Arkle South Top

About Arkle South Top

Sitting on one of Sutherland’s most spectacular quartzite ridges, this subsidiary summit offers a rugged, moon-like perspective of the Arkle massif. The terrain is composed of shattered white scree and fractured stone, providing a grandstand view over the deep waters of Loch Stack and the sharp, dark pyramid of Ben Stack.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely stems from the Old Norse 'ark-fjall', meaning 'chest mountain', a reference to the massive, square-shouldered profile the range presents when viewed from the coast.
• •The ridge connecting this top to the main summit is famous for its 'broken pavement' of white Cambrian quartzite, a geological feature that gives the mountain its distinctive, snow-dusted appearance even in midsummer.
• •Positioned within the Reay Forest, the hill overlooks some of the most remote land in Britain; look south-east to see the wild, empty glens stretching toward the distant peaks of Foinaven and Meall Horn.
• •The ascent from the road at Achfary follows a stalker's path into a dramatic glacial corrie, a reminder of the area's long history as a traditional deer forest.
• •The quartzite scree here is notoriously mobile; for every two steps forward, the mountain often attempts to return you one step back.