Graham · North-West Highlands
Stac Pollaidh
Probably the most photographed hill in the North-West, despite being barely a Graham by height. The pinnacled summit ridge offers genuine scrambling and a 360-degree view across Inverpolly that beats hills three times its height.
Quick facts
- Height
- 612.4m/ 2009ft
- Prominence
- 440 m
- Distance
- ~5 km
- Ascent
- ~540 m
- Time
- 2–3 hrs
- Grid ref
- NC107106
- Parking
- NC108095
- Nearest
- Ullapool· Inverness 86km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
forest path 15% · sandstone path 30% · pinnacle scramble 40% · summit rocks 15%
Path circuit from the layby on the Achiltibuie road. Excellent stone-built path climbs to the eastern end of the ridge. The true summit at the western end requires a moderate scramble with one tricky move.
Terrain
Restored stone path. Optional scrambling on the summit ridge — the true summit is genuinely exposed.
In winter
Snow can stick on the ridge into April. The scramble becomes serious under any verglas.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow5h 55m
- Edinburgh5h 0m
OS maps: OS Explorer 439
Mobile signal: The hill itself is blank; brief coverage in the Achiltibuie/Inverpolly car park area
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:18
- Sunset
- 20:25
- Civil dawn
- 05:36
- Civil dusk
- 21:07
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 August 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Stac Pollaidh.
Around Stac Pollaidh on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Stac Pollaidh — common questions
- How hard is Stac Pollaidh?
- We grade Stac Pollaidh at 3/5, which puts it in moderately challenging territory. The usual route is around 5km with 540m of climbing; allow 2-3 hours. Terrain: Restored stone path.
- How prominent is Stac Pollaidh?
- Stac Pollaidh has 440m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Stac Pollaidh?
- Standard parking is at NC108095 near Ullapool. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Stac Pollaidh?
- The standard good-weather months for Stac Pollaidh are April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Stac Pollaidh?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Stac Pollaidh?
- The hill itself is blank; brief coverage in the Achiltibuie/Inverpolly car park area
- Is Stac Pollaidh safe in winter?
- Snow can stick on the ridge into April. The scramble becomes serious under any verglas.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.