An environmental charity and community-led infrastructure project that has boosted walking tourism to Stac Pollaidh, near Coigach, Ross-shire, one of the most popular hills to climb in Scotland, was formally opened by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes, on Friday, 07 November 2025.

Ms Forbes visited the site, which has benefited from an £836,944 investment in an expanded 78-space trailhead car park and a new off-grid toilet facility with processing tank. The new low-carbon site, powered by 15KWh solar panels and 30KWh battery storage, has been designed to safely accommodate and greatly enhance the experience of the 55,000 annual visitors.

The two-phase construction project (2024/25) was spearheaded by the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS), a leading environmental charity promoting sustainable public access, in collaboration with the Coigach Community Council, Inverpolly Estate, and The Highland Council Development and Place Service. Funding awards came from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (£490,144), the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (£143,000), the Community Regeneration Fund (£30,000), and a significant contribution from OATS (£173,800).

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “With the growing popularity of Scotland’s rural beauty spots, we must ensure tourism is sustainable and doesn’t put unnecessary strain on local services and communities.

“These new amenities will serve Stac Pollaidh’s 55,000 visitors a year and ensure the people and businesses based in the area can enjoy the positive impacts of tourism.

“Getting that balance right between tourism and communities is what the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund aims to achieve, and I’m encouraged that it’s been able to make a significant contribution to this partnership working project.”

In 2019, the Coigach Community Council and Inverpolly Estate, in partnership with The Highland Council, invited OATS to find long-term solutions to the challenges caused by the increasing annual visitor numbers at the 20-space Stac Pollaidh car park, located just a few miles from the North Coast 500. It was regularly overwhelmed, and the narrow single-track access road was blocked by parked cars, causing significant disruption to the local community. The lack of on-site facilities also led to path and habitat degradation and litter and fouling issues on the national and international designated nature site.

Using their highly effective model of a long-term site lease to benefit the local community and surrounding environment, OATS had to negotiate both a Community Asset Transfer and a lease with The Highland Council and a lease with Inverpolly Estate, the two landowners on the expanded site.

Despite large-scale, detailed and time-consuming consultation, planning and ecological assessment processes, and a few construction challenges, stemming from the site’s remote location and ground conditions, the car park opened in April 2025, with the toilet facility completed in the last month.

Shortly after opening, the expanded car park became a vital rendezvous point for emergency services and support teams during the extensive wildfires that engulfed Stac Pollaidh for three days in April 2025, keeping multiple volunteers, welfare teams, equipment, and the media safe.

Chair of the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland Board of Trustees, Duncan Bryden, said: “To tackle growing visitor pressures and keep people safe OATS are delighted to be opening our facility at Stac Pollaidh, an iconic mountain north of Ullapool. Powered by solar panels and batteries plus bore hole water, these are OATS first low carbon off grid facilities. We are grateful for grant support from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund and other funders to make this happen.

“OATS specialise in combined recreational infrastructural provision – parking, toilets, paths, and storytelling – in remoter areas where visitors are going in ever greater numbers to enjoy nature and landscapes. Income from visitor parking goes back into facility and path maintenance. The Stac Pollaidh car park has also supported emergency services using the site for mountain rescue and wildfire fighting.” 

New signage and interpretation panels will be included in the Stac Pollaidh development. OATS are also planning both an all-abilities route to a viewpoint and the rebuilding and repairing of substantial sections of the mountain path to further enhance the visitor experience. The charity will continue sustainable conservation on the mountain through their volunteer path maintenance programme.

Chris Taylor, Destination Development Director at VisitScotland, said: “Stac Pollaidh is a fantastic walk, located within a breathtaking landscape. Visitors are drawn to the Highlands for its outstanding scenery and walking is an important activity for many of our visitors, as well as local residents.

“The new car park and toilet facility illustrates perfectly how targeted investment – such as the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund – can support rural communities experiencing high visitor numbers, whilst still enhancing the overall visitor experience.

“These improvements – which are sustainable, low-carbon and off-grid – will also greatly enhance the environment for the local community, allowing for better management of visitors at the site and helping ensure that this area remains vibrant and resilient.

“By investing in infrastructure and promoting responsible tourism, we can help protect Scotland’s stunning natural landscapes and help improve the sustainability of our destinations into the future.”

Economy and Infrastructure Chair, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: “The Highland Council is pleased to be part of a collaborative effort with key stakeholders to significantly enhance the facilities at Stac Pollaidh, located just a few miles from the North Coast 500. With visitor numbers continuing to rise, the original car park had exceeded its capacity, highlighting the need for improved infrastructure and onsite amenities. These upgrades will greatly enhance the visitor experience while supporting the needs of both the local community and those exploring the area.”

“Through a combination of funding streams and land agreements, the Council has played a pivotal role in driving positive change at the site. We hope these improvements will support effective visitor management and help create a welcoming, sustainable space for everyone to enjoy the natural beauty and unique character of this remarkable location.”

Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, Miatta Fahnbulleh, said: “I’m pleased the UK Government has supported this community-led project through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This is an excellent example of what can be achieved when communities are empowered to take the lead in deciding what is best for their areas”

“This investment will ensure that residents and visitors alike can continue to enjoy the spectacular landscape, whilst protecting the surrounding environment so it can be enjoyed for years to come.”

Ann Macleod, Secretary, Coigach Community Council, said: “The Coigach community has long hoped that something could be done to alleviate the seasonal congestion problems when the Stac Pollaidh carpark overspills into passing places along our single-track road. 

“This road is the lifeline for our small but active community. There have been instances of delivery vehicles stuck and having to wait for walkers to come down the hill. There have also been longstanding problems with litter and fouling.

“We are pleased that OATS, the landowners, the Highland Council and Nature Scot reached a sensible solution. We trust that any eventual profits made by charging for the use of the facilities will be ploughed back by OATS into the upkeep of the paths around this iconic and much-loved mountain.”