Interactive Map of Lochaber
mapa cò-obrachadh Loch Abair
To ensure that information shown on our interactive map is as accessible as possible we have created a complete list of the points of interest shown. These are detailed below.
Point of Interest Information
| Achnaha | Ach Na H-ath | Stop in a small passing place about 1km before Achnaha, and take the track that leads to the abandoned village of Glendrian. Walk along this track a short way and then ascend to the crest of a line of small hills. From here you can see that the surrounding hills make up a near-complete circle around you. These hills are formed from a type of gabbro that is more resistant to weathering than the surrounding rocks and this has resulted in the spectacular natural ampitheatre we see today. Just imagine – what you are standing on was once the root beneath a massive volcano! Further Information on Achnaha ... |
| Achnambeithach | Achnambeithach | You're now inside the ancient caldera of the Glen Coe volcano. The lower part of Aonach Dubh mountain is made up of dark sills and lavas, but an obvious ledge marks the start of a different group of volcanic rocks. These lighter rocks are associated with explosive eruptions and are a distinctive orange-brown colour. Further Information on Achnambeithach... |
| An Steall - falls and hanging valley | An Steall - eas agus gleann crochte | It's well worth taking the time to walk from the car park through the Nevis gorge to one of Scotland's most impressive waterfalls. Once you are through the gorge, the glen opens out dramatically and you see the An Steall waterfall cascading down a high wall of white quartzite rock. The water spills out of Coire a'Mhail, which is a superb example of a glacially carved hanging valley. Further Information on An Steall - falls and hanging valley ... |
| An Tor car park | Pàirc-chàraichean an Toir | Stop at this car park for a good view of Clachaig Gully - this gully marks the line of a fault where the rocks on either side once slid past each other. You can also see folded metamorphic rocks (quartzites and limestones). These rocks were once sands and silts at the bottom of an ancient sea. Further Information on An Tor car park... |
| Ardnamurchan Natural History Centre | Ardnamurchan Natural History Centre provide an introduction to the natural environment of Ardnamurchan, the most westerly part of the British mainland. Its focal point is an interactive exhibition housed in the 'Living Building' where you can discover many innovative elements as well as enjoy an audio-visual presentation. A 16-page booklet, to be read at your leisure, complements the exhibition. The Centre offers a combination of entertainment & education for all ages based on a strong foundation of relevant fact and quality presentation. Its long-term aim is to retain a fresh approach to interpreting the natural environment. Further Information on Ardnamurchan Natural History Centre... |
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| Arisaig | Arasaig | At the small village of Arisaig, you’ll see there are a series of raised beaches along the flat land of the foreshore. These pebbly deposits have risen out of the sea as the land ‘bounced back’ from the weight of ice after the Ice Age. Further Information on Arisaig... |
| Ballachulish Slate Quarry | Cuaraidh Sglèat Baile Chaolais | Take a close-up look at the rock face in the quarry and you’ll see the planes of weakness or ‘cleavage’ in the surface - it’s this feature of slate that allows it to be split for roofing. You may also see some cube-shaped crystal of iron pyrite, or ‘fool’s gold’. The white lines in the rock face are veins of quartz that has crystallized from fluids flowing through the cracks in the rock. Further Information on Ballachulish Slate Quarry... |
| Ballachulish Tourist Information Centre | Ballachulish Quarry car park | Tourist Information Centre, Albert Road, Ballachulish, Argyll and Bute, Strathclyde, Scotland, PH49 4JB Tel: 01855 811 866 Fax: 01855 811 866 E-mail: postmaster@ballachulishtic.plus.com Web: www.ballachulishtic.plus.com Further Information on Ballachulish Tourist Information Centre... |
| Basalt Lavas | Làbha Mèinneir | About a mile and a half before Lochaline you’ll see some exposures of dark basalt lava by the side of the road. There are also good views from here of the east side of Loch Aline - a characteristic terraced landscape created by the weathering of separate lava flows. Further Information on Basalt Lavas... |
| Camas Nan Geall | Camas Nan Geall | The view from the road above Camas Nan Geall (Bay of Pledges) is one of the most beautiful in Ardnamurchan. To the west of Camas Nan Geall you’ll see the distant headland known as Maclean’s Nose. This promontory and the rocky cliff running inland from it were formed during an explosive eruption of the first volcano on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. The peninsula to the south of the road is built of some of the basalt lavas which poured across the landscape as the North Atlantic began to open 60 million years ago. Further Information on Camas Nan Geall ... |
| Camas nan Geall | Chambered Cairn | Camas nan Geall has the remains of a chambered cairn indicating the site of a Neolithic agricultural community dating some 2000 to 3000BC and is in contrast to the earlier Mesolithic nomadic settlements in the area. There is also an ancient burial ground, with a cross-inscribed stone, called Cladh Chiarain after St Ciaran mac an t-Saeir who died in 549 and is said to be buried here. The burial ground may have been used in the 18th Century for the Roman Catholic Campbell’s of Ardslignish. A standing stone to the south west of the burial ground was probably erected in the Bronze age with subsequent motifs carved on in low relief within a plain border. Further Information on Camas nan Geall... |
| Canna | Canaigh | There is a flat platform of rock about 30 or 40 metres above sea level around the coast of Canna. This goes round most of the island and was cut about 100,000 years ago before the last glacial ice cover, when the sea level was much higher than it is today. When the last glaciers melted and the weight of the ice was removed, the Earth’s crust ‘bounced back’ – making it higher than it was before. This effect created what are known as ‘raised shorelines’. You’ll see similar raised shorelines around the other Small Isles and at Arisaig. Canna is the furthest of the Small Isles from the mainland. It is mostly made up of basalt lava flows. On the north-east tip of the island sits Compass Hill. It’s called this because iron in the hill’s basalt rocks affects compasses up to 3 miles away Further Information on Canna... |
| Canna Souterrains | Earnagream | Built into the south face of a grassy rise are two crudely built souterrains. The lower one is an irregularly-shaped lintelled chamber measuring 3.0m N-S by 1.5m transversely. The other, about 4.0m higher up the slope, is of similar construction but slightly smaller. A substantial grass-grown mound may be all that now survives of a structure associated with the souterrain on the south flank of this low rise immediately to the SW. The mound, which lies on the crest of the rise on the E side of an old field-wall measures about 15m in diameter. The souterrain is aligned from N to S and survives in two sections, modern breaks provide access through the roof. The upper section measures 6m in length, and the lower 3.8m. These two sections have previously been interpreted as two separate souterrains, but it is clear that they belong to the same structure. Internally, the souterrain varies between 0.8m and 1.3m in breadth, and appears to narrow as the floor rises northwards towards the mound. Its sides are rock-cut, but in places stretches of stone walling survive, and the stone lintels of the roof are partly supported on at least three pairs of opposing stone piers set against the sides of the passage. On the surface, the course of the souterrain to the N is indicated by a U-shaped hollow in the SW side of the mound, but some of the disturbance around the souterrain is probably the spread of upcast material created when the trench for the passage was originally dug out. Further Information on Canna Souterrains... |
| Carn Liath | Rahoy | This Neolithic chambered cairn is a burial chamber belonging to the passage-grave tradition. It is situated in trees 700m south east of Rahoy on the north east shore of Loch Teacuis. The cairn is oval in plan approximately 18m in diameter and 1.5m in height.. To the north and south are kerb stones but most material has long since been robbed for the construction of the nearby township. Further Information on Carn Liath... |
| Cill Choluim Chille | The church of St Columba in Kenevaden | Old Parish Church and Burial-ground, Cill Choluim Chille, also known as the church of St Columba in Kenevaden or Morvern. It lay originally within the patronage of the Lords of the Isles, on whose forfeiture it passed to the crown, although as was customary, one quarter of the fruits pertained to the bishops of Argyll. The remains of one of the two medieval parish churches of Morvern stand within an extensive churchyard, south west of the present Keil Church built in 1898, and the third on the site. The principal surviving feature of medieval date is an archway which probably led from the body of the church into a north transept or burial-aisle. This now forms part of the south wall of an enclosure which also incorporates numerous re-used late medieval sandstone fragments. To the south of the burial-aisle, there is a similar structure, which may have replaced an earlier aisle built against the south wall. A lintel above the entrance states that this aisle was re-built possibly in 1733 Further Information on Cill Choluim Chille... |
| Corantee Mine | Corantee mine is situated at the head of Corrie an t-Suidhe and is the most westerly of the Strontian mines. The mine was worked at various times including from 1865 to 1871 when it was finally abandoned. The early workers mined solely for lead which was produced from the mineral Galena, later the zinc bearing mineral Sphalerite was also exploited and there are traces of silver in the area. The mines are best known for the discovery of the mineral Stronianite in 1791 which was named after the village. The chemists Crawford and Cruickshank concluded that it contained a new “earth”, subsequently Dr Thomas Hope's research set the scene for the discovery of the element strontium by Humphry Davy in 1808. Strontium was originally used in sugar beet processing and fireworks (Strontianite burns with a vivid crimson colour) until the advent of the Nuclear Age when it took on a much more significant role, as it has an unstable isotope Stronium 90 which is a by-product of nuclear fission. Further Information on Corantee Mine... |
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| Dun an Eididh | Dun an Eididh is a small flat-topped rocky knoll at the east side of Kentra Bay. Only the east side has a gentle sloped access which allows access the other sides being cliff faces up to 7m high. The knoll contains the fragmentary remains of a dun around its summit, the approximate internal measurements of which are 23.0m north west to south east by 13.0m. Much of the wall has slipped away leaving only occasional traces of debris under the long heather and the dun is best defined to the north of the entrance in the south east, where three or four outer facing- stones are visible. The feature published to the north of the dun on OS 1:2500 is a collapsed corn-drying kiln at the foot of the crag. Further Information on Dun an Eididh... |
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| Dun Resipole | Dun Resipole is a fortified prehistoric settlement located 275m south west of Resipole on an isolated knoll just to the north of the road overlooking the north shore of Loch Sunart. The walls have been mostly reduced to rubble about 3m wide enclosing an area of about 22m by 13m however some of the outer facing-stones have survived on one side. Further Information on Dun Resipole... |
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| Eigg: Singing Sands | Eige: Gainmheach Sheirmeach | You’ll need to stay a while to visit the famous ‘singing sands’ of Eigg as they’re at the north end of the island, but you may be able to save yourself a long walk by hiring a mountain bike or taxi at the pier. The ‘singing sands’ consist of pure quartz grains from the Jurassic rock outcrops around the north end of the island. If you walk on the sand in dry weather, the texture creates a shrill ‘singing’ squeak. Eigg is also a place of famous discoveries - the Victorian geologist Hugh Miller unearthed the fossilised remains of Jurassic sea turtles, a crocodile and a plesiosaur in the island’s rocks. Further Information on Eigg: Singing Sands... |
| Fassfern | Am Fasadh Fearna | At Fassfern you can see ripple marks in the rocks of a river bed. This was once a shallow, sandy sea floor, on which layer upon layer of sediment built up to form sandstone. This was later metamorphosed into the rock known as psammite, which has survived for you to walk on some 1000 million years later. Further Information on Fassfern... |
| Forest Road Entrance | Inntrigeadh Rathad na Coille | Where the road twists and climbs after a long straight section stop in the forest road entrance at the top of the hill. As this is a working foresty area, take care not to block access when you park and be aware of any ‘work in progress’ signs as the Forestry Commission cannot be responsible for your safety. Walk up the hill on the forest road for about 2 miles. In road cuttings along the way you’ll see fresh exposures of two types of Dalradian rock: grey, shiny schists (Leven Schists) and pale quartzites (Glencoe Quartzites). As the road climbs, you’ll have excellent views to the east along the loch to Kinlochleven, south-east across to the volcanic rocks of Glencoe, south to Ballachulish and its slate quarries and south-west to the white quartzites of Sgorr Bhan and Sgorr Dhearg. Further Information on Forest Road Entrance... |
| Fort William Tourist Information Centre | Fort Williams main centre for information to visitors | Fort William Tourist Information Office is based in the High Street. It is possible to get most information about the area, or be pointed in a direction that should get you there. Fort William Tourist Information Centre: 15 High Street, Fort William PH33 6DH. Open all year. E-mail: fortwilliam@host.co.uk Tel: 01397 703781. Further Information on Fort William Tourist Information Centre... |
| Glen Finnan | Gleann Fhionnainn | Walk up the knoll behind the National Trust visitor centre at Glenfinnan to see the steep and tightly folded Moine rocks of the area. You might be surprised to learn that the land to the south, on the east side of Loch Shiel, was once part of ‘Ardgour Island’ and totally surrounded by sea. Once the Ice Age was over, the land began to ‘bounce back’ from the weight of the ice. As the land rose, the sea retreated to the western end of Loch Eil, leaving Loch Shiel as the freshwater loch it is today. Further Information on Glen Finnan... |
| Glen Gloy Jokulhlaup | In Glen Gloy, similar to Glen Roy, as the ice dam thawed and weakened the water was able to escape not round it but beneath it, all in one go (known as a Jokulhaup) carving gorges down into the Great Glen at Loch Lochy. But the way south to Loch Linnhe was still blocked, so the flood water had to turn north past Fort Augustus into Loch Ness. The loch’s vast capacity buffered the shock influx. But steadily, the water level in Loch Ness began to rise, and something like a tidal wave travelled its length. At Dores, Loch Ness starts to get shallower – and the tidal wave would have grown bigger and bolder until it overran the loch foot and swept on down the valley of the River Ness. Now this valley was choked with masses of sand and stones left by earlier glaciers, easily picked up by the mega-spate. And the valley narrows between Tomnahurich and the Castle, helping to funnel the great flood and spew its debris well out into the firth. It was all over within a day or so. Further Information on Glen Gloy Jokulhlaup... |
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| Glen Roy river bed | Gleann Ruadh bhun-creige | Here is a good view of the riverbed, showing some of the bedrock in this area. The pale coloured rocks were once sandy sediment in a shallow sea. This sediment was metamorphosed into a much harder rock called quartzite, and the steep layers of rock you can see in the riverbed today were tilted into position during the formation of the Caledonian mountains 460 – 430 million years ago. Further Information on Glen Roy river bed... |
| Glenfinnan Monument | Visitor Centre | The Glenfinnan Visitor Centre and historical Monument are situated at the head of Loch Sheil. The monument was built in 1815 to commemorate the Jacobites who fought and fell during the 1745 uprising. Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) raised his standard on the 19th August 1745 marking the start of his campaign to restore the exiled Stuarts to the throne. The Glenfinnan Monument was designed by James Gillespie Graham and erected by Alexander Macdonald of Glenaladale. Further Information on Glenfinnan Monument... |
| Greadal Fhinn | Neolithic chambered cairn | This is a Neolithic chambered cairn which is said to be of Viking origin. The cairn stands on a broad knoll 300m to the north west of Ormsaigmore being almost circular with a diameter of just over 20m. The chamber consists of five slabs which are still standing to a height of 1.5m but most of the material from the cairn has been robbed. Further Information on Greadal Fhinn... |
| Grey Corries | Beantann Glas | Here the scooped-out corries on the mountains that were carved out by glaciers can be seen. The white quartzite rock that gives these mountains their pale colour was originally deposited as a pure quartz sand on an ancient sea floor. The loose scree now coating the summits was formed when these peaks stood out above the blanket of ice and were subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. Further Information on Grey Corries... |
| High Point Layby | An Camas Rathaid Àrd | There are great views of Loch Leven from this viewpoint. The Mamore mountains dominate the northern skyline, with Ben Nevis just out of sight beyond. The rocks here are made of quartzite – you can tell this from their pale colour and sugary texture. These particular rocks are made from what’s known as Glencoe Quartzite, and they contain traces of ripple marks in the form of cross-bedding. This can be seen in the roadstone quarry across the road, where the cross-bedding appears as thin dark lines cutting across the rock at an angle to the main layer Further Information on High Point Layby... |
| Iomairt Coilltean Daraich Shuaineirt | The Sunart Oakwoods Initiative | The Sunart Oakwoods Initiative is a partnership between the community, landowners, and local agencies including Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Lochaber Enterprise and Highland Council. It aims to restore and expand the native woodlands of the Sunart area to create an extensive forest bringing conservation, economic and amenity benefits to the local community. See www.sunartoakwoods.org.uk Further Information on Iomairt Coilltean Daraich Shuaineirt... |
| Isle of Risga Loch Sunart | Mesolithic shell midden | The Isle of Risga is noted for the Mesolithic midden which contained material which gives some of the best economic information of the lifestyles being lived at the time. Findings amongst this and other nearby Mesolithic locations contain small awls and pins, antler mattocks and slivers of bone, antler and stone bevelled at the end and called limpet hammers/scoops and also a distinctive group of antler harpoons. Further Information on Isle of Risga Loch Sunart... |
| Kilchoan Tourist Information Centre | Kilchoan Community Centre | Tourist Information Centre, Kilchoan Community Centre, Pier Road, Kilchoan, Acharacle, Argyll and Bute, Strathclyde, Scotland, PH36 4LJ Tel: 01972510222 E-mail: info@visitscotland.com Web: www.visitscottishhighlands.org Further Information on Kilchoan Tourist Information Centre... |
| Kinloch Farm | Mesolithic occupation site | The earliest date for human habitation in Scotland has been discovered using radiocarbon dating as being occupied from about 7500BC. The Mesolithic settlement is located in a field at the head of Loch Scresort, to the north of Kinloch Castle. The Atlantic seaboard of all of the Hebridean islands would have allowed relatively easy access and therefore exploitation of the rich array of the coastal resources that were available. Further Information on Kinloch Farm... |
| Kinlochleven Aluminium Works | Although the Aluminum Smelter is no longer at Kinlochleven it's legacy can be seen in much of the village which was built to house workers at the smelter. The smelter was commissioned in 1907 and finally closed in 2000, however the power house continues to generate electricity and the great engineering feat of building the dam and pipeline is still a major feature that dominates the village. To find out more visit the Kinlochleven Visitor centre or go to www.kinlochleven.co.uk Further Information on Kinlochleven Aluminium Works... |
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| Kinlochleven Visitor Centre | At Kinlochleven Visitor Centre you will find an exhibition telling the story of the last century; how aluminium was manufactured using hydro-electricity and how the village developed. Further Information on Kinlochleven Visitor Centre... |
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| Landslip | Beum-slèibhe | Here is a very recent change to the glen’s landscape. After heavy winter rains in 1989/90 water burst through an old landslip to create a thick porridge-like surge of mud and gravel that swamped the road and flowed into the river. Further Information on Landslip... |
| Loch Morar | Loch Mòrair | At the end of the loch and long the side of the River Morar, one of Britain’s shortest rivers, it is possible to enjoy beautiful views up Loch Morar. The loch fills a deep basin that was excavated by glaciers, and with a depth of 310m (1017ft) is one of the deepest body of fresh water in Europe. Further Information on Loch Morar... |
| Lochaber Geopark Office | Fort William | Lochaber Geopark covers all eight regions highlighted on this map. As a central location the Geopark maintain an office in Fort William. Further Information on Lochaber Geopark Office... |
| Lochaber Rural Complex | Farming and crofting in Lochaber has gone a long way towards becoming self-sufficient with the construction of the Lochaber Rural Complex which provides facilities, primarily for crofting but also for livestock and agricultural business in general. The Complex includes a Flexible Auction Mart that is also used by the local community for Country Fairs, Dog Shows, Christmas Services and Family Fun Days. The Complex has also been hired by Film Crews to produce television drama series as well as documentaries. Being a Flexible Mart, the Complex can also be used for conferences or exhibitions as a result of its innovative overhead and underseat heating. In addition, retail units can be leased by local businesses or community organisations. Further Information on Lochaber Rural Complex... |
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| Lower falls | Na h-easan ìochdarach | The twin falls have been formed by the river eroding along the lines of two separate dykes cutting through the granite of Mullach nan Coirean. The dykes were formed when magma was injected into vertical fractures in the granite after it had cooled and crystallised. Further Information on Lower falls... |
| Mallaig Heritage Centre | Mallaig Heritage Centre houses a range of displays and exhibits telling the story of the districts of Knoydart, Morar and Arisaig and is located in a building alongside Mallaig railway station. Known in the Gaelic language as "An Garbh Chriochan" (The Rough Bounds), this area between Loch Hourn and Loch Sunart was, until the beginning of the 20th century, one of the least-visited areas of the British mainland, most of the settlements in the area being accessible only by sea or by an arduous trek through the glens. 1500 years ago the area was a buffer zone between the kingdom of the Picts and the maritime kingdom of the Norsemen. Norse longships gave way to Highland galleys as the area became part of the Hebridean Lordship of the Isles, and did not come under the full control of the Scottish Crown until the 16th century. Visit the Centre itself when you come to visit the Highlands. We promise you that it will be time well spent! See www.mallaigheritage.org.u Further Information on Mallaig Heritage Centre... |
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| Mingary Castle | Caisteal Mhìogharraidh | Mingary Castle is signposted on the left as you approach the village of Kilchoan. The ruined castle sits on two horizontal sheets of distinctively different igneous rock - these formed when molten rock pushed its way between the existing layers of sedimentary rocks cooled and hardened. You can also see the layer of sedimentary rocks underneath the newer ‘sills’. The rocks you see to the east of the castle are Jurassic limestone formed when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Further Information on Mingary Castle... |
| Moine Metamorphic Rocks | Creagan Cruth-Atharraichte Mòine | Some distance down Gleann Geal (the white glen)you leave the granite behind and pass onto steeply inclined psammites (metamorphosed sandstones). Stop in one of these small passing places and have a closer look at some of the naturally weathered outcrops to see the layering in these rocks. At the south end of the woods there is access to Rahoy Hills Wildlife Reserve. Further Information on Moine Metamorphic Rocks... |
| Mointeach Mhòr | Mointeach Mhòr | At a small lay-by near the settlement of Back of Keppoch to look out over the large flat expanse of Mointeach Mhòr (meaning ‘great moss-land). This is where glacial debris built up at the end of a glacier and blocked Loch Morar from the sea. The sand and gravel deposited by the glacier was eventually covered by vegetation, turning the sand flats into today’s mossy expanse. Further Information on Mointeach Mhòr ... |
| Moraines | Along the road between Spean Bridge and Fort William there are many clues to the area’s glacial past. About 5km from Spean Bridge look out for a prominent ridge of glacial moraine on the left of the road. Ridges like this one are made from rock debris that was pushed along at the end of glaciers. This moraine was left behind when the glacier that once blocked Glen Roy retreated back down the Great Glen. Further Information on Moraines... |
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| Muck | Eilean Nan Muc | Muck is the smallest and flattest of the Small Isles, and is a great place for a pleasant walk. Take a 1km walk from the landing stage across the island to an enclosed beach on the north coast. You’ll see lava flows exposed on the shoreline around you. These probably came from a volcano on Mull. When magma erupts it cools much more quickly than it does inside a magma chamber, so there is very little time for crystals to form. Take a close look at the basalt around the bay and you’ll see that the crystals in it are tiny. Further Information on Muck... |
| National Trust for Scotland | Glencoe is an amazing place - internationally famous for its amazing landscape, its natural and cultural heritage. It’s a place of towering, spectacular, brooding hills, diverse and rare wildlife and of a famous yet tragic event in Scotland’s history. - 500,000,000 years of geology - 1,000,000 visitors to the Glen - 200,000 hill walkers each year - 5800 ha of fantastic landscape - 5000 years of human settlement - 8 Munros Further Information on National Trust for Scotland... |
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| Nevis Partnership | Com-pairteachas Nibheis | The Nevis Partnership was formed in 2003 with the express intent to ...'guide future policies and actions to safeguard, manage and where appropriate enhance the environmental qualities and opportunities for visitor enjoyment and appreciation of the Nevis area'... As a vital part of the Nevis Strategy, The Nevis Partnership secures funding for, and subsequently oversees, a wide variety of projects impacting on the whole Nevis area. With all projects, a major priority is the balance between conservation and protection of the environment and enhancement of the visitor experience. For details see www.nevispartnership.co.uk Further Information on Nevis Partnership... |
| Old road through the glen | An t-seann rathad tron ghleann | Park at a lay-by and follow the grassy track leading through the glen on the original road. A walk of just over 1km takes you to a rocky outcrop known as 'The Study'. From here you can enjoy fantastic views back down the glen and see the Three Sisters lined up. From this view it's easy to imagine how glaciers scraped and shaped the glen as they flowed down. Further Information on Old road through the glen... |
| Point of Ardnamurchan | Rubha Àird Nam Murchan | The impressive Ardnamurchan Lighthouse stands 36 metres high on the most westerly point on the British mainland. It was built in 1849 using granite from the Isle of Mull. The lighthouse stands on a grey, coarsely crystalline rock called gabbro. It was formed from magma that had risen from deep within the Earth. It has the same composition as basalt, but because it cooled much more slowly within the Earth’s crust it developed bigger crystals and has a different appearance. This gabbro makes up much of the coast around the western tip of Ardnamurchan, as well as the hills to the south of. It was once part of the chamber of magma that fed the second volcano to erupt on Ardnamurchan. Further Information on Point of Ardnamurchan ... |
| Polldubh mica schists | Am Poll Dubh mica schists | The Polldubh crags are scattered across the hillside on the north side of the road. Popular with rock climbers, the slabby south faces of these crags show clear evidence of scraping by ice. These crags are made of mica schist, rock which began as muddy sediment that was metamorphosed during the formation of the Caledonian mountains. If you look closely you can see the twists and contortions of this process in the rock. Further Information on Polldubh mica schists... |
| River Spean Jokulhlaup | During the final draining of Glen Roy the dam that created the lowest of the Parallet Roads burst in a spectacular Jokulhlaup (a sudden outburst flood from a glacial lake). It is estimated that around 5 cubic kilometres of water escaped under the ice through the Spean Gorge and into Loch Ness, before flowing out to sea at Inverness. Further Information on River Spean Jokulhlaup... |
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| Roaring mill | A'Mhuileann roiceach | Here, on the west bank of the River Nevis, you'll see some steeply inclined slabs of metamorphosed sandstone, known locally as the Eilde Flags. These were once sandy sediments on the edge of a great ocean and were created during the continental collisions that formed the Caledonian mountains. At about 700 million years old, these are the oldest rocks in the glen. Further Information on Roaring mill... |
| Roche Moutonnée Layby | Camas Rathaid Roche Moutonnée | At a layby here there are low rock cuttings on either side of the road. In these grey rocks, you’ll see the characterstic sheen of mica. These Dalradian rocks are known as ‘Binnein Schists’, and in this cutting the originally horizontal layers of sediment are tilted steeply upwards as a result of the pressure of ancient mountain-building processes. These schists have also been smoothed over by glaciers moving down Loch Leven to form a feature called a ‘roche moutonnée’ (commonly known as 'rock sheep', which is also the literal translation of the French term). These rocks have a distinctive smooth back where ice has scraped up and over the rock, and a steeper face where the rock has been plucked by the ice on the downstream side. A short walk to the shore reveals a large area of ice-smoothed slabs that extend below the current sea level. Turn westwards and follow the shoreline. On the smoothed surface you can see intricate folds within the schist as well as scratch marks (striations) caused by moving ice. Further Information on Roche Moutonnée Layby... |
| Roches moutonnées | Ulpagan cloiche | Here you can see several good examples of roches moutonnées (these are commonly known as 'rock sheep', in the Highlands, which is also the literal translation of the French term). These rocks have a distinctive smooth back where ice has scraped up and over the rock, and a steeper face where the rock has been plucked by the ice on the downstream side. Further Information on Roches moutonnées... |
| Rubha an Duin Bhain | Promontory Fort | The rocky headland known as Rubha an Duin Bhain north of the village of Sanna contain the remains of a promontory fort with steep cliffs on its flanks. The southern approach was through a natural cleft in the apron of rocky ground before the entrance which can just be made out in the stony debris which is all that remains of the once heavy stone wall that must have protected it. Inside the fort are two grassy shelves upon which stone or timber houses could have stood. Further Information on Rubha an Duin Bhain... |
| Rubha na Crannaig | Eigg | On a low rocky rise on the promontory of "Rudha na Crannaig" (possibly the ‘Point of the Pulpit’), is a denuded fort. It is triangular on plan and measures 37.0m north to south, by 21.0m across the south end, within a turf-covered wall spread generally to about 4m wide which has been quarried in places and has mainly fallen over the cliff on the east side. A few stones of the outer face are visible widely spaced around the periphery, and a stretch of the face about 5m long survives at the north end. One or two possible inner facing stones in the south and east suggest a wall thickness of about.2.5m. The entrance in the west side is marked by a gap 2.0m wide. The whole interior of the fort is occupied by traces of constructions and walls, some of which appear to be circular. These internal constructions in the fort suggest a secondary, possible monastic occupation, and this could be the site of St Donan's Monastery, but there is no conclusive evidence for this opinion. Further Information on Rubha na Crannaig... |
| Rum Volcano | Bholcàno Rùma | From the ferry you’ll enjoy excellent views of the Small Isles. Look out for the sight of the high Rum Cuillin towering over the other Small Isles. These mountains are the eroded roots of an ancient volcano that started life as a huge dome around 2,000 metres high. Further Information on Rum Volcano... |
| Rum: Shoreline Sandstone | Rùm: Clachan-Gainmhich Cladaich | The rocks on the shoreline are 1,000 million year old Torridonian sandstones. However above Kinloch Castle and towards Coire Dubh, on the path up the mountain of Hallival, the rock will change from Torridonian sandstone to breccia – a rock made of angular fragments of Torridonian sandstone and gneiss. This rock was formed inside a volcano, when the dome created above a magma chamber began to fracture and collapse. Further Information on Rum: Shoreline Sandstone... |
| Salen | An Sàilean | The Ardnamurchan trail starts at the picturesque village of Salen on the north side of Loch Sunart. Stop in Salen where the road to Ardnamurchan branches off at a prominent junction. In a cutting opposite the junction, you’ll see a fine exposure of Moine mica schist. This rock was created when high temperatures and pressure transformed shales and mudstones on the sea bed into new minerals. The sediment started out in horizontal layers on the sea bed, but are now steeply tilted. This tilting happened as the mountain-building process turned the shales into schist. Further Information on Salen... |
| Salen | Neolithic burial cairns | A Neolithic burial cairn to the north of Salen village, most of the material is missing from the cairns. It is another example from the Neolithic period when cultivation and the domestication of animals was developed and permanent habitation was constructed in the area. Further Information on Salen... |
| Sanna Bay | Bàgh Shanna | At Sanna Bay you can wander out through the dunes to the superb beach. The low-lying ground forming the headlands on either side of the bay are made of gabbros from the second volcano, as it is at Ardnamurchan Point. The sand on the beach is composed largely of countless tiny fragments of white shells. Relax and enjoy one of the best sandy beaches in Lochaber Further Information on Sanna Bay... |
| Sea views | Seallaidhean mara | Look out to sea near Traigh Golf Course or wherever you have a clear view to the small isles of Eigg and Rum. About 60 million years ago the west coast and the Inner Hebrides were areas of intense volcanic activity as the North Atlantic Ocean opened. Horizontal lava flows created huge plateaus, and the layers can still be seen on the cliffs of Eigg. The jagged peaks of Rum that lie behind Eigg are all that remain of a volcano once many times higher. Further Information on Sea views... |
| Seagull Island Layby | Camas Rathaid Eilein Na Faoileig | There’s an excellent and much photographed view down the loch from here. The loch is a fiord, a glacially carved valley that flooded by the sea as glacial meltwater poured off the land and caused sea levels to rise after the last Ice Age. While some parts of the loch are shallow, it is over 50 metres deep in places. The narrow section halfway down the loch was deepened by blasting to allow small steamers and ferries to sail up to Kinlochleven before the road was built from Glencoe during the First World War. Further Information on Seagull Island Layby... |
| Sgurr of Eigg | Sgùrr Eige | Like Canna, Eigg is largely made up of basalt lava flows. Rivers flowing across the basalt lava plateau eroded deep channels over time. It sounds strange but the prominent peak of An Sgurr actually marks the location of one of these river valleys. During one of the last volcanic eruptions, thick lava flowed along a river valley and cooled to form a rock called pitchstone. This lava is much harder than the surrounding basalt and while the rock of the valley sides has worn away, the lava that once filled it now stands out as a great prow. Further Information on Sgurr of Eigg... |
| Strontian Granite | Clach-Ghràin Sròin an T-Sìthein | From here you will have a good view of Gleann Dubh (black glen) to the west. During the 18th century lead was mined in this glen. Further Information on Strontian Granite... |
| Strontian Tourist Information Centre | Strontian Village Square | Tourist Information Centre, Strontian, Acharacle, Argyll and Bute, Strathclyde, PH36 4HZ Tel: 01845 22 55 121 E-mail: info@visitscotland.com Web: www.visitscottishhighlands.org Further Information on Strontian Tourist Information Centre... |
| Suileabhaig | Sanday | A Viking burial probably 9th century, lies beneath the north west base of the knoll Sean Dun, Sanday. It is difficult to orientate and its setting is determined by the lie of the ground. It is 17' x 4' 6" within the kerb. There is another (15' x 4') on a lower level c. 100 yards south west, as well as numerous circular hut sites, and to the north, on the raised beach, is a large mound, probably a wheelhouse. Some historians think that none of the boat-shaped, so- called Viking burials on Sanday is convincing, but that they are more likely to be kelp-drying kilns. Further Information on Suileabhaig... |
| The Knoydart Foundation | The Knoydart Foundation was established in 1997 to take ownership of the Knoydart Estate. As a partnership of local residents, the Highland Council, Chris Brasher Trust, Kilchoan estate and the John Muir Trust, our aim is to preserve, enhance & develop Knoydart for the well being of the environment and the people. Knoydart is traditionally known as the rough bounds because of its remoteness and it is a national scenic area. It's a haven for hill walkers, mountaineers, sailors, and wildlife enthusiasts and for those who just want to get away from it all for a while. See www.knoydart-foundation.com Further Information on The Knoydart Foundation... |
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| The Silica Sand Mine | Mèinne Ghainmhich Shileaga | Just beyond the jetty and northwards along the road is Lochaline sand mine. You can walk along the path on the seaward side of the crushing plant. The sandstone is quite crumbly and you should be able to see large stockpiles of white sand. This quartz sand was originally deposited in a shallow sea some 130 million years ago. The sandstone is overlain in the cliffs behind the mine by much darker basalt lava. Further Information on The Silica Sand Mine... |
| The Three Sisters | Na Trì Peathraichean | Stop at a popular viewpoint to see the 'Three Sisters' of Glen Coe - Beinn Fhada, Gearr Aonach and Aonach Dubh mountains. The orangey-brown colour of lava is noticeable on the hillsides of these famous peaks. High on the hillside of Aonach Dubh, the vertical black dash known as Ossian's Cave, shows where a huge block has fallen out of a volcanic dyke Further Information on The Three Sisters... |
| The top of Glen Coe | Mullach Gleann Comhann | Travel to the highest point in the glen to see good views of Buachaille Eite Beag (little shepherd of Etive) and Buachaille Eite Mor (big shepherd of Etive). Both mountains show clear evidence of their volcanic origins. Further Information on The top of Glen Coe ... |
| The Torr Dun, Shielfoot | A vitrified fort | The Torr Dun at Shiel Foot is a extensive complex of prehistoric vitrified fortifications comprising of three elements on the spine of a NNW to SSE rocky ridge. The highest part of the ridge is occupied by the oval fort some 17m wide by 90m long, most of what remains is the vitrified core material up to 4.5m thick. Further protection is in the form of an outlying wall, now mostly a band of rubble some 10m below the level of the summit which appears not to have been vitrified. Although difficult to recognise there is also an oval enclosure, now a bank of vitrified rubble, from where there is an excellent view which is likely to be the remains of a small dun which has been constructed on the top of the ruined fort. Further Information on The Torr Dun, Shielfoot... |
| The Wishing Stone | A’Chlach Rùnachaidh | Heading west towards Drimnin and beyond Fiunary, you will see an obvious wall of rock with a hole through the end of it. This is the known as the Wishing Stone. This impressive wall is a natural feature called a dyke. It is formed when tension in the Earth’s crust causes a long fissure to open up. This fissure was filled by molten rock (magma), which cooled and cyrstallised to create the dyke. This probably happened about 60 million years ago, shortly after the eruption of the volcano on Mull. While the surrounding rock has worn away over time, the harder rock of the dyke has remained. Similar dykes from the Mull volcano extend all the way to Northumberland in the north of England! Further Information on The Wishing Stone... |
| Torr an Duin | Loch nan Gobhar | The remains of a once vitrified fort stand on Torr an Duin, an isolated rocky ridge some 25 m above the north shore of Loch nan Gobhar. The steep ground provides strong natural protection on all but the north west entrance side which is the only location where stones of the outer face have been preserved insitu. The rest of the walls, which contained vitrified material inside two stone courses making up a total wall thickness of some 2.3m, have now disintegrated with most of the material being deposited at the foot of the promontory. Further Information on Torr an Duin... |
| Triassic Sandstone | Clach Ghainmhich Traisig | Just to the south of the River Aline you'll see a remarkable structure called an ‘uncomformity’ in a cutting on the right-hand side of the road. Here flat-lying red coloured sandstone of Triassic age lies horizontally on top of steeply folded mica schist. 400m on, on the west of the road and walk 200m along a forest track to see small exposures of gently dipping Jurassic limestones. On your uphill side. These rocks contain numerous fossil shells, including ‘devil’s toenails’. These are fossiled sea creatures from the Jurassic period, 200 - 145 million years ago. Further Information on Triassic Sandstone... |
| Viewpoint | Àite-seallaidh | At the viewpoint you get the best views of the Parallel Roads. The last glacier that pushed up Glen Roy reached just beyond the viewpoint. As ice blocked its normal escape route, water built up in a natural reservoir inside the glen. The water reached an initial level of 260 metres before finding an escape route, but it was at this level long enough for the wave action to carve a shoreline, which we see as the lowest ‘road’. When the water’s escape route again became blocked the water level rose again, creating a new shoreline at 325 metres. This process was repeated and the water finally rose to its highest level and created a shoreline at 355 metres before eventually draining away. Further Information on Viewpoint... |
| Viewpoint and Picnic Site | Àite-Seallaidh is Làrach Picnig | From here you’ll enjoy spectacular views to the north and west. A steep and sometimes boggy path leads west from the picnic site down to the shore. Along the path you can see outcrops of Dalradian rocks, known as ‘Leven Schist’. They have been strongly folded and you can pick out these folds by tracing the layers rich in mica crystals. Further Information on Viewpoint and Picnic Site... |
| Waterfall lay-by | Àite-paircaidh an easa | A close-up look at the rocks of this scenic viewpoint 1km further up the glen reveals distinctive banding in the stone, which must have been present in the original lava. Further Information on Waterfall lay-by... |
| Waterslide | Sruth-uisge | The car park at the end of the road offers fine views of a magnificent waterslide. The water draining from high on the southern flank of Ben Nevis rushes down the granite slabs for more than 350m. Walk 60m up the hillside to reach a small pool on the waterslide. The lip of this pool is made of schist, but the slabs just above are made of the inner granite of Ben Nevis. This contact marks the edge of an ancient granite magma chamber. Further Information on Waterslide... |
