Beinn Alligin is the most westerly of the Torridonian munros and, depending on who you listen to, the gaelic name means either ‘The Jewelled Mountain’ or ‘Mountain of Beauty’. Either translation does this mountain justice and on a clear day the panorama from the summit of Tom na Gruagaich (922m) is outstanding - taking in Sgurr Mhor, easily identifiable by the huge cleft of Eag Dhubh; the Horns of Alligin, famous for their vertigo inducing ridge top scramble; the mighty Beinn Eighe and the peaks and corries of Liatach. Given the energy required to get to launch, a trip up Beinn Alligin with a bag full of paraglider is only likely to appeal to the very enthusiastic, however those who have made the effort have not been disappointed! Tom na Gruagaich is not a site that has been flown regularly, but, as with any of the big mountain launches, the best conditions for a flight here are very light or nil wind conditions. The launch options described cover anything from a west through to south east wind direction and so, given a suitably benign day, it’s very much a case of suck it and see!

From the car park beside the Abhain Coire Mhic Nobuil, cross the road and follow a good path up the west side of the stream. The path crosses the deer fence at a stile and continues up the hillside to where the stream issues from Coire nan Laogh. Here the path zig-zags up the east side of the stream, before steepening for a final climb up onto the flat summit plateau. It is possible to launch from the plateau facing a variety of directions from west through south to south east, from anywhere around the 880m mark. The south east facing launch, straight over the cliffs that line the backwall of Coire nan Laogh is very committing. Landing is possible anywhere on the lower slopes or in the general vicinity of the carpark. Beinn Alligin lies at the seaward end of Glen Torridon and is accessed from the single track road that runs along the north coast of Upper Loch Torridon to the little village of Diabaig. Parking can be found 3 miles after the turn off from the A896, immediately after a bridge over the river flowing out of the glen between Beinn Alligin and Liathach. Tom na Gruagaich is in the Highland Restricted Area (HRA) and midweek flying is subject to strict restrictions. Tom na Gruagaich is in the Highland Restricted Area (HRA) and midweek flying is subject to strict restrictions.