemes. This pipe (2m diameter) was constructed between 1946-51 feeding water into the Grudie power station, part of the Conon hydro scheme.
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Duncan Bryden
26th January 2026 6:56 am
Remember walking along the pipe in deep deep snow Hogmanay 1975 heading for Nest of Fannich bothy.
torridonadmin
26th January 2026 4:51 pm
Hi Duncan The ‘pipe’ must have made for a quick route in deep snow! My father always spoke fondly of ‘The Nest of Fannich’ I’ve only ever known it as a ruin I’m afraid.
Dave
26th January 2026 2:45 pm
I think the last time one of the big ice lines in Garbh Coire Mor was logged on UKC was 2016. Routes have been done after this but the only ones I know of were turfy mixed lines. I did Al Capone in 2021, the turf was well frozen but there was no ice about.
torridonadmin
26th January 2026 4:49 pm
Thanks Dave – interesting.