About 200 m from the road the path splits; one may choose either since both meet up on the far side of the hill, from where it is only a short distance to the summit ridge. However, actually climbing the hill is relatively simple thanks to the well made, but steep path up to the peak. A few meters to the left, and you are standing on the eastern summit of Stac Pollaidh. Cul Mor soon joins Cul Beag, and eventually there are stunning views of Suilven across the wilderness of Assynt. If you climb all the way to the summit of Stac Pollaidh you are rewarded by a panoramic view which covers Loch Lugainn, Loch Broom, the Summer Isles, Assynt and the Inverpolly Nature Reserve. Jul 22, 2020 - At 612 metres high, Stac Pollaidh is Scotland's best wee hill walk for beginners. Soon you reach the junction where the circuit path continues around the base of the mountain and the main path climbs to the ridge. Welcome to Love, From Scotland, the Scotland travel blog that shows you where to stay and how to get outside in Scotland. The crag is south facing dries quickly and catches the sun, when it shines. Seine kompakte Perfektion sorgt für ein angenehm effizientes Abenteuer in den Bergen und beinhaltet die einzigartige Landschaft von Assynt, die Gelegenheit für episches Scr Climbing to the very top of the pinnacles should only be attempted by experienced scramblers – there are lots of deep gullies and slippery Torridonian Sandstone to navigate. Stac Pollaidh is one of the best known and most popular mountains in Scotland, its steep pinnacled ridge often likened to a porcupine. Here is how to climb Stac Pollaidh on the North Coast 500 by Lochinver Stac Pollaidh – or Stac Polly as it’s also known – is one of my favourite hills in Scotland. You’d like to climb Stac Pollaidh? West Buttress is a good scramble/climb graded ‘Diff’ and is a very satisfactory way of reaching the summit. Visit soon, before walkers’ boots and natural erosion level it completely! This topic has been archived, and won't accept reply postings. These climbs you have climbed by seconding or top-roping. This path takes you round to the shady side of the hill, then up to the col at the eastern end. Amazing watching Rescue 948 training with the Ullapool ferry in the distance. / Stac Pollaidh Difficulty: New Topic Reply to Topic. Stac Pollaidh can be climbed in less than 3 hours by any relatively fit person. it is a steady climb until the last 500 m when it is a scramble well worth it for the views from the top. If you aren’t driving the NC500, Stac Pollaidh is around 5 hours north of Glasgow and Edinburgh and 2 hours from Inverness. Above a turquoise coastline and white sand beaches rise strange mountains – Suilven, Cul Mor, and one of the most popular hills to climb in Scotland, Stac Pollaidh. On the other hand, it can be magical. Western seaboard from Stac Pollaidh January 3 at 2:10 PM. The path is clear and well maintained. Professor Eric Laithwaite: Magnetic River 1975 - Duration: … Stac Pollaidh, Assynt Crux Climb - Duration: 2:37. Pitstops An assortment of interesting stop off points along our walks. (Actually it’s not by longboat or anything, and you don’t get to go pillaging – it’s more full of references to the Norsemen who once lived there.) Scotland’s weather is best in May and September. The remaining portion of the Lobster Claw is just left of centre, projecting a shadow on the rock-wall behind. With a reasonable level of fitness, the walk up Stac Pollaidh will take around 2 hours from the car park, although I’d leave around 3 hours for the climb – you’ll need plenty of time on the top for photos! Whilst the best way to explore Assynt is by car  – there are daily bus services. The path leaves the shelter of the lower slopes - we're heading for the little saddle just visible in the sawtooth ridge above. How long does it take to climb Stac Pollaidh? Downloads. You could tackle Stac Pollaidh as part of this Vikings-themed tour of the north of Scotland. From the roadside, Stac Pollaidh (the name comes from the Norse “Pollå” or ‘above the Pool River’) looks a mess of pinnacles (look out for Lobster’s Claw, the Sphinx and Madonna and Child) deep gullies and intimidating scrambles. He was a research chemist and perfume expert who worked for Yardley – but was given lots of time off for his writing! Damon Ritchie 5,832 views. Cul Beag (the mountain) and Loch Lurgainn (the water) from the top of Stac Polly. We mentioned in out last blog that Canisp is quite featureless and exposed at the top. The north-west of Scotland gains much of its bare and spare character from the improbable shape of the hills. Sometimes, I’ve found myself explaining in guidebooks and brochures that they are Torridonian sandstone peaks that are all but eroded away; and that they sit on a plinth of tough and ancient Lewisian gneiss. Recent Post by Page. In the far north-west of Scotland, Assynt’s landscape of otherworldly rock formations is literally jaw-dropping. (To be absolutely accurate, the hill is only 2007 ft / 612m high.). And chocolate. It was just a wee reminder that Scotland’s hills demand respect. Just circling the mountain is an easy walk with only a thigh burning climb for the ascent. Yesterday at 12:38 PM. Don’t worry, this soon opens to a very well … 2:37. Be the first to submit your climbing note! If you intend to tackle Stac Pollaidh for the first time, then read on. Music: Pure Morning - Muse Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin Giorni Dispari - Ludovico Einaudi. But for someone coming from 'flat' country, the hill/mountain is an exciting walk with spectacular views as a reward. But for someone coming from 'flat' country, the hill/mountain is an exciting walk with spectacular views as a reward. At first the path is made into stone steps built of large boulders. It’s a very odd hill. For regular walkers in Scotland, Stac Pollaidh is likely nothing special. Some time after that, half of it at least came down – a reminder that erosion and change isn’t always glacially slow, especially on hills like Stac Pollaidh. But only Johanna decided to stay on the col with the dogs, sensible girl. Aug 22, 2019 - Stac Pollaidh or Stac Polly - is one of the most popular hills to climb in Scotland. The views from Stac Pollaidh over the ancient Assynt and Sutherland landscape are truly wonderful, no wonder people return here again and again. The road to Achilitibuie and Reiff is just visible by the edge of the loch. Stac Pollaidh is a mountain in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. Stac Pollaidh couldn’t be more different. Please submit any useful information about climbing Stac Pollaidh that may be useful to other climbers. Get there early and don’t park in the passing places if you can’t find a spot. The view is magnificent, thousands of small and larger lakes are flashing and sparkling in the sun, the long back of the Suilven is reminiscent of a stranded Galleone. There is a circular route which will take you around the base of the pinnacles, or you can return the same way. I suppose it was what the climbing guides call an easy scramble. Due to its relatively low height of just over 600 meters, amazing views and ease of access from a road it has become a very popular peak to climb. For weather forecasts, I recommend you check out: Stretching from Lochinver in the west to Dornoch in the east, Sutherland & Caithness make up the far north of Scotland. Stac Pollaidh Walking Routes From Car Park. Stac Pollaidh is a crag inside of Northwest and Islands. Talking of erosion…I have on my shelf a copy of what used to be the hillwalkers’ bible many years ago: ‘The Scottish Peaks’ by WA Poucher (1891-1988). August 2017. Whilst climbing Stac Pollaidh is not technically hard, it is steep, and the Torridonian Sandstone can be lethal in the wet, so don’t climb up expecting a wee trip up Arthur’s Seat. On Thursday a combined group did the classic east to west scramble traverse of Stac Pollaidh to the true west top after driving up from Falkirk. HTML Guide Warning - Guide view may take some time to load for areas with large numbers of routes Instant PDF Generic pre-created PDF - for Stac Pollaidh There are too few routes to pre-prepare an instant PDF. With a seaboard open to prevailing Atlantic south-westerlies, here you can sometimes have days of low cloud and rain, so that you never see the tops. Och, maybe it’s easier to suggest looking at the interpretative material at Knockan, north of Ullapool, within the designated North West Highlands Geopark. But check out the Highlands weather first. Vikings-themed tour of the north of Scotland. It’s not high but can be treacherous with loose rock and you’ll need a head for heights. While much of the region can be visited by driving the famous North Coast 500 you need to detour off the route between Unapool and Ullapool to visit Assynt. The spectacular profiles of Stac Pollaidh, Cul Mor, Suilven and the others can stop you in your tracks as you journey here. Hamlet Mountaineering. There are spectacular views over the Coigach peaks southwards, the Assynt hills to the north and the big Beinn Dearg Group, uhmm, over there somewhere. :-) 16. The Climbing Academy Glasgow. Climbs can't be verified by a crag moderator, and they need more information to confirm it. These climbs you have Dogged. Route Summary A circular walk climbing Stac Pollaidh in Scotland for a magnificent panoramic view over Britain's greatest wilderness and the added reward of possible sightings of golden eagles and red deer. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Consider things such as access and accommodation at the base of Stac Pollaidh, as well as the logistics of climbing … A great climb for a wonderful view The car park is only small and gets full quickly, there is additional parking further on off the road, a short walk back to the start. Well, any excuse. It ended with a wall of smooth-faced Torridonian sandstone: a little too near the vertical for a casual stroll. This pinnacle stood in 1948, according to the caption. Stac Pollaidh’s trail starting point is visible from the car park. Auf ihm geht es zurück auf die Südseite des Stac Pollaidh und weiter hinunter zum Parkplatz. Is it worth taking a rope and small rack to safeguard the ascent? Climbs are waiting to be checked by a crag moderator, and may not be accurate. rock routes from D – E4 of up to 100m in length.. And at this point, I’m a little sheepish, because, near the west end of the hill, to get to the very top, we committed ourselves to a steep and very loose gully. Anyway, so far, so good; and if we’d all stopped at that point, then that would have been an easy half-day rewarded with a sensational panorama. If you haven’t hill walked before, have a look at my beginner’s guide to hillwalking in Scotland. A great climb for a wonderful view The car park is only small and gets full quickly, there is additional parking further on off the road, a short walk back to the start. Once you circle around to the north side of the hill, an optional trail leads to the top. Here one has to climb a slanting groove which goes around a narrowing in the rock. Sunsets on the village. They are, let’s face it, a weird lot, but in a good way. A Little Scottish Hill, But You Need A Head For Heights! The path is clear and well maintained. We were blessed with a beautiful day and had plenty of time – yet we went the wrong way to reach the top. With a very steep climb to reach the summit ridge. The true summit is at the west end; although most of the difficulties on the ridge can be avoided, there is a final sting in the tail in the shape of a very short but difficult and exposed scramble up the final tower. For all its 2000ft / 600-odd (very odd) metres, Stac Polly (or Pollaidh for the purists – you can tell I really can’t decide) offers some easy scrambling for walkers looking for a bit of adventure. Here are our suggestions for some good hillwalks in Scotland. You will need hill walking gear and be prepared for the weather to change in a heartbeat – mist, fog and rain can sweep in quickly off the west coast of Scotland. Our local hills. One only has to pass the gate and the adventure begins! The south face of the West Buttress offers good multi-pitch rock climbing with a mountain atmosphere but without the walk in. Stac Pollaidh consists of two buttresses running roughly west –east joined by a pinnacled ridge. Stac Pollaidh 7 day weather forecast including weather warnings, temperature, rain, wind, visibility, humidity and UV OK, at just 2007 ft / 612 m high, Stac Pollaidh might just a tiny pup in comparison to many of Scotland’s bigger hills, but with incredible views of the mountains of the Inverpolly Nature Reserve, down to Loch Lurgainn and across to the mighty Suilven, this mini-mountain punches well above its weight. In the beginning the peak was named as "The Pinnacle and later changed on maps into "Stac Polly". It´s west, which is the highest, buttress provides a varied range of 50 trad. Hamlet Mountaineering. Judge for yourself how much/little scrambling over the pinnacles you’re comfortable with to climb higher. Climbing to the very top of the pinnacles should only be attempted by experienced scramblers – there are lots of deep gullies and slippery Torridonian … In December 2013 I climbed Stac Pollaidh (Stac Polly) with my dad! A total climb of about 450 meters. 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