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Stac Lee

Hill, Mountain in Inverness-shire

Scotland

Stac Lee

Boreray and Sea Stacks, St Kilda Archipelago A view of the island of Boreray (Boraraigh), the large island to the northeast of Hirta in the St Kilda archipelago. The two large sea stacks to the west of the island are Stac Lee and Stac an Armin.
Boreray and Sea Stacks, St Kilda Archipelago Credit: David Dixon

Stac Lee is a distinctive sea stack located in the St Kilda archipelago in Inverness-shire, Scotland. It rises dramatically from the Atlantic Ocean to a height of approximately 172 meters (564 feet), making it one of the tallest sea stacks in the British Isles. The stack is composed of columnar basalt, formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago.

Stac Lee is known for its challenging climbing routes, attracting experienced climbers from around the world. Due to its remote location and exposed position, climbing Stac Lee requires a high level of skill and experience. The stack is also home to a variety of seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, and fulmars, making it a popular spot for birdwatching.

Access to Stac Lee is restricted due to its location within a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can view the stack from the water or from nearby islands such as Hirta. The rugged beauty and unique geological features of Stac Lee make it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

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Stac Lee Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.866357/-8.5102549 or Grid Reference NA1404. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Boreray and Sea Stacks, St Kilda Archipelago A view of the island of Boreray (Boraraigh), the large island to the northeast of Hirta in the St Kilda archipelago. The two large sea stacks to the west of the island are Stac Lee and Stac an Armin.
Boreray and Sea Stacks, St Kilda Archipelago
A view of the island of Boreray (Boraraigh), the large island to the northeast of Hirta in the St Kilda archipelago. The two large sea stacks to the west of the island are Stac Lee and Stac an Armin.
Stac Lee Stac Lee (Scottish Gaelic: Stac Lì) is a sea stack in the St Kilda archipelago. It is around 550 metres west of the west cape of the island of Boreray. Stac Lee is home to part of what is reputed to be the world's largest colony of northern gannet.
Stac Lee
Stac Lee (Scottish Gaelic: Stac Lì) is a sea stack in the St Kilda archipelago. It is around 550 metres west of the west cape of the island of Boreray. Stac Lee is home to part of what is reputed to be the world's largest colony of northern gannet.
Stac an Armin Stac an Armin (Scottish Gaelic: Stac an Àrmainn) is a sea stack in the St Kilda archipelago, approximately 400 metres (¼ mi) north of Boreray. It is 196 metres (643 ft.) tall, qualifying it as the highest sea stack in the British Isles (<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/apr/16/leadersandreply.mainsection2" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/apr/16/leadersandreply.mainsection2">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> The Guardian). The name Stac an Armin means stack of the soldier/warrior, and evidence remains to show that it was used by people living nearby as a hunting ground although it is not believed to have been inhabited year-round. The outline of St Kilda's main island Hirta, and its neighbour Soay, can be seen in the background.
Stac an Armin
Stac an Armin (Scottish Gaelic: Stac an Àrmainn) is a sea stack in the St Kilda archipelago, approximately 400 metres (¼ mi) north of Boreray. It is 196 metres (643 ft.) tall, qualifying it as the highest sea stack in the British Isles (LinkExternal link The Guardian). The name Stac an Armin means stack of the soldier/warrior, and evidence remains to show that it was used by people living nearby as a hunting ground although it is not believed to have been inhabited year-round. The outline of St Kilda's main island Hirta, and its neighbour Soay, can be seen in the background.
St Kilda, Stac an Armim and Stac Lee Stac an Armin (Scottish Gaelic: Stac an Àrmainn) is a sea stack in the St Kilda archipelago, approximately 400 metres (¼ mile) north of Boreray. It is 196 metres (643 ft.) tall, qualifying it as the highest sea stack in Scotland and the British Isles (<span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/apr/16/leadersandreply.mainsection2" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/apr/16/leadersandreply.mainsection2">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> The Guardian). The name Stac an Armin means stack of the soldier/warrior, and evidence remains to show that it was used by people living nearby as a hunting ground although it is not believed to have been inhabited year-round. Another sea stack, Stac Lee (Scottish Gaelic: Stac Lì) can be seen beyond Stac an Armin. It is around 550 metres west of the west cape of the island of Boreray and is home to part of what is reputed to be the world's largest colony of northern gannet.
St Kilda, Stac an Armim and Stac Lee
Stac an Armin (Scottish Gaelic: Stac an Àrmainn) is a sea stack in the St Kilda archipelago, approximately 400 metres (¼ mile) north of Boreray. It is 196 metres (643 ft.) tall, qualifying it as the highest sea stack in Scotland and the British Isles (LinkExternal link The Guardian). The name Stac an Armin means stack of the soldier/warrior, and evidence remains to show that it was used by people living nearby as a hunting ground although it is not believed to have been inhabited year-round. Another sea stack, Stac Lee (Scottish Gaelic: Stac Lì) can be seen beyond Stac an Armin. It is around 550 metres west of the west cape of the island of Boreray and is home to part of what is reputed to be the world's largest colony of northern gannet.
St Kilda, Boreray Boreray (Scottish Gaelic: Boraraigh) is an uninhabited island in the St Kilda archipelago.
St Kilda, Boreray
Boreray (Scottish Gaelic: Boraraigh) is an uninhabited island in the St Kilda archipelago.
Boreray (Boraraigh), St Kilda The southern end of Boreray (Scottish Gaelic: Boraraigh), an uninhabited island in the St Kilda archipelago. Boreray is the smallest of the Scottish islands to have a summit of over 1,000 feet (300 metres).
Boreray (Boraraigh), St Kilda
The southern end of Boreray (Scottish Gaelic: Boraraigh), an uninhabited island in the St Kilda archipelago. Boreray is the smallest of the Scottish islands to have a summit of over 1,000 feet (300 metres).
St Kilda - Sgarbhstac Sgarbhstac is a small islet or skerry off the southwestern coast of Boreray in the St Kilda archipelago. It rises to c. 70' (just over 20m) above mean sea level with an area of about one acre (0.4ha). Its name derives from the Gaelic for Cormorant (Sgarbh); the bird seen bottom right however is a Gannet (Gaelic: Sùlaire).
St Kilda - Sgarbhstac
Sgarbhstac is a small islet or skerry off the southwestern coast of Boreray in the St Kilda archipelago. It rises to c. 70' (just over 20m) above mean sea level with an area of about one acre (0.4ha). Its name derives from the Gaelic for Cormorant (Sgarbh); the bird seen bottom right however is a Gannet (Gaelic: Sùlaire).
Stac Lee, St Kilda Boreray just showing beyond.
Stac Lee, St Kilda
Boreray just showing beyond.
The cliffs and slopes of Boreray
The cliffs and slopes of Boreray
Stac an Armin 196 metres high, rising almost straight out the sea. Note the calm of the North Atlantic - a rare day of superb weather!
Stac an Armin
196 metres high, rising almost straight out the sea. Note the calm of the North Atlantic - a rare day of superb weather!
A St Kildan line-up Right to left we have Stac an Armin, an un-named skerry, then Boreray.
A St Kildan line-up
Right to left we have Stac an Armin, an un-named skerry, then Boreray.
The SE corner of Boreray Cliffs and more cliffs; we can't really call it a shore, somehow?
The SE corner of Boreray
Cliffs and more cliffs; we can't really call it a shore, somehow?
Stac Lee
Stac Lee
Stac an Armin Eleven people were marooned here for 9 months over the winter of 1727/8
Stac an Armin
Eleven people were marooned here for 9 months over the winter of 1727/8
Geo Shunadal
Geo Shunadal
Sgarbhstac
Sgarbhstac
Boreray cliffs
Boreray cliffs
On board SS Uganda approaching Stac Lee and Boreray
On board SS Uganda approaching Stac Lee and Boreray
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Stac Lee is located at Grid Ref: NA1404 (Lat: 57.866357, Lng: -8.5102549)

Unitary Authority: Na h-Eileanan an Iar

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///rankings.indicated.defends. Near Balivanich, Na h-Eileanan Siar

Nearby Locations

Stac Lee Stac Lee Clesgor Geo an Fheachdaire Rubha Langa Geo Lee

Related Wikis

Stac Lee
Stac Lee

Stac Lee (Scottish Gaelic: Stac Lì) is a sea stack in the St Kilda group off the west coast of Scotland. An island Marilyn (a point with topographic prominence...

Boreray, St Kilda
Boreray, St Kilda

Boreray (Scottish Gaelic: Boraraigh; Scots: Boreray) is an uninhabited island in the St Kilda archipelago in the North Atlantic. == Geography == Boreray...

Stac an Armin
Stac an Armin

Stac an Armin (Scottish Gaelic: Stac an Àrmainn), based on the proper Scottish Gaelic spelling (formerly àrmuinn), is a sea stack in the St Kilda archipelago...

St Kilda, Scotland
St Kilda, Scotland

St Kilda (Scottish Gaelic: Hiort) is an isolated archipelago situated 64 kilometres (40 mi) west-northwest of North Uist in the North Atlantic Ocean. It...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 57.866357,-8.5102549
Corbett: no
Ele: 172
Graham: no
Marilyn: yes
Munro: no
Natural: peak
Prominence: 172
Source: npe
Lat/Long: 57.8664752/-8.5100066
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Natural: rock
Seamark Type: rock
Lat/Long: 57.8654911/-8.5099756
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
Natural: rock
Seamark Type: rock
Lat/Long: 57.866754/-8.5082031
OpenStreetMap
Google Maps
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Oisebhal Inverness-shire
Stac an Armin Inverness-shire

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