Bibliographical reference: Goodenough,K., Pickett, E., Krabbendam, M. and Bradwell. 2004, 2017 reprint. Exploring the landscape of Assynt. A walkers' guide and map showing the rocks and landscape of Assynt and Inverpolly. Edinburgh : British Geological Survey. The guide is available to purchase from the British Geological Survey https://shop.bgs.ac.uk/Shop/Product/BSP_SMASSYNT

Figures

Title page

(Figure 1) View of Quinag from Glencoul.

Useful information

(Figure 101) The sea front at Ullapool.

Acknowledgements

(Figure 103) Sunset over Loch Glencoul.

Covers

(Front cover)

(Rear cover)

Plate tectonics

(Figure 2) Panorama.

(Figure 3) Plate tectonics. Painting by Elizabeth Pickett.

How rocks form

(Figure 4) Formation of cross bedding.

(Figure 5) Coarse-grained syenite.

(Figure 6) Light and dark grey Durness Limestone.

(Figure 7) Orange-brown Fucoid Beds.

(Figure 8) Cross-bedded Basal Quartzite.

(Figure 9) Coarse-grained cross-bedded Torridonian Sandstone.

(Figure 10) Folded Moine psammite.

(Figure 11) Stripy Lewisian Gneiss.

The Ice Age

(Figure 12) Diagram of glacial landforms. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

Knockan Crag

(Figure 13) Knockan Crag. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 14) The Knockan Puzzle — Assynt geology in a nutshell.

(Figure 15) Formation of the Moine Thrust Painting.

(Figure 16) Pipe Rock worms may have looked like this .

(Figure 17) Vertical worm burrows in Pipe Rock.

(Figure 18) Dark Moine Rocks on top of creamy Durness Limestone, separated by the Moine Thrust.

(Figure 19) The Moine Thrust.

(Figure 20) View north, towards Ben More Assynt from the viewpoint.

(Figure 21) Mylonite at Eagle Rock.

(Figure 22) Cùl Beag and Stac Pollaidh from Eagle Rock.

The Bone Caves

(Figure 23) Allt nan Uamh valley and Bone Caves. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 24) Waterfall in the Allt nan Uamh, formed where a sill of igneous rock crosses the valley.

(Figure 25) Yellow saxifrage on limestone.

(Figure 26) Fuaran Allt nan Uamh — a major spring.

(Figure 27) View up the dry river bed to Creag nan Uamh.

(Figure 28) Limestone debris cone on the northern side of the valley.

(Figure 29) The Bone Caves.

(Figure 30) Bear.

(Figure 31) Wolf.

(Figure 32) Landslide derived from Torridonian Sandstone across the valley from the caves.

The Tralligill Caves

(Figure 33) Trailigill valley. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 34) Mountain avens on limestone.

(Figure 35) Moraine by the trackside near Glenbain.

(Figure 36) Glacially transported Lewisian Gneiss boulder above Traligill Rising.

(Figure 37) View west along thrust plane in dry river bed, Traligill.

(Figure 38) Limestone landscapes in Traligill.

(Figure 39) The Lower Traligill cave.

(Figure 40) The Upper Traligill Caves, Cnoc nan Uamh to the right.

(Figure 41) View down the valley to Loch Assynt and Quinag.

Achmelvich

(Figure 42) Achmelvich to Alltanabradhan Mill. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 43) Contorted banding in Lewisian Gneiss at Achmelvich.

(Figure 44) Scourie Dyke cutting gneiss by the track at Achmelvich.

(Figure 45) View of Canisp, Suilven and Cùl Mòr.

(Figure 46) Alltanabradhan Mill.

(Figure 47) Port Alltan na Bradhan.

(Figure 48) Lewisian Gneiss on the beach north of Achmelvich.

Clachtoll

(Figure 49) Clachtoll. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 50) The Split Rock at Clachtoll.

(Figure 51) The Salmon Bothy.

(Figure 52) Erratic boulder of Lewisian Gneiss, perched on top of a sandstone bed above the Bay of Stoer.

(Figure 53) Clachtoll broch.

(Figure 54) Boulders of Lewisian Gneiss and Torridonian Sandstone on Stoer beach.

(Figure 55) Rippled Torridonian Sandstone on the shore at Stoer.

(Figure 56) The Stac Fada peninsula, composed of a layer of sandstone mixed with volcanic ash.

(Figure 57) View east from Cnoc Poll a’ Mhuilt.

Stac Pollaidh

(Figure 58) Stac Pollaidh. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 59) Stac Pollaidh from the north shore of Loch Lurgainn. Painting.

(Figure 60) Cross-bedding in Torridonian Sandstone on the Stac Pollaidh path.

(Figure 61) Sculpted sandstone on the ridge of Stac Pollaidh.

(Figure 62) Cross-bedded sandstone pinnacle on the ridge of Stac Pollaidh.

(Figure 63) Formation of sandstone pinnacles through weathering (painting).

(Figure 64) Formation of sandstone pinnacles through weathering (photo).

(Figure 65) Boulder ridge on the western slopes of Stac Pollaidh.

Suilven

(Figure 66) Suilven. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 67) The Falls of Kirkaig.

(Figure 68) Suilven from Fionn Loch. Flat heathery terraces can be seen just above the loch.

(Figure 69) Suilven from the south-west.

(Figure 70) Pebbly layers in Torridonian Sandstone on the southern slopes of Suilven.

(Figure 71) Debris flow below Bealach Mòr.

(Figure 72) Cross-bedded sandstone on the steep slope below Bealach Mòr.

(Figure 73) Bealach Mòr and the eastern peaks of Suilven.

Quinag

(Figure 74) Quinag. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 75) Ardvreck Castle and Quinag from Loch Assynt.

(Figure 76) Exposure of the unconformity a short distance from the path in the eastern corrie of Quinag.

(Figure 77) Cross-bedded sandstone above Lochan Bealach Cornaidh.

(Figure 78) View of Spidean Còinich showing the Cambrian unconformity.

(Figure 79) Mosaic of Torridonian Sandstone slabs on the col west of Sàil Gharbh.

(Figure 80) Cross-bedded Torridonian Sandstone on the Sàil Gharbh ridge.

(Figure 81) Quartzite blockfield on the summit of Sàil Gharbh.

(Figure 82) Spidean Còinich, with its grey quartzite summit capping a ridge of Torridonian Sandstone.

Conival and Ben More Assynt

(Figure 83) Conival and Ben More Assynt. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 84) View east up the River Traligill to Conival.

(Figure 85) Glacially transported boulder of conglomerate below Conival.

(Figure 86) Cùl Mòr and Canisp from the slopes of Conival.

(Figure 87) The Allt a‘ Choinne Mhill falls over a staircase of Pipe Rock.

(Figure 88) View over Coire a’ Mhadaidh to Ben More Assynt.

(Figure 89) Ben More Assynt from Conival, with pale quartzite on the left and dark Lewisian Gneiss on the right.

(Figure 90) Na Tuadhan with its folded quartzite layers viewed from Ben More Assynt.

(Figure 91) Looking down the south ridge of Ben More Assynt.

Boat trip on Loch Glencoul

(Figure 92) Boat trip on Loch Glencoul. Painting of excursion by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 93) The Statesman.

(Figure 94) Quinag from the seal islands.

(Figure 95) The Stack of Glencoul towering above hills of Lewisian Gneiss.

(Figure 96) The Glencoul Thrust on the north shore of Loch Glencoul.

(Figure 97) View of the Glencoul Thrust on the south shore of Loch Glencoul.

(Figure 98) Simplified cross-section from Kylesku to the Stack of Glencoul, along the north shore of Loch Glencoul, showing the main thrusts.

(Figure 99) Eas a’ Chùal Aluinn waterfall.

Glossary

(Figure 100) Folding in gneiss.

Glossary of Gaelic placenames

(Figure 102) View across Loch Broom from near Ullapool.

(Figure 1) View of Quinag from Glencoul.

(Figure 101) The sea front at Ullapool.

(Figure 103) Sunset over Loch Glencoul.

(Front cover)

(Rear cover)

(Figure 2) Panorama.

(Figure 3) Plate tectonics. Painting by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 4) Formation of cross bedding.

(Figure 5) Coarse-grained syenite.

(Figure 6) Light and dark grey Durness Limestone.

(Figure 7) Orange-brown Fucoid Beds.

(Figure 8) Cross-bedded Basal Quartzite.

(Figure 9) Coarse-grained cross-bedded Torridonian Sandstone.

(Figure 10) Folded Moine psammite.

(Figure 11) Stripy Lewisian Gneiss.

(Figure 12) Diagram of glacial landforms. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 13) Knockan Crag. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 14) The Knockan Puzzle — Assynt geology in a nutshell.

(Figure 15) Formation of the Moine Thrust Painting.

(Figure 16) Pipe Rock worms may have looked like this .

(Figure 17) Vertical worm burrows in Pipe Rock.

(Figure 18) Dark Moine Rocks on top of creamy Durness Limestone, separated by the Moine Thrust.

(Figure 19) The Moine Thrust.

(Figure 20) View north, towards Ben More Assynt from the viewpoint.

(Figure 21) Mylonite at Eagle Rock.

(Figure 22) Cùl Beag and Stac Pollaidh from Eagle Rock.

(Figure 23) Allt nan Uamh valley and Bone Caves. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 24) Waterfall in the Allt nan Uamh, formed where a sill of igneous rock crosses the valley.

(Figure 25) Yellow saxifrage on limestone.

(Figure 26) Fuaran Allt nan Uamh — a major spring.

(Figure 27) View up the dry river bed to Creag nan Uamh.

(Figure 28) Limestone debris cone on the northern side of the valley.

(Figure 29) The Bone Caves.

(Figure 30) Bear.

(Figure 31) Wolf.

(Figure 32) Landslide derived from Torridonian Sandstone across the valley from the caves.

(Figure 33) Trailigill valley. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 34) Mountain avens on limestone.

(Figure 35) Moraine by the trackside near Glenbain.

(Figure 36) Glacially transported Lewisian Gneiss boulder above Traligill Rising.

(Figure 37) View west along thrust plane in dry river bed, Traligill.

(Figure 38) Limestone landscapes in Traligill.

(Figure 39) The Lower Traligill cave.

(Figure 40) The Upper Traligill Caves, Cnoc nan Uamh to the right.

(Figure 41) View down the valley to Loch Assynt and Quinag.

(Figure 42) Achmelvich to Alltanabradhan Mill. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 43) Contorted banding in Lewisian Gneiss at Achmelvich.

(Figure 44) Scourie Dyke cutting gneiss by the track at Achmelvich.

(Figure 45) View of Canisp, Suilven and Cùl Mòr.

(Figure 46) Alltanabradhan Mill.

(Figure 47) Port Alltan na Bradhan.

(Figure 48) Lewisian Gneiss on the beach north of Achmelvich.

(Figure 49) Clachtoll. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 50) The Split Rock at Clachtoll.

(Figure 51) The Salmon Bothy.

(Figure 52) Erratic boulder of Lewisian Gneiss, perched on top of a sandstone bed above the Bay of Stoer.

(Figure 53) Clachtoll broch.

(Figure 54) Boulders of Lewisian Gneiss and Torridonian Sandstone on Stoer beach.

(Figure 55) Rippled Torridonian Sandstone on the shore at Stoer.

(Figure 56) The Stac Fada peninsula, composed of a layer of sandstone mixed with volcanic ash.

(Figure 57) View east from Cnoc Poll a’ Mhuilt.

(Figure 58) Stac Pollaidh. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 59) Stac Pollaidh from the north shore of Loch Lurgainn. Painting.

(Figure 60) Cross-bedding in Torridonian Sandstone on the Stac Pollaidh path.

(Figure 61) Sculpted sandstone on the ridge of Stac Pollaidh.

(Figure 62) Cross-bedded sandstone pinnacle on the ridge of Stac Pollaidh.

(Figure 63) Formation of sandstone pinnacles through weathering (painting).

(Figure 64) Formation of sandstone pinnacles through weathering (photo).

(Figure 65) Boulder ridge on the western slopes of Stac Pollaidh.

(Figure 66) Suilven. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 67) The Falls of Kirkaig.

(Figure 68) Suilven from Fionn Loch. Flat heathery terraces can be seen just above the loch.

(Figure 69) Suilven from the south-west.

(Figure 70) Pebbly layers in Torridonian Sandstone on the southern slopes of Suilven.

(Figure 71) Debris flow below Bealach Mòr.

(Figure 72) Cross-bedded sandstone on the steep slope below Bealach Mòr.

(Figure 73) Bealach Mòr and the eastern peaks of Suilven.

(Figure 74) Quinag. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 75) Ardvreck Castle and Quinag from Loch Assynt.

(Figure 76) Exposure of the unconformity a short distance from the path in the eastern corrie of Quinag.

(Figure 77) Cross-bedded sandstone above Lochan Bealach Cornaidh.

(Figure 78) View of Spidean Còinich showing the Cambrian unconformity.

(Figure 79) Mosaic of Torridonian Sandstone slabs on the col west of Sàil Gharbh.

(Figure 80) Cross-bedded Torridonian Sandstone on the Sàil Gharbh ridge.

(Figure 81) Quartzite blockfield on the summit of Sàil Gharbh.

(Figure 82) Spidean Còinich, with its grey quartzite summit capping a ridge of Torridonian Sandstone.

(Figure 83) Conival and Ben More Assynt. Painting of walk by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 84) View east up the River Traligill to Conival.

(Figure 85) Glacially transported boulder of conglomerate below Conival.

(Figure 86) Cùl Mòr and Canisp from the slopes of Conival.

(Figure 87) The Allt a‘ Choinne Mhill falls over a staircase of Pipe Rock.

(Figure 88) View over Coire a’ Mhadaidh to Ben More Assynt.

(Figure 89) Ben More Assynt from Conival, with pale quartzite on the left and dark Lewisian Gneiss on the right.

(Figure 90) Na Tuadhan with its folded quartzite layers viewed from Ben More Assynt.

(Figure 91) Looking down the south ridge of Ben More Assynt.

(Figure 92) Boat trip on Loch Glencoul. Painting of excursion by Elizabeth Pickett.

(Figure 93) The Statesman.

(Figure 94) Quinag from the seal islands.

(Figure 95) The Stack of Glencoul towering above hills of Lewisian Gneiss.

(Figure 96) The Glencoul Thrust on the north shore of Loch Glencoul.

(Figure 97) View of the Glencoul Thrust on the south shore of Loch Glencoul.

(Figure 98) Simplified cross-section from Kylesku to the Stack of Glencoul, along the north shore of Loch Glencoul, showing the main thrusts.

(Figure 99) Eas a’ Chùal Aluinn waterfall.

(Figure 100) Folding in gneiss.

(Figure 102) View across Loch Broom from near Ullapool.