UKC

Hi, last year my family and I visited Scotland and did a walk up Stac Pollaidh. It was the perfect walk for us, just short enough for my seven year old daughter to complete, but still a rewarding walk for the adults and fantastic views for all. We're off again to Scotland this April, can you recommend any similar short mountain walks? We're staying near Aviemore, but happy to drive for a couple of hours. Ideally we'd get to summit something and have spectacular views at the top, rather than just loop partway up a big hill. Thanks!

-How about walking in to the loch at Coire Mhic Fhearchair on Beinn Eighe? You can call into the national trust deer museum in Torridon after
-Steall Falls in Glen Nevis

-Using the gondola to get 650m up Aonach Mor

When you mentioned Aviemore, my first thought was Meall a' Bhuachaille. This rises above Loch Morlich, with a start and finish at Glenmore Lodge. Take the track to the Ryvoan Bothy past Lochan Uaine (very picturesque spot) before heading west up the path to the top of the hill. It has a height of 810m, but you start quite high (about 350m, from memory), so the total ascent isn't too great. The views are terrific, particularly the high tops of the Cairngorms to the south. The main downside to this is that it's likely to be busy (April won't be as bad as August, but don't expect the place to yourselves) and parking may be difficult/expensive. There may be buses from Aviemore - others will know better than I. 

There's a lovely wee guide book 'Scotland's best small mountains', by Kirsty Shirra, which might be useful. There are other good 'small mountains' much closer to Aviemore, although I would say Stac Pollaidh is a very special place, and is one of my favourite Scottish hills. 

Agree, Meall a' Bhuachaille is the best wee walk in the area.

If the OP wants a really wee walk then if you drive to Grantown on Spey and then further north for a few mins the Knock of Braemoray has a path to the summit and is a really good viewpoint. Not sure what you'd do for the rest of the day, Lochindorb is quite atmospheric.

Love a family hill day!

It's worth starting with a safety caveat - apologies if this is stating the obvious. In April in the Highlands you could have summery weather and ground conditions, full on winter hoolie and snow/ice on the ground, or anything in between. Winter conditions demand specific skills and gear, and even smaller hills may not be appropriate to recommend for an easy family walk (without knowing your circumstances). That said, smaller hills such as SP may well be below the snow line/freezing level even if the big Munros are white. Generally - not always - it'll likely be more wintry inland in the Cairngorms than out on the west coast.

SP is really the ultimate scenic bang for minimal effort, there's no better example in the UK (assuming the standard walker's path only to the easier east top, not the full scrambling traverse to the true summit). You won't beat it but there are of course many other great options.

In that general area you could do:

Cul Beag - not as straightforward as SP standard path, but a good kid friendly option on the right day: https://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=1381

One of the summits of Quinag: Sail Gharbh is the obvious choice (you don't have to climb all the tops to have a great day on Quinag) https://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=480

Further south around Gairloch, An Sithean and An Groban are both fantastic mini days out in rough but manageable locations (note to self: do get those written up as Route Cards)

In the Aviemore area, the obvious family choice is Meall a' Bhuachaille https://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=362

It's worth having a look through our Route Cards, which you can search for distance among other things, as well as scanning around the map: https://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/find.php  

Near Aviemore, your best bet is probably Meall a Buchaille - an easy walk up to the Green Lochan, then a steep but not too long climb up the side of the valley, then a gentler climb to the summit. Come down by starting to follow the ridge westwards, then following the path S back down to the visitor centre from the first col.

Directly from Aviemore you could do Craigellachie, which is a short walk through birch woods then a craggy top, which has nice views but is less clearly a peak.

And one more nearby is Ord Ban from the Loch an Eilean carpark - also only a very short climb, but more a feel of a summit at the top and some nice views over the Spey valley - you can continue on to rejoin the Loch an Eilean circular path and so on round the rest of the loch.

Finally, and not anywhere near Aviemore, but actually the only other "Short mountain walk like Stac Pollaidh" that really comes close to the grandeur of Stac Pollaidh itself is the Sgurr of Eigg - well worth doing if you're over that way ever.

Bennachie - Mither Tap and Clachnaben make great little walks which can be extended if desired.

I agree with all the others who are suggesting Meall a'Bhuachaille, a cracker of a hill, awesome views of the northern corries and Ryvoan bothy to pop into. What's not to like?

Creag Dubh above Newtonmore is a good hill not too far away. Glen Banchor behind it is a nice spot too.

Have a look at the Walks section on the Walkhighlands site. It has details of hundreds of walks all over Scotland. It includes everything from gentle strolls to full days in the hills,

All have descriptions and photos so you can see what to expect and they have a guide as to how difficult the walk is(though that is subjestive).

Dave

Check walkhiglands.com for suggestions.

Ben Rinnes is a bit further but interesting. Cairngorm, whilst high is quite easy as you start from the car park.

Ben a an,superb wonderful views with not a lot of effort

Some good suggestions already, and Meall a' Buachaille is definitely a great option. A few other good small hills in the Aviemore area: 

Creag Bheag behind Kingussie https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/creagbheag.shtml 

Carn Daimh https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/carn-daimh-tomnavoulin.shtml

Stac Gorm https://sobt.co.uk/walk-stac-gorm/

Stac na h-Iolaire from the lower ski car park (some pathless terrain higher up). 

Geal-charn Mor https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/geal-charn-mor.shtml 

Creag na Chalamain:  follow https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/chalamain-gap.shtml until through the gap (kids should enjoy this, but pick a dry day so the boulders aren't slippery/icy), then turn right. You can avoid the gap by taking a more direct line back.  Possible bonus of seeing the reindeer near the start. 

Spidean Coinnich is also good on its own - you can make a nice wee circuit via Bealach a' Chornaidh and the main path. 

An Groban has a reasonable path up it (but its neighbour Sithean Mor is a lot rougher going!). The other Sithean Mor (by the Fairy Lochs) is a fine wee summit but the path is a hideous swamp - take wellies!  

Agree with this one. Stunning we hill.

In Badenoch - Creag Dubh (Newtonmore)  and Creag Beag (Kingussie) are worth a shout, but sadly its all "downhill" after Pollaidh.

Happy childhood memories of Stac Pollaidh! Thanks for the thread, gave me a smile reminiscing, must go back some time!

Thanks for all your input, there's so many suggestions for me to look into! We've got plenty of experience of walking the hills around Manchester and familair the contrainsts of weather etc.

Stac Pollaidh really gave my daughter a sense of satisfaction and we even scrambled up to the lower summit (eastern?). Also we actually walked to An Lochan Uaine last time too, so  actually doing Meall a' Bhuachaille might be a nice bonus. The Scottish highlights is such a great trip, it good to  get the advice of people with a bit more knowledge.

If conditions allow, don't discount the higher mountains.  The ski centre is high enough up that something like going up the Windy Ridge path to Cairn Gorm and back would be little different in time / distance / ascent than your Stac Pollaidh walk.  Views from there, if clear, are decent.

Its also remarkable what kids can do.  Spring conditions when ours were 7 and 9 and we managed goat track to Ben Macdui and back via Lurchers path.  There was a lot of hot chocolate involved.

On the side of Loch Maree is the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve Mountain Trail. Starts from the car park at Collie na Glas-Leitire. It doesn't go up Beinn Eighe but from the Conservation Cairn you get a cracking view of the peaks and coires on the north side. Fantastic views, complete the circuit past the lochans where one is named Lunar Loch. And there's the option of adding on Meall a' Ghiuthais if you have an abundance of energy. More fantastic views down to the Loch Maree islands and out to Poolewe.

There is not that much around Scotland that is as short and child friendly as Stac Pollaidh. It's a made path the whole way. Generally things are rougher and wilder. Especially round Aviemore you have huge sprawling mountains. You might find everything a significant step up. 

I love Scotland but the Lake District might be a better starting point. The hills there are of a much lesser scale, with more paths, less rough terrain and less risk of significant snow cover in April.

Odd description of the bit that is an exposed and awkward scramble.

The vast majority of people who would say that they had climbed Stac Pollaidh won't have done that.

True summit obsession isn't something that troubles everyone.

The vast majority of people would say they were wrong. The scrambling is the essence of the ascent.

Sorry, but "The whole way" definitely means just that.

I remember going up it as a child and being very disappointed not to be allowed to go to the top. Not child friendly I now accept.

It is the essence for you - but you don't get to define that for everyone else. Personally I'm completely comfortable with folks saying they've climbed the hill by getting to the summit ridge/east top if that's what suits them.

I would demur if they said they'd climbed the hill "the whole way" or "to the very top", but summitting isn't something that everyone feels is necessary to have climbed a hill (and summitting is a subset of climbing a hill in any case).

The post I replied to said there was a good path the whole way. There is not; it was misleading and that was why I commented. 

Anyway, if someone says they have climbed a hill, I am absolutely certain most people will assume that means they went to the top.

There is a path the whole way if getting onto the top ridge is your objective - it's a very touristy hill and that is precisely what a very large fraction of those climbing that hill actually do.

I'm sure most people in your echo chamber will concur - I'm not sure most people who "climb Stac Pollaidh" would agree.

Nothing to do with any echo chamber. Just what is commonly understood by almost everyone by climbing a hill.

No, I think it's probably an echo chamber thing, although I acknowledge that it may be a case of someone convinced of their own rectitude.

As someone who has mingled with hillwalkers/baggers more than climbers/scramblers (let alone tourists and occasional hill ascenders like the majority on SP), hills like Stac Pollaidh/Cobbler/Ben Avon are an issue for quite a lot of folk - and there's no small number who don't do the west top of SP/thread the needle/climb the tor.

In terms of Stac Pollaidh itself? Given that I know hillwalkers who felt the need to get help to do the west top I would be very surprised if the percentage of people who "climb the hill" actually visit the true summit is much more than 5-10% - probably less. Certainly when I've been on that hill most people don't do much more of the ridge than the point the path gets there and the east top. I bet most of them would say they climbed Stac Pollaidh.

Stac Pollaidh is an outlier in that - for sure most people who "climb Tinto" mean they got to the summit, but it is a very different hill.

Well if I said I had climbed Stac Pollaidh and I had stopped on the col I would be lying. If you are right then most people who say they have climbed Stac Pollaidh actually have not done so.

I can't believe we are even having this discussion, so I'll leave it there.

Except to repeat what my original point was, that it is simply not true that there is a good path the whole way up Stac Polllaidh and I'm sure nobody, would disagree with me there.

The poster said "path the whole way" - not "the whole way up". If your loop is up to the east top and round on the path that is true. Untrue if you add a word that wasn't there.

Of course, but other people could do that and not be lying. It depends on your definition of "climbed". 

Anyone who did not already know Stac Pollaidh would assume it meant to the top. You know, what with it being a hill. If something else was meant they should have therefore made that clear. 

If you live in a bubble where there are certain hills which you can say you have climbed without going to the top then that is fine, but if you are communicating with others outside that bubble you really ought to stick with the usual norm the rest of the world uses in order to be understood.

Must say, it's really quite amusing to see what a fankle you're getting in about the importance of the true summit and the "correct" way to climb a hill.

Some people do seem to do this - they think they know what the "essence" of an activity is (your word) and believe that applies to others. They think their rules are universal and get shirty if others don't follow them. Seen that a lot on outdoors forums over the years.

Good luck with that - personally I just let people get on with doing things their way and recognising my way is just that - mine.

Still, very funny watching knickers getting twisted by the righteous.

I don't think the true summit is necessarily important. In fact I was up a hill this morning and stopped 10 or 15 minutes short of the summit because it was a better place to take photos. There is no correct way to do anything in the hills; people can do what they like.

All I am saying is that if somebody said they had climbed a hill then almost everyone would take that to mean they had gone to the top. But of course you know that really don't you?

I know what I mean when I say that, but I also know that in the case of some hills, Stac Pollaidh especially and to a lesser extent the Cobbler, that a combination of serious tourist appeal and tricky summit approach means that a lot of people will append the word "climbed" in a way which would make my Bagger acquaintances twitch and some folks get in a right fankle.

I know that happens and I'm entirely comfortable with it.

How clever you are! And how totally you have hijacked an otherwise worthwhile thread.

I was simply pointing out your misleading statement about there being a well made path the whole way. That is all. Kinley2 then started a silly argument about it which was hardly my fault. Blame him for any thread hijack.

Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve Mountain Trail was the winner! We did the trail and had a fantastic time, even the dog loved it Thanks for the recommendation.

Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it.

It's one of our favourites.