I was determined to hike Stac Pollaidh when I first did the North Coast 500 back in 2020. But unfortunately, the weather had other plans. When I showed up to do the hike, there was no visibility – you couldn’t even see the hill! Thankfully, the weather was much better on my most recent trip to the far northwest Scottish Highlands this summer. Hiking Stac Pollaidh (or “stac polly” as it’s often nicknamed) was a real highlight of the trip! Here’s what you need to know about this epic hike in Scotland.
Stac Pollaidh Hike Overview
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 2 to 2.5 hours
Elevation gained: 445 meters
What to Pack for Stac Pollaidh
This is a hike in Scotland, so you should be prepared for all seasons whatever the weather forecast may be. Bring warm and waterproof layers, sturdy hiking boots, and all the food and drinks you’ll need for the hike. I also highly recommend hiking poles to save your knees! This route is very exposed, so be prepared for wet weather. If it’s hot, be sure to pack a hat and sunscreen. If you’re traveling Scotland in midge season summer, I’d also recommend midge spray and even a midge headnet. The midges weren’t too bad when I was there, but you never know with Scotland.
How to Get to the Trailhead
Stac Pollaidh has its own designated car park at the base of the trail. This was recently expanded – the car park when I visited in 2020 was tiny, with major crowding issues and lots of unsafe/illegal roadside parking! It costs £6 for all-day parking here, and the ticket machine accepts contactless card, cash, or Apple Pay. I do find this annoying, as there isn’t a shorter option than a day ticket, when most people will do the hike in a few hours and don’t need all-day parking. However, given the difficulties of the old car park, I do support paying for good facilities at this upgraded one.
It’s 5 miles between the car park and the turn-off on the A835 road. This is a single-track road with passing places. If you’ve never driven a single-track road in the UK before, be sure to brush up on driving etiquette, especially on how to correctly use passing places. The views as you drive towards the mountain, along the loch, are spectacular.
The Ascent Up Stac Pollaidh
The well-worn trail up Stac Pollaidh is steep, but nothing too difficult. It’s just a continuous uphill route, with a few brief respites here and there! There is a lower trail that goes around the base of the hill, and you’ll see the summit trail branching off to the side. You’ll do some very light scrambling around boulders here, but it’s nothing technical. It took me 1 hour to get from the bottom up to the summit.
Summiting Stac Pollaidh
There are technically two summits to Stac Pollaidh. The eastern “summit” is the main one that’s visited on this route. The western summit is the true summit of the mountain, and will require quite a bit of scrambling. This is only recommended if you have a high level of scrambling skills.
I actually saw some climbers on the western summit – slacklining!! – and nearly had a heart attack just watching them!
The views from the top are well worth the climb. On a clear day, you can see for miles and miles around Assynt – down to Loch Lurgain, the Summer Isles, the sea, and more! I cried at the top, it was just so beautiful. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was one of the most meaningful moments of my trip, to stand at the top and gaze in awe at the spectacular scenery around me.
Descending Back Down
After retracing your steps down to the main circular path around Stac Pollaidh, you have two options. You can take the same path back down to the bottom. Or, you can do a loop of the mountain. I chose to do the loop! The trail around the western side was slightly boggier, but still had great views. It took me 50 minutes from leaving the summit to get back to the car park.
Where to Stay Around Stac Pollaidh
This is a very remote part of Scotland, so there aren’t many places to stay. There are a few places along the road between the A894 and Altandhu/Achnahaird where you can safely park a vehicle overnight. Note that the Scottish Outdoor Access Code does not cover sleeping in motorized vehicles overnight. There are a few places to stay in Altandhu, like Port a Bhaigh Campsite and Port Beag Chalets.
The Altnacealgach Motel isn’t too far from Stac Pollaidh. Otherwise, your best bet is staying around Ullapool. Here are a few recommendations on where to stay around Ullapool!
- Camping: Ardmair Point Holiday Park – just a few minutes outside of Ullapool, with a fantastic location by the water
- Budget: Ullapool Youth Hostel – clean and comfy hostel with a kitchen and laundry facilities
- Mid-range: The Royal Hotel – an excellent location in Ullapool, with friendly staff and an on-site restaurant; some rooms have sea views
- Mid-range: Harbour House – this cozy guesthouse has lovely hosts, great views, and a delicious breakfast
- Luxury: Ardmair Bay House – a luxurious, boutique property with 3 bedrooms that sleeps up to 6 and includes a hot tub
Planning Your North Coast 500 Trip
Stac Pollaidh is located on the North Coast 500 route – this is one of the best road trips in the entire country! It’s a remote part of Scotland though, and it can be isolated. Don’t assume you’ll have phone signal everywhere, and download GoogleMaps offline in advance. I also recommend having a road atlas or paper map of the area, too. Accommodation is limited, and can fill up months in advance. Plan ahead of time to avoid getting caught out!
Driving on single-track roads can be intimidating, so brush up on the road rules before you go. Be prepared to use passing places (yes, this may mean reversing into a passing place), and drive cautiously on the winding mountain roads. Thank anyone who yields to you with a wave or flashing your lights. Be a courteous driver – if you notice a line of cars piling up behind you, pull over and let them pass.
Stac Pollaidh is one of the best hikes in all of Scotland. In good weather, the views will simply take your breath away. And you don’t have to work too hard to get to the top! I’m so happy I got to revisit this area and finally reach the summit of Stac Polly. I hope this helps planning your trip around the northwest Scottish Highlands!
Have you hiked Stac Pollaidh? What did you think?
You might also like my posts:
What You Need to Know About the North Coast 500 in Scotland Before You Go
A 7-Day Itinerary for Scotland’s North Coast 500 Road Trip
What to Pack for the North Coast 500 in Scotland
How Much Does it Cost to Do the North Coast 500 in Scotland?
The Best Beaches on Scotland’s North Coast 500 Route
Hiking Ben Hope: Scotland’s Most Northern Munro
All of my Scotland posts!
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