STAC POLLAIDH, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

“I awoke to a blue Scottish sky and fresh energy. Tackling the wee 2007ft slog up, I still needed every last scrap of strength to get my ‘hike on’. Stac Pollaidh (pronounced ‘Stack Polly’) is a Torridonian sandstone-crested mountain in the north-west Highlands. Despite a silly o’clock start and keeling forward – sucking in air to catch my breath – I just about managed to greet Pollaidh. Glad I did, she bestowed panoramic views of Inverpolly Nature Reserve, down to Loch Lurgainn and across to the mighty Suilven. This mini mountain punched well above its weight.”