Scenic Assynt

Our destination today was The Highlands, and we docked in Ullapool on the shores of Loch Broom, one of the most remote settings in the United Kingdom. This time we were in Scotland’s North West Highlands. We were here for only one-half day, and Tim and I planned to take Viking shore excursions. Tim would explore Ullapool, while I opted for a Scenic Assynt tour.

Ullapool was another tender port, and once again, we were greeted with bagpipes. I love this Scottish welcoming.

Tendering to Ullapool

A Very Scottish Welcome

The sparsely populated region of Assynt is often overlooked when one thinks of exploring the Scottish Highlands, but the area is becoming increasingly popular with eco-tourists. As we drove north from Ullapool, we crossed into the North-West Highlands Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark. This geopark contains some of the finest mountain and coastal landscapes in Britain, as well as a wealth of geology.

On a beautiful blue-sky day, we were treated to this beautiful mountain landscape. We also discovered remnants of the region’s history with our first stop at the ruins of Ardvreck Castle. The castle dates to 1490 and is perched on a rocky promontory at the end of Loch Assynt.

Spectacular Landscapes

Ardvreck Castle in Loch Assynt

Ardvreck Castle

We followed the shore of Loch Assynt to the village of Lochinver, where we had time to walk the streets of this fishing port. I especially enjoyed all the flowers in bloom.

Loch Assynt

Lochinver Harbor

Sights Around Lochinver

Flowers of Lochinver

We retraced our route back to Ullapool, and the views were just as spectacular. This time we were able to catch a glimpse of the ruins of Calda House, built from the stones of the abandoned Ardvreck Castle. For me, the views of the distinctively shaped mountains, rising steeply from the lochan landscape, were even more impressive on our return journey.

Calda House

Suilven Mountain

Mountainous Landscape

Our final stop was Knockan Crag, where I tried to learn a little bit about three billion years of geologic history. The Knockan Crag is a site of scientific interest famous for the Highland’s Controversy. This was a long-running argument between geologists about the age of the rocks here, when two continents collided and upended the landscape of Assynt. I never seem to fully grasp geological processes and mostly enjoyed the incredible views.

Knockan Crag

View from the Visitor Center at Knockan Crag