Mostly in clag, but not so bad - Ben Stack from NW with Kids

[WalkingWithKids]

Ben Stack from NW with Kids (10, 13 y/o)

Hill no. 166 - Graham no. 34

Ben Stack from Loch More. Promising weather in the morning.

It was quite a nice hike . The WH route Ben Stack describes the ascent from the east by noting:

...the ascent leads up the open, boggy slope, keeping generally to the left of a rocky spine clearly visible at this point; there's a boggy path for much of the way.

There is also an alternative approach from the north and there should be a path. I did not find much about this path, so I decided to try it.
First there was the track and then the path all the way up. The path was a bit boggy in the lower section and higher up, in steep rocky areas, it was not always easy to follow, but we still managed to find it again and continued along it. There were a few short sections that required very easy scrambling.
Everything was fine, the sun at the beginning (and at the end ), gentle breeze, no midges, just the weather could have been a bit better.

Stats:
Total distance - 6.7 km
Total time - 6h36m
Altitude gain - 670 m

Map of our route:

20230730-Ben-Stack-from-NW---Track.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Elevation profile of our route:

Parking at the cattle grid on the A838 near Stack Lodge (OS Grid Ref: NC 26535 43715). The track leading up is visible on the left behind the gate. The track is the Path to Achfary via Strath Stack. It is also part of Cape Wrath Trail (Inchnadamph - Cape Wrath):

Other parking possibilities:
- on the right at the building - the building seems to be abandoned,
- on the left at the gate.

The track:

Looking north from the track - footbridge over River Laxford and hut at Ruighe Ruadh:

It looks scary :

We left the Path to Achfary after about 1.5 km above Loch na Seilge and continued on another track to the left:

Looking back towards Loch na Seilge:

The second track ended after about 200 m at a burn:

We crossed the burn and followed a path along the old fence. The stretch along the fence was mostly boggy, but still easily walkable:

We reached the corner of the fence and continued towards the hill (hidden in clag). The path was still mostly wet:

As the altitude increased, the path improved and became drier. Looking back:

We are heading for the clag :

Easy scrambling:

Nice rocks:

What beautiful weather higher up :

Anyway, after almost 3 hours we reached the northwest ridge of Ben Stack...:

...then the summit...:

and then the trig pillar:

We had some food at the top. And then, after a while at the top - Yay! The clag began to clear! Although only for a few minutes, but we were happy and quickly took a few photos.

Conni on the summit, looking SE, towards the trig pillar:

Looking north, Stack Lodge down by the river:

Looking NNE, towards Corbett Arkle (in clag), Loch Stack:

Loch Stack:

Looking SE, towards Loch More. Loch Stack on the left:

After enjoying the partial views we retraced our steps. It was much easier to follow the path on the way down.

Looking SE from the northwest ridge - on the left the summit, on the right the trig pillar:

Heading down the steep section:

Looking west:

Looking WNW, on the right Loch na Seilge:

Looking NNW - the A838 to Laxford Bridge, River Laxford. Down right is the footbridge over the River Laxford mentioned above:

Back on the boggy path at the corner of the old fence, Loch na Seilge:

And at the end of the hike - Arkle in its full majesty :