Hill of Stake

Hill of Stake stands 522 metres above sea level on the border between North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. It is the highest point in Renfrewshire and the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. The hill’s isolation gives it a commanding presence over the surrounding lowlands. Its slopes are covered with heather and rough grass, typical of the moorland that stretches across the region. The summit offers wide views east towards Glasgow and west to the Ayrshire coast.

The hill has a sombre past linked to several plane crashes in poor weather. In 1938 a Spartan Cruiser came down near the summit, and in 1947 a Seafire fighter crashed on the northern slopes. These accidents left marks on the landscape and in local memory. Walkers sometimes find small fragments of wreckage while exploring the upper paths.

A rough track leads from the car park near Lochwinnoch up to the summit. The final climb is steep and best taken slowly. At the top a trig point marks the highest point, surrounded by a low stone windbreak. On clear days the view stretches as far as Ben Lomond to the north. The descent follows the same route, returning through heather and patches of bog.