Sculpture in Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, near Ullapool
UNESCO North West Highlands Geopark
Stretching over 2,000 square kilometres in the far corner of mainland Scotland, the geopark is a spectacular example of different rock geologies.
At a glance
- Natuur & outdoors:
Home to Lewisian Gneiss, the oldest rock in Europe
- Wilde dieren:
eagles, seabirds, seals
- Stadjes en dorpen:
Achiltibuie, Assynt, Coigach, Durness, Kinlochbervie, Kylesku, Lochinver, Ullapool
What to expect
The North West Highlands Geopark is a place where the story of our planet is written across the landscape. Home to the 3-billion-year-old Lewisian Gneiss, the oldest rock in Europe, this remarkable region reveals some of the earliest evidence of life ever discovered on the continent. Every mountain, cliff and coastline offers a glimpse into Earth's earliest moments.
Beyond its geological features, the Geopark captivates at every turn, where white-sand beaches meet rugged peaks, hidden caves, and vast moorlands, peatlands, and ancient forests. Wildlife thrives here, from soaring eagles and seabirds to seals along the shore. Beneath the surface, caves preserve traces of creatures that roamed these lands thousands of years ago, connecting visitors to a world long vanished.
Glaciers, grinding West, gouged out
these valleys, rasping the brown sandstone,
and left, on the hard rock below — the
ruffled foreland —
this frieze of mountains, filed
on the blue air — Stac Polly,
Cul Beag, Cul Mor, Suilven,
Canisp — a frieze and
a litany.
Norman MacCaig
Plan your adventure in the North West Highlands Geopark
Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve
Visit Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve and its famous Rock Route, explore the Moine Thrust Zone, where groundbreaking geological discoveries changed our understanding of mountain formation, and follow the Geopark's driving and cycling routes to uncover remarkable geological landscapes.
Follow the North West Highlands Rock Route
The Rock Stop
Visit the Rock Stop - the North West Highlands Geopark's visitor centre and an excellent place to begin your journey through the geopark. Located near Unapool (not to be confused with Ullapool!), this centre features exhibits that explain the region's world-famous geology. Visitors can browse books and gifts, pick up maps and local information, and gain a deeper appreciation of the landscapes, wildlife and communities that make the geopark so special.
Visit the Rock Stop Visitor Centre & Café
Walking routes in the Geopark
You can tackle mountains such as Stac Pollaidh, Suilven, Cul Mòr and Ben More Assynt for spectacular views over lochs, islands, and surrounding peaks, or join guided walking, scrambling or mountaineering adventures with local experts.
Discover walking routes around Ullapool & Assynt
The Assynt and Coigach Creative Trail
Experience the Assynt and Coigach Creative Trail, visit artists' studios, galleries and craft workshops and browse the Balnakeil Craft Village, home to local artisans and food producers.
Explore the Assynt & Coigach Creative Trail
Rock Route
This is a route between a series of information boards telling you more about the local landscape and set throughout the geopark. There are 14 boards to find, each accompanied by an audio guide. They'll help you trace the marks left over the years by mountains, glaciers and sea level changes right across this incredible area.
Het landschap van Assynt, uitzicht op de top van Stac Pollaidh
© Unsplash
The Rock Route
Kyle of Durness
Stac Pollaidh in het North West Highlands Geopark
© Kim Walton
Handwerkaccessoires
The Rock Stop Visitor Centre, Unapool
Towns and villages within the North West Highlands Geopark
Adventure across the iconic bridge in Kylesku, feel the sand beneath your feet on Kinlochbervie's golden shores, or look up at the imposing peaks in Assynt. Here are some welcoming places you can choose as your base to explore everything the geopark has to offer.
Achiltibuie
Overlooking the Summer Isles and open sea, Achiltibuie is set in magnificent mountain and coastal scenery on the remote north west coast.
Assynt
Often regarded as the heart of the Geopark, it is famed for its isolated mountains as well as its geological significance, lochs, and ancient castles.
Coigach
Coigach offers dramatic coastal scenery, hidden beaches, island views, and a thriving creative community.
Durness
Renowned for its white-sand beaches and dramatic cliffs, Durness is a thriving village surrounded by the dramatic landscape of Sutherland.
Kinlochbervie
Surrounded by spectacular cliffs, sandy coves, and wild landscapes, it is an ideal base for exploring the Geopark's far north-west.
Kylesku
Nestled beside the dramatic Kylesku Bridge, it is a picturesque stopping point and gateway to nearby waterfalls, wildlife, and mountain scenery.
Lochinver
Lochinver is known for fresh seafood, access to iconic mountains and stunning views across sea lochs and rugged landscapes.
Ullapool
Visit the picturesque fishing town of Ullapool.
Plan your trip to the North West Highlands Geopark
Getting there
Bus
Inverness serves as the Highlands’ main transport hub, with regular rail services from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other Scottish & UK cities, as well as domestic and international flights.
From Inverness, you can travel onwards to key geopark communities including Ullapool and Durness by bus in about 3 hours.
Auto
Accessibility
The North West Highlands Geopark is making its remarkable landscapes and geological heritage more accessible, but accessibility can vary significantly depending on where you visit. While some attractions, visitor facilities and viewpoints are suitable for visitors with limited mobility, much of the geopark's appeal lies in its rugged mountains, remote beaches, and natural terrain, which can present challenges.
Nearby regions to visit
Find out more about the Scottish regions that make up the North West Highlands Geopark
The Scottish Highlands
Green valleys, vibrant culture, towering mountains, historic castles and peaceful lochs: the Highlands is the Scotland of your imagination.
Inverness
Discover Inverness, our capital of the Highlands, with scenic riverside walks, historic sights and a warm local atmosphere.
Orkney
These astonishing islands shelter Scotland’s ancient past, from standing stones to entire early settlements carved into the coastline.