{"id":25119,"date":"2023-03-31T07:19:56","date_gmt":"2023-03-31T05:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=141797"},"modified":"2023-03-31T07:35:41","modified_gmt":"2023-03-31T05:35:41","slug":"walk-stac-pollaidh-highland","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/walk-stac-pollaidh-highland\/","title":{"rendered":"Walk: Stac Pollaidh, Highland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Explore one of Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes on a short but challenging circular walk around Assynt’s majestic Stac Pollaidh. <\/p>

By Fergal MacErlean\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 31 March 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Lying a short drive beyond the Highland fishing village of Ullapool, the iconic hill of Stac Pollaidh, or Stac Polly, rises above freshwater lochs amid carpets of bog cotton.<\/p>\n

An ascent of this deeply weathered, craggy outcrop gives fabulous views over the surrounding Assynt<\/a> mountains, including the astonishing\u00a0Suilven<\/a>, making it one of Scotland\u2019s best walks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Many of geology\u2019s founding theories were formulated from a study of this extraordinary area now within the North West Highlands Geopark<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This ascent of the eastern top of Stac Pollaidh takes two to four hours to complete. It does require a head for heights, though a circuit of the mount \u2013 still with fabulous views \u2013 can be completed without ascending the ridge. This route caters for both options.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
View of Stac Pollaidh rising from the Assynt landscape\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Stac Pollaidh walk<\/h2>\n

2.8 miles \/ 4.5km | 2\u20134 hours | challenging | 567m ascent<\/em><\/p>\n

1. Loch Lurgainn<\/h4>\n

From the car park by Loch Lurgainn, cross the road and head north along a good path. This climbs through woodland, which can be plagued with midges. You may hear the tuneful call of a cuckoo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Walk on through moorland, ignoring a path on the left. Already there is a sense of the vastness of this area as the views open out across the loch.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Stac Pollaidh\u2019s rocky crest of Torridonian sandstone was carved during the last Ice Age\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

2. Cul M\u00f3r views<\/h4>\n

The path leads round to the northern side of Stac Pollaidh. Cul M\u00f3r draws the eye to the north-east. As you walk on there are also distant views to the long, blocky profile of Suilven<\/a>. Adders<\/a> may be spotted sunning themselves, if the weather is kind.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Walkers can enjoy a hearty walk around the base of Stac Pollaidh without ascending the true summit of the mountain, which requires a high level of scrambling expertise\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

3.\u00a0Stac Pollaidh<\/h4>\n

At a fork, the main path climbs to the left up towards the sandstone ridge atop Stac Pollaidh. Good boots and hillwalking experience are a must for the ascent.<\/p>\n

On the multi-turreted ridge there is a sense of loftiness as the steep ground falls away at your feet. The setting feels a lot higher than it actually is.<\/p>\n

The views stretch for miles in all directions with the Assynt<\/a> mountains prominent to the north, the enormous bulk of Ben M\u00f3r Coigach to the south, and the Summer Isles in Loch Broom to the west.<\/p>\n

The 612-metre-high summit lies to the west but this is not for walkers. Instead, follow the path to the eastern top. Confident, experienced hill-goers can make the final short scramble to the top.<\/p>\n

Return to the path at the bottom of the hill and go left.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The challenging summit ridge of Stac Polliah should only be tackled by experienced scramblers and climbers\/Credit: Getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

4. Coire Gorm<\/h4>\n

Although this path is considerably rougher, and passes through boggy sections, it offers a circuit of Stac Pollaidh. And there are excellent views of the western end of the ridge.<\/p>\n

Enjoy walking by the base of the hill below its many pinnacles, skirting the edge of Coire Gore before rejoining the outward path above the road.<\/p>\n

Guide to Assynt<\/h4>\n

Whether you like wild walking, wildlife watching or simply wandering on empty beaches, Assynt<\/a> offers a taste of Scottish wilderness.<\/p>\n

<\/p><\/div>

\""Sunrise\"<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

Stac Pollaidh map<\/h2>\n

Stac Pollaidh \u2013 OS Maps walking route<\/a><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/a><\/p>\n

Useful information<\/h3>\n

Starting point<\/h4>\n

Stac Pollaidh Car Park, Ullapool IV26 2XY. Bus number 811 Ullapool-Achduart; travelinescotland.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Terrain<\/h4>\n

Steep mountain path with boggy sections.<\/p>\n

Map<\/h4>\n

OS Maps Explorer 439<\/p>\n

Eat\/drink<\/h4>\n

The Ceilidh Place<\/a>, 14 West Argyle Street, Ullapool. 01854 612 103.<\/p>\n

Stay<\/h4>\n

The Ceilidh Place<\/a>, 14 West Argyle Street, Ullapool. 01854 612 103.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Explore one of Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes on a short but challenging circular walk around Assynt’s majestic Stac Pollaidh. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":25120,"template":"","categories":[1,115],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/03\/walk-stac-pollaidh-highland-scaled.jpg",2560,1703,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/03\/walk-stac-pollaidh-highland-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/03\/walk-stac-pollaidh-highland-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/03\/walk-stac-pollaidh-highland-768x511.jpg",768,511,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/03\/walk-stac-pollaidh-highland-1024x681.jpg",800,532,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/03\/walk-stac-pollaidh-highland-1536x1022.jpg",1536,1022,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2023\/03\/walk-stac-pollaidh-highland-2048x1363.jpg",2048,1363,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Explore one of Scotland's most dramatic landscapes on a short but challenging circular walk around Assynt's majestic Stac Pollaidh.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/25119"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}