The Old Man of Stoer – A Sea Stack off the Assynt Cliffs
About 4.3 miles on foot.
The Old Man of Stoer is a pillar of sandstone 60 metres high, standing on its own in the sea off the northern tip of the Stoer peninsula.
The walk to it starts at a white lighthouse and keeps to the cliff tops, with the Minch on one side and the strange hills of Assynt on the other. It's about 7 km over rough, wet ground, and it's one of the great coast walks of the north-west.
- Time
- Two and a half to three and a half hours: about 7 km (4.3 miles) there and back, with 360 metres of climbing. A rough cliff-top walk, boggy and with little path in places.
- The path
- Rough grass and bog along the cliff tops, with little path in places.
- Where to start
- The car park at the end of the Stoer Head lighthouse road, off the B869. No charge for a car.
- Set off
- From November to January, set off by 11am to be back before dusk.
- When to go
- All year in daylight, on a dry day without a strong wind. From November to January set off by 11am.
- Dogs
- On a lead: sheep graze the headland and the cliffs are unfenced.
- Children
- A long, rough walk beside high cliffs: one for older children, kept close.
- Toilets
- None to count on at the car park: use the public toilets in Lochinver on the way.
- Before you set out
- High, unfenced cliffs: not a walk for a strong wind or low cloud.
The walk
Park at the end of the Stoer Head lighthouse road, which leaves the B869 between Lochinver and Unapool. There's no charge for a car. Use the public toilets in Lochinver on the way, as there are none to count on here. Walkhighlands gives the walk as 7 km, with 360 metres of climbing, and two and a half to three and a half hours. That's a lot of up and down for a coast walk, so allow the longer time when the ground is wet. The lighthouse was built by the Stevensons in 1870 and has run without a keeper since 1978.
From there the way is north along the edge of the peninsula, over grass and bog, with little sign of a path in places. The Old Man is a 60-metre stack of sandstone just off the shore, with the sea breaking white around his foot. It's a well-known climb, so you may see ropes strung across the gap or climbers on the rock. The return is over the higher ground inland, which looks across to the hills of Assynt. The cliffs are high and unfenced. Keep well back from the edge, hold on to children, and leave this walk for another day in a strong wind or low cloud.
This is crofting land with sheep on it, so dogs stay on a lead. Wear boots and carry a map. The B869 is a narrow single-track road with passing places, so allow extra time for the drive. From November to January, set off by 11am.
If it rains
There's no shelter anywhere on the headland, the ground is boggy and the cliff edge is never far away. In rain, low cloud or a strong wind, keep it for another day.
Before you go
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by derjeniche via Google