Inverpolly Nature Reserve: Stac Pollaidh

Stac Pollaidh (612m) is not a high mountain by Scottish standards but it is one of the most arresting, its serrated sandstone pinnacle ridge rising abruptly from the flat Inverpolly moorland in a shape utterly unlike anything surrounding it. The circuit from the car park below the south face follows a well-made path around the eastern end of the hill and climbs steeply to the col on the ridge, then returns around the western end, with views that take in Cul Mor, Cul Beag, Suilven, the Summer Isles and on clear days the Outer Hebrides. The terrain is loose sandstone on the upper section and requires care. The full circuit with the climb to the ridge is about 4.5 km with around 550 m of ascent; allow three to four hours.

Stac Pollaidh is a wonderful dog friendly mountain for those with fit, adventurous dogs. Keep your dog under close control on the moorland approach, as the Scottish Outdoor Access Code asks. The ridge itself is narrower and the pinnacle traverses are not appropriate for all dogs; the true summit at the western end needs a difficult rock scramble and is no place for a dog, and the circuit path around the hill is a safer option for most. The sandstone terrain is rough on paws. The views from the ridge are exceptional and the sense of exposure on this relatively modest mountain is far greater than the numbers suggest. Arrive early in summer to secure parking. The drive from Ullapool through the Inverpolly landscape is itself one of the finest in Scotland.