Arkle

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Arkle is a magnificent mountain: a shattered, curving ridge of quartzite. Second only to Foinaven for interest amongst the peaks of this region, it gives an excellent ascent with one narrow section of ridge.

Terrain

Good approach track, then pathless ascent up heather and stones. The ridge to the final summit is rocky, and exposed at one point with a little straightforward scrambling on sometimes slippery quartzite.

Public Transport

None to start, nearest bus Achfary (bus 805/806 from Durness and Lairg) 1.5km from start.

Start

Parking area along track from A838 1.5km north of Achfary; there is space before the private road sign and bridge. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Deer Stalking information

Reay Forest Estate: Stalking between early July and 20 October. No stalking on Sundays. If approaching via the Airdachuilinn road to Lone, please leave vehicles in the car park by the white mail box approximately 400m north of Achfary on the A838 (NC298402). Access to Arkle or Foinaven by this route is always OK. If further information is needed, please phone 07739 626445 or email: david.allison@grosvenor.com.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk begins from the A838 between Lairg and Laxford Bridge. There is a small parking area on the north side coming from Lairg, 1.5km north of Achfary. The parking area is just before the Private Road sign for the track leading to Lone and before the bridge. Begin the walk along this private road; crossing the river and turning north to towards Loch Stack. There are magnificent views of Arkle directly ahead, its steep southwestern slopes of crumbling quartzite rising high beyond the loch. At Airdachuillin there is an attractive house; here the tarmac road becomes a track.

Stage 2

The road bends to the right and soon reaches a second branch of Loch Stack. At Lone pass to the right of the large barn to reach and cross a bridge over the river, passing a picturesque derelict cottage. Slightly further on the track forks; take the left branch. This reaches a pinewood plantation, passing between two gigantic boulders which act like a gateway. The track begins climbing through the trees, soon emerging above them and continuing to ascend above the Allt Horn gorge. There are superb views back to Ben Stack above the loch.

Stage 3

The gradient eases; continue on the track up the glen until it descends slightly and crosses a stream. Immediately after crossing leave the track to the left to head north up the open slope towards Meall Aonghais; there is a tiny cairn and the trace of a path at first but this soon peters out and the ascent continues up heather and occasional stones with a path in places. The views back now encompass the Quinag range, which looks very fine. Higher up bear slightly left to reach the ridge at the bealach to the west of Meall Aonghais. Head northwest up the very broad and stony slope towards the eastern summit of Arkle. There are good views back over Lochan na Faoileige to the Corbett Meall Horn, whilst the summits of Foinaven come magnificently into view a little further up the slope.

Stage 4

The ascent ends on a featureless plateau of quartzite stones and in mist it could be difficult to find the cairn marking the 758 metre summit. From here, the character of the mountain changes completely as a ridge leads east. Descend steeply at first down broken quartzite, threaded by a path. After crossing a bealach the path ascends similarly up the far side before being lost amongst quartz boulders.

Stage 5

Continue along the ridge, which soon narrows sensationally. The views are stunning with huge drops on both sides, on the left towards Loch Stack and on the right into the wild, white rocky bowl between Arkle and Foinaven. For a hundred metres of so the ridge requires some simple scrambling; the crest is made up of quartzite slabs and then a small tower. Care is needed, especially if the rocks are wet when quartzite can be very slippery.

Stage 6

Beyond this there is a short section of ridge composed of great flat blocks with gaps between - very like a limestone pavement. The ridge then soon broadens out onto the summit plateau of Arkle with the summit cairn a short distance further on. The flat plateau means the view from here isn't quite so fine as from the ridge, but the outlook over the flat, lochan-spotted coastline is stunning, riven by Loch Laxford and Loch Inchard.

Stage 7

There are no easy descents off this side of Arkle, so instead return back along the ridge and over the eastern summit, retracing the whole route back to the start.

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