Ben Stack
The Ben Stack hike is a short but rewarding climb to one of Sutherland's iconic peaks. While the fairly straight and unvaried route is not the most pleasant, the views along the climb—and even more so from the summit—more than make up for it.
At the top, the panorama is magnificent. The imposing white quartzite mountains of Foinaven and Arkle dominate the landscape. Below lies an incredible mosaic of lochs, lochans, and rivers, which are characteristic of this wild region of northwestern Scotland.
Difficulties and description of the hike
Despite its relatively short distance of around 8 km there and back, Ben Stack is a physically demanding hike. The 700 meters of elevation gain are fairly steady with no real moments of recovery. The route is almost entirely off-trail and often on spongy or boggy ground with sustained slopes. However, navigation is straightforward. Once you pass the telephone antenna, maintain the same course, heading due northwest.
What you'll love
- The exceptional panoramic views from the summit: Take in the imposing Foinaven and Arkle massifs, as well as the countless lochs in the region and the Atlantic Ocean on the horizon.
- The wild and isolated nature of the route: Rarely used, it crosses a pristine environment representative of the Northwest Highlands.
- The distinctive silhouette of the mountain: Seen from the west, Ben Stack has a spectacular, pointed profile that is particularly photogenic.
Hike technical sheet
➡️ Hiking parameters
➡️ Hiking parameters
➡️ Hiking parameters
Difficulties and description of the hike
Despite its relatively short distance of around 8 km there and back, Ben Stack is a physically demanding hike. The 700 meters of elevation gain are fairly steady with no real moments of recovery. The route is almost entirely off-trail and often on spongy or boggy ground with sustained slopes. However, navigation is straightforward. Once you pass the telephone antenna, maintain the same course, heading due northwest.
What you'll love
- The exceptional panoramic views from the summit: Take in the imposing Foinaven and Arkle massifs, as well as the countless lochs in the region and the Atlantic Ocean on the horizon.
- The wild and isolated nature of the route: Rarely used, it crosses a pristine environment representative of the Northwest Highlands.
- The distinctive silhouette of the mountain: Seen from the west, Ben Stack has a spectacular, pointed profile that is particularly photogenic.
Slideshow
Nearby hikes
Arkle
- Difficulty : Hard
- Duration : 7 h 30 m
- Distance : 17.6 km
- Elevation gain : 950 m
Ben Hope
- Difficulty : Moderate
- Duration : 5 h
- Distance : 7.5 km
- Elevation gain : 930 m
Oldshoremore Bay
- Difficulty : Easy
- Duration : 3 h 15 m
- Distance : 8.8 km
- Elevation gain : 270 m
Sandwood Bay
- Difficulty : Easy
- Duration : 3 h 30 m
- Distance : 12.9 km
- Elevation gain : 190 m
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