Marilyn · Skye & The Small Isles
Ruadh Stac
Ruadh Stac — the Red Stack — is a 493m rusty-hued peak between Bla Bheinn and Loch Slapin, named for the iron-rich gabbro that glows in evening light. It is often combined with Bla Bheinn as a horseshoe.
Gaelic: “red” · Pronunciation: roo-ah stac
Quick facts
- Height
- 493m/ 1617ft
- Prominence
- 156 m
- Grid ref
- NG 51494 23268
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
rocky slopes 50% · heather moorland 30% · grass slopes 20%
From the Bla Bheinn car park follow the standard path until the Coire Uaigneich plateau, then break off south-east up grass and slabs to the summit. Around 6 km return on its own.
Terrain
Reddish gabbro slabs offer brilliant grip when dry but become greasy in rain. Short heather and tussock between rock bands. No path on the upper hill.
In winter
Snow patches accumulate in the corrie below. Wind-scoured slabs can be glassy after thaw-refreeze cycles, demanding crampons even at this modest height.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow6h 0m
- Edinburgh8h 16m
OS maps: OS Landranger 32, OS Explorer 411
Mobile signal: Poor. no EE here; nearest signal near Sligachan or Broadford.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:18
- Sunset
- 21:44
- Civil dawn
- 04:25
- Civil dusk
- 22:37
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around Ruadh Stac on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Kyle of Lochalsh station
Skye Bridge; Five Sisters of Kintail; Glen Shiel; Plockton
25km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Portree
Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr
21km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Isle of Raasay Distillery
Raasay — new island distillery with rooms; Dun Caan walks from the door
14km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Ruadh Stac — common questions
- What difficulty is Ruadh Stac?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Ruadh Stac comes in at 2/5 — moderate. Underfoot: Reddish gabbro slabs offer brilliant grip when dry but become greasy in rain.
- What is Ruadh Stac's prominence?
- 156m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Ruadh Stac to the next higher ground. That drop is what qualifies it as a Marilyn — a hill with at least 150m of descent on every side.
- When is the best time to climb Ruadh Stac?
- March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Ruadh Stac. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
- Is Ruadh Stac dog-friendly?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Ruadh Stac?
- Poor. no EE here; nearest signal near Sligachan or Broadford.
- Is Ruadh Stac safe in winter?
- Snow patches accumulate in the corrie below. Wind-scoured slabs can be glassy after thaw-refreeze cycles, demanding crampons even at this modest height.
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