North West Highlands Geopark

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North West Highlands Geopark

A UNESCO Global Geopark in the North West Highlands of Scotland. Stunning mountain landscapes, clean sandy beaches and unique cultural heritage.

The North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark offers one of the best opportunities to explore wild places in Europe. UNESCO awards Geopark status to regions of international scientific importance to geology across the world where communities get together to promote and steward their landscapes for education, tourism and sustainable economic development. That means Geoparks are truly 'bottom-up' o

rganisations which are recognised on the world stage. But it isn't just about geology. Because unique landscapes are a product of unique geology cultural development in these regions is often also quite unique and special, so celebrating cultural heritage and practices is also an important part of being a Geopark. In the North West Highlands we have some of the oldest rocks in western Europe, some of the earliest fossils anywhere in the world and a mind boggling variety of different rocks and geological processes for visitors to explore. The unique landscapes we have in the North West Highlands are all about open space, mountains, sea and sky. This creates a strong sense of remoteness, exhilaration and freedom. The communities however are warm, welcoming and reassuring to visitors. Their location on the edge of the Atlantic ocean and the periphery of the mainland UK has meant that subsistence here has always been a battle against the weather and odds. This has resulted in an extremely resilient and determined population and a unique culture. The combination of exhilarating outdoor activities, spectacular road networks and educational facilities for visitors and scientists matched with cosy accommodation, roaring fires and good food makes a visit to the North West Highlands Geopark an experience of a lifetime.

31/08/2026

Last Tuesday, the Rock Stop hosted some brilliant guests for an interactive workshop exploring the fossils of the North West Highlands Geopark!

Over an hour and a half, we found out what fossils are and how they form, and got hands-on with some real fossils from around the Geopark. From 18000-year-old bear skulls (first photo - it’s a replica!) to 1.2 billion-year-old algal mats (second photo), it was great to find out more about the various organisms that once called the Geopark home. Several of our guests also brought in their own fossils for us to see, which were amazing. As well as local finds, some came from further afield, including two incredible Lepidodendron specimens from Wales (shown in the third photo). These spotty fossils once formed the root systems of ancient trees that lived between 360 and 299 million years ago.

We are very grateful to the Countryside Rangers for lending us their fantastic Bone Cave collection!

Would you like to join us for a future workshop? Our next will take place on Tuesday 1st September at 2pm, where we will be exploring some of the different types of rocks that can be found in the Geopark. These workshops are interactive, free and suitable for all ages and curious minds - no prior experience or knowledge required! Spaces are free but limited, book your spot at the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-is-a-rock-workshop-at-the-rock-stop-tickets-1996982266717

24/08/2026

Introducing Euan! 👋

Euan is part of the fantastic team working in our Rock Stop Café this summer, and has been doing an amazing job of looking after our lovely visitors. He is also a geology student and has been enjoying learning about the geology of Scotland and how it has contributed to the landscape we see today.

Euan chose to study geology because of his love for the outdoors and his natural curiosity, which drove him to ask questions and look for answers about how these landscapes were formed. He is also a keen hillwalker and scrambler, and has spent many of his evenings here exploring the hills of the North West Highlands.

Sadly this is Euan’s last week with us! He will shortly be going back to continue his degree, where he is looking forward to studying the geology of other places around the world. We wish him all the best!

If you’re in the area, why not stop by and say hello? The Rock Stop Cafe and Exhibition is open 10-4, Monday to Friday. The cafe is serving hot and cold drinks, cakes, and light lunches. The main Geopark exhibition is free to enter, and has interactive activities for all ages.

Find out more at our website:

https://nwhgeopark.com/exploring/the-rock-stop/

21/08/2026

Last Friday the North West Highlands Geopark stall was at the Assynt Games in Lochinver, decorated with our beautiful new Geopark bunting!

What a fantastic day! Thank you to everyone who came over for a chat, signed up to our Newsletter, or found out about what we have been up to recently. Congratulations to Esther who won our “Guess the Weight of the Rock” challenge, and thank you to Jan for our amazing new bunting!

Would you like to keep up-to-date on what the Geopark is up to, and what events we have coming up? Sign up to our newsletter at the link below:

https://nwhgeopark.com/our-story/newsletter/

18/08/2026

Next week, the North West Highlands Geopark is teaming up with the High Life Highlands Countryside Rangers to run a guided walk up Arkle!

Arkle is a dramatic peak made out of jagged white quartzite which looms 787 meters above the rugged North West coast. Join us as we explore the flora and fauna that call Arkle home, and discover about the geological origins of this striking mountain.

The guided walk will be led by Countryside Ranger Jack Capener, with geological insight provided by the Geopark’s Education and Engagement Officer Marie Marsden.

For more details about the walk and how to book, follow the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/guided-ranger-geology-walk-to-the-summit-of-arkle-tickets-1997845510703?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

12/08/2026

Join us for a free, fun, and interactive workshop this summer at the Rock Stop 🔎

The North West Highlands Geopark contains some amazing rocks! But have you ever wondered, what actually is a rock? Or perhaps you’re curious about fossils and ancient life – for example, did you know that the oldest evidence of life in Europe can be found right here in the Geopark?

Join our Education and Engagement Officer, Dr Marie Marsden, for one of our informal and interactive workshops this summer. Discover what makes a rock a rock, learn to identify some of the common rock types within the North West Highlands Geopark, and take a journey through deep time in our “What is a Rock” workshop.

Or if you’re more interested in ancient life, come along to our “What is a Fossil?” workshop to learn how fossils form, take a virtual trip to see the fossils of the North West Highlands Geopark, and get hands-on with some real life fossils.

Suitable for all curious minds and ages - no prior knowledge or experience needed!

Workshops will take place at the Rock Stop Cafe and Exhibition, located one mile south of the Kylesku Bridge.

Places are free (donations welcome!) but limited so please book ahead. Find out more and book on our website:

https://nwhgeopark.com/events/list/

10/08/2026

🌘 Did you know that a partial solar eclipse will take place this Wednesday (12 August 2026), and that one of the best places to see it in the UK could be right here, on the west coast of Scotland?
Read on to find out more, including some very important safety information!

A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes in front of the sun, and blocks its light. This can happen because the sun is around 400 times larger than the moon, but it is also 400 times further away. Parts of the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain will experience a total eclipse, while the UK will experience a partial eclipse with 89-96% of the sun being covered.

The last total solar eclipse in the UK was 27 years ago in 1999. While tomorrow’s eclipse isn’t a full eclipse in the UK, the next time the UK will see an eclipse of this scale will be in 2090 - 64 years’ time!

The eclipse will start just after 6.00pm, reach a maximum at around 7.00pm, and end at around 8.00pm. The level of coverage in the North West Highlands will be around 91%, and we are very lucky here to have amazing clear views to the west (weather permitting!).

Check the exact timings and coverage in your area using this map:👇
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2026-august-12

⚠️ Important safety information ⚠️ NEVER look directly at the sun. To watch the solar eclipse, you must wear special eclipse glasses, or construct a simple pinhole camera out of some card and aluminium foil. Sunglasses, or other dark materials, do not protect your eyes from infrared radiation and can result in permanent eye damage.

For more information and to find out how to make your own pinhole camera, visit the Natural History Museum’s website: 👇
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/solar-eclipse-guide.html

📸 Jongsun Lee, Unsplash.com

07/08/2026

Have you seen our stall at one of the Highland Games in the North West Highlands this year?

This time two weeks ago our Geopark Manager, Fiona, and our Director for Kinlochbervie, Murdo, were away with the Geopark stall at the Durness Highland Gathering. What a great day it was! Thanks to everyone who stopped by for a chat, and congratulations to Boyd, the winner of our “Guess the Weight of the Rock” challenge!

It was fantastic to be able to share our shelter with Jack, the Countryside Ranger for North West Sutherland, and find out more about the work he has been up to recently. Thanks for letting us use your photo Jack!

Our next stall will be at the Assynt Highland Games at Culag Park in Lochinver on Friday 14th August. Why not come along and say hello! See our website for more information about our future events:

https://nwhgeopark.com/events/list/

05/08/2026

Come and explore the beaches of Assynt and Coigach at the Rock Stop this August 🌊

For all of August, the Rock Stop is exhibiting “Portraits of the Edge: Beaches of Coigach and Assynt”. Take a closer look at the magnificent beaches here in the North West Highlands, and be inspired to explore them further, in this free exhibit of photography and poetry.

The Rock Stop Cafe and Exhibition is located one mile south of the Kylesku Bridge, and is open 10-4, Monday to Friday. The Cafe is serving hot and cold drinks, soup and sandwiches, and cakes. The North West Highlands Geopark main exhibition is also free to enter with interactive activities for all ages.

Find out more about opening hours at our website:

https://nwhgeopark.com/exploring/the-rock-stop/

31/07/2026

So many incredible wildflowers have been appearing all over the North West Highlands Geopark in the last few weeks! 🌼🌸

Did you know that the underlying geology has a direct impact on the habitats and plants which can be found in an area? For example, the presence of hard, flat-lying Moine Schists can lead to the formation of peat bogs, which are home to plants such as Bog Asphodel and the carnivorous Sundew. Lewisian Gneiss forms acidic soils which are ideal for plants like Ling and Bell Heather. In contrast, the alkaline Durness Limestone allows the formation of lush, grassy, wildflower-rich meadows.

One particularly special habitat found in the North West Highlands Geopark is the machair, a fertile, low-lying grassy plain which forms along exposed west-facing coasts of Scotland and Ireland. The machair at Oldshoremore is one of the best in the UK, and is home to over 200 species of wildflower!

Have you seen any wildflowers while exploring the Geopark? Don’t forget to tag us in your photos and let us know in the comments!

29/07/2026

Are you looking for some indoor activities along the North West Highlands this week? 🌧️

With some slightly showery weather forecast for this week, it’s the ideal time to visit our Rock Stop Café and Exhibition! The Exhibition is free and explores the geology and landscape of the North West Highlands Geopark. We also have fun activities for kids, and friendly staff on hand to answer all of your geology-related questions.

The Café is serving hot and cold drinks, cakes, ice cream and light lunches, and our gift shop has an array of Geopark merch and local guides for you to browse.

The Rock Stop Café and Exhibition is located one mile south of the Kylesku Bridge. Open 10-4, Monday to Friday. See our website for more information.

https://nwhgeopark.com/exploring/the-rock-stop/

Address

The Rock Stop
Unapool
IV274HW

Website

http://www.nwhgeopark.com/

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