The Old Man of Stoer.

Start. Stoer Head.

Route. Stoer Head - Geodh' nan Daoine - Cirean Geardail - Old Man of Stoer - Sithean Mor - Meall Dubh Raffin - Stoer Head.

Notes. Join us on a circular walk from Stoer Head Lighthouse along a dramatic wild coast, after wandering over cliff top paths we'll sit and have lunch with stunning views over The Old Man of Stoer to Oldany Island and the many islands bordering Eddrachillis Bay. We'll return via high ground gifting us with extensive vistas over the sugar loaf mountains of Assynt.

The lighthouse on Stoer Head marked our starting point. Built by David and Thomas Stevenson in 1870 after the point was identified as one of forty five locations in Scotland a lighthouse was needed, the 45ft high squat tower has been guarding the point ever since.

Setting out from the car park we ignored the stoney track disappearing over the hill to the east, our preferred route followed a green trod signed The Old Man of Stoer. Above high cliffs this green path guided us, any muddy sections were easily by-passed. As we approached Cirean Geardail the Old Man of Stoer tilted into view, a 200ft high sea stack dwarfed by the cliffs and petrified rock of Stoer Point, as we descended to the point our thoughts were on lunch and the steep ascent that would inevitably follow. We sat, ate lunch, drank in stunning but grey hazy views over the Atlantic Ocean and island studded Eddrachillis Bay.

The steep grassy slopes of Sithean Mor sheltered us from the wind. It wasn't until the drizzle arrived we decided to make a move, a short but steepish ascent over pathless ground saw us arrive on the summit of Sithean Mor to be greeted by wind and rain. From the trig point it was a mile of easy walking over grassy paths to reach the stoney track we ignored earlier, this in turn guided us back to the car park and patiently waiting car.

view route map.

home.

This is the view from the car park, I haven't got a bloody clue what I'm looking at, I'll have at a guess and say the Isle of Skye over The Minch (stretch of water), or it could be Harris and Lewis also over The Minch but I didn't think Lewis was as lumpy as that.

At least I know what that is, Stoer Head Lighthouse.

The way ahead, pathless but the coastal scenery is impressive.

Looking back to Stoer Head.

From above the cliffs of Cirean Geardail our first view of the Old Man of Stoer.

Island studded Eddrachillis Bay.

The Old Man of Stoer a 200ft high finger of Torridonian Sandstone pointing skyward.

Sue soaks up spectacular coastal scenery.

The wild emptiness of Assynt and the mountains rising from it, and I'll have a go at naming them, left to right, impressive from all angles Suilven, Cul Mor the Cul Beag and far right my favourite Stac Pollaidh, which we had intended climbing but you know who twisted his ankle on the eve of the ascent, oops.

Same view as the start, I'm still no wiser.

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