Ruadh Stac Mòr

The Ruadh Stac Mòr stands in the Fisherfield Forest, a vast and uninhabited wilderness in the Northwest Highlands. It is one of Scotland’s most remote Munros, a category of mountains over 914 metres. The gaelic name means ‘big red steep mountain’, describing its striking red slopes. The peak rises 918 metres above sea level and is marked by a small cairn in the shape of a three-sided pyramid. From the south-west, the A’ Mhaighdean, another remote Munro, lies nearby across the Poll Eadar dha Stac saddle at about 750 metres. Fewer than a dozen people climb the Ruadh Stac Mòr each year, making it one of the least visited summits in the country. The forest has no roads or settlements since the Highland Clearances in the 18th and 19th centuries. Kinlochewe, the nearest village, lies twelve kilometres to the south, but the walk in is long and rough. Most climbers start from the south-west, reaching a small lochan called Lochan Fada before tackling the steep south-west face. Others come from the north, using the Shenavall Bothy after an eight-kilometre walk from a roadside parking spot. The summit offers wide views across the empty glens and distant ridges of the Fisherfield Forest. The north-east slope falls gently towards Gleann na Muice, while the south side drops sharply with rocky outcrops. Many walkers combine the Ruadh Stac Mòr with the A’ Mhaighdean and Beinn Tarsuinn in a challenging round route. The landscape is rugged and quiet, with only the sound of wind and water breaking the silence. The red rocks glow in the evening light, giving the mountain its name.