Stac Pollaidh

Infobox Mountain
Name = Stac Pollaidh
Photo = Stac Pollaidh 3.jpg
Caption =
Elevation = 612 m (2008 ft)
Location = Inverpolly, Scotland
Prominence = "c." 438 m
Coordinates =
Topographic
Ordnance Survey "Landranger" 15
Type =
First ascent =
Easiest route = Scramble
Grid_ref_UK = NC107106
Listing = Graham, Marilyn
Translation = Peak of the peat moss
Language = Gaelic
Pronunciation = stæk pɒlɛɪ

Stac Pollaidh is a mountain in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The peak displays a rocky crest of Torridonian sandstone, with many pinnacles and steep gullies. The crest is extremely weathered (more so than other Torridonian peaks), suggesting that it was not covered in ice during the last Ice Age.

The name Stac Pollaidh is often anglicised to Stack Polly. Due to its relatively low height, fine views and ease of access from a road it has become a very popular peak to climb. Consequentially it has suffered from a great deal of erosion, leading to Scottish Natural Heritage constructing a large path.

Stac Pollaidh can be climbed in under 3 hours by any relatively fit person. From the car park on the shore of Loch Lurgainn the path leads directly up, under the spires of the crest. 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.

Once on the ridge the true summit lies about 300 m to the west. However to reach it one must scramble over several rocky pinnacles, and a good head for heights is required. The sandstone pinnacles are impressive and are rated in Scotland as second only to the ones on Quiraing on the Isle of Skye. They carry names such as "The Sphinx", "Tam o' Shanter", "Andy Capp" and "Madonna and Child", a particularly fine example known as the "Lobsters Claw" partly collapsed several years ago due to natural erosion."The Grahams" Pages 211 (Gives details of pinnacles).] The lower, eastern, peak can be reached without any difficulty. From any point on the crest there are excellent views of the wide expanse of the Inverpolly Forest, and of neighbouring peaks such as Suilven. Returning via the other path allows for a circular walk of about 3 km.

In 2004 there was some controversy over the possibility of a mobile phone mast being sited on Stac Pollaidh, though this plan was later dropped.

References

* [http://earth.leeds.ac.uk/assyntgeology/extra_info/about_us/project_details.htm "British Geological Survey: The Moine Thrust Project"] - Geological information from the University of Leeds, accessed 14th April, 2005.
* Ross, John (28th July, 2004). [http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=747&id=862282004 "Stac Pollaidh escapes march of the masts"] - "Scotsman" article, accessed 14th April, 2005.
* "The Grahams", Andrew Dempster, Mainstream Publishing, ISBN 1 84018 734 4Footnotes

External links

* Computer generated summit panoramas [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas/HLD/Pollaidh-N.gifNorth] [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas/HLD/Pollaidh-S.gifSouth] [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas.html Index]