Scotland
Ben Stack
721M
2365FT
About Ben Stack
Rising in a near-perfect cone between Loch Stack and Loch More, this Sutherland Graham offers a surprisingly steep character for its modest height. Its isolated position in the far north-west provides an exceptional sense of scale, with the jagged Lewisian gneiss landscapes of the Reay Forest unfolding from its airy summit.
Key Statistics
Rank
60th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North West Highlands
Prominence
?
531m
Nearest Town
Data coming soon
Geology
You are walking on ancient banded rocks called Scourian Gneiss. These are sliced by dark veins of once-molten material known as the Scourie Dykes.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NC269422
Latitude
58.3349°N
Longitude
4.9577°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Beinn Stac, where 'stac' originates from the Old Norse stakkr, meaning a haystack; it perfectly describes the hill's remarkably symmetrical, conical profile when viewed from the north-west.
- •In August 2005, the mountain gained national attention following the sudden death of former UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who suffered a heart attack while hillwalking near the summit.
- •From the summit, the view north across the peat bogs of the Reay Forest is dominated by the massive, pale quartzite ramparts of Arkle and the multi-peaked, shattered ridge of Foinaven.
- •While the ascent via the long south-eastern ridge of Leathad na Stioma is relatively steady, the alternative path from Lochstack Lodge is significantly more direct and offers a relentless gradient from the outset.
- •Despite falling nearly 50 metres short of Munro status, the hill’s steepness and isolation ensure that anyone reaching the top will feel they have done every inch of the 721-metre climb.