📌 Croachy, Highland
★★★★
Stac Gorm is an attractively craggy hill found in the upper reaches of fertile Strathnairn. Its key draw is a wonderful and surprisingly dramatic summit view along the entire length of Loch Ruthven: an RSPB reserve notable for its breeding Slavonian grebe population, and accessed from the same car park. Directions up the hill couldn’t be easier (in clear weather) – instead of taking the main path to the RSPB hide, follow the faint trod from the other side of the car park up the east slopes (a ridge, at a stretch) to the top. The Ruthven Boulder is passed on the way up; this enormous boulder alongside a couple of smaller ones is a popular, err, bouldering spot for local climbers.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Stac Gorm from near the base 
Ruthven Boulder(s) 
Ruthven Boulder(s) 
Views over Loch Ruthven improve with height 
Looking back along the ridge to Strathnairn 
Approaching the summit 
Stac Gorm summit, looking west 
Looking southwest 
Looking north east 
West end of Loch Ruthven from the summit 
East end of Loch Ruthven
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at RSPB Loch Ruthven, minor road 1 mi west of Croachy
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NH 638281
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.322613,-4.263188
🚌 Extremely infrequent bus to Croachy (1 mi)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 2 km / 1 mi | ▲ 210 m | ⌛ 1 hr
Features: ⛰️ Ruthven Boulder; △ Stac Gorm (430 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn)
⬤ Moderate | Rough hill path, a few boggy or rocky sections.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – Ruthven Boulder – Stac Gorm – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Slavonian grebes & mallards on Loch Ruthven (seen by detouring along the hide path afterwards). Bird of prey (red kite?), pheasants & a hare seen close by while driving.
Weather: Pleasant sunny intervals, light wind, temperature in mid teens.
July 2021
