coarsely banded crystalline structure. crystalline banded coarsely Scourie Bay Scourie extremely hard and typically exhibits a light to dark grey grey dark to light a exhibits typically and hard extremely pre-existing rocks over millions of years. It is therefore therefore is It years. of millions over rocks pre-existing application of immense crustal pressures and heat on on heat and pressures crustal immense of application great depth close to the base of the Earth’s crust by the the by crust Earth’s the of base the to close depth great example of a metamorphic rock which was formed at at formed was which rock metamorphic a of example part of today’s Canadian Shield. Lewisian Gneiss is an an is Gneiss Lewisian Shield. Canadian today’s of part (Laurentia) and can therefore be regarded as a (Scottish) (Scottish) a as regarded be therefore can and (Laurentia) Scotland formed part of the North American crustal plate plate crustal American North the of part formed Scotland is almost the oldest rock in the World. It was made when when made was It World. the in rock oldest the almost is old, is the oldest rock to be found anywhere in Europe and and Europe in anywhere found be to rock oldest the is old, Gneiss (pronounced “nice”) which, dated at 3 billion years years billion 3 at dated which, “nice”) (pronounced Gneiss The rocks are of two main types. The first is Lewisian Lewisian is first The types. main two of are rocks The designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Interest Scientific Special of Site a as designated the paths. Much of the area you are walking over has been been has over walking are you area the of Much paths. the and the essential rock-features can be easily seen from from seen easily be can rock-features essential the and When you are here, you are in the “Cradle of Geology” Geology” of “Cradle the in are you here, are you When students, teachers and researchers from other countries. countries. other from researchers and teachers students, and geological heritage and is regularly visited by geology geology by visited regularly is and heritage geological and The Scourie area is world-famous for its very special rocks rocks special very its for world-famous is area Scourie The Exposure of Lewisian Gneiss with Quartz vein Quartz with Gneiss Lewisian of Exposure lochans, not dissimilar from parts of Scandinavia. of parts from dissimilar not lochans, bare rocky ridges interspersed with soft peaty hollows and and hollows peaty soft with interspersed ridges rocky bare 5.00pm. return Last 2pm. – 9am from rocks on the erosional process and typically comprises comprises typically and process erosional the on rocks sailings Outward September. – April from visitors to Open today reflects the influence and hardness of the underlying underlying the of hardness and influence the reflects today allowed. are dogs No 3hrs). (approx. 6.5km is path, marked around 20,000 years ago. The landscape we see here here see we landscape The ago. years 20,000 around way- a on island, the of circuit The advised. are clothing The entire area was subject to a period of intense glaciation glaciation intense of period a to subject was area entire The outdoor suitable and shoes or boots walking Sturdy within the Lewisian Gneiss. Lewisian the within experience. unforgettable an here visit a exposure of dark red garnet crystals, locally developed developed locally crystals, garnet red dark of exposure make porpoises and dolphins of sitings possible and lizards The Scouriemore area also contains the UK’s best best UK’s the contains also area Scouriemore The seals, by, close diving skuas great scenery, Magnificent flanked on both sides by the even harder Lewisian Gneiss. Lewisian harder even the by sides both on flanked quarters. close at fulmars and razorbills frequently seen within lower-lying NW - SE gulleys, gulleys, SE - NW lower-lying within seen frequently puffins, colonies, kittiwake noisy view also can you Here hard, the dark grey Dolerite of the Scourie Dykes is is Dykes Scourie the of Dolerite grey dark the hard, guillemots. of colony breeding largest Britain’s to home the landscape in a NW – SE direction. Although extremely extremely Although direction. SE – NW a in landscape the are edges cliff The sea. the above feet hundred four tower thickness from a few to many metres across and traverse traverse and across metres many to few a from thickness cliffs Sandstone Torridonian coast, north island’s the On Scourie Dykes. These vertical Scourie Dykes range in in range Dykes Scourie vertical These Dykes. Scourie ago. The landscape cooled to form the world-famous world-famous the form to cooled landscape The ago. Scourie. of vertical fissures in the Lewisian Gneiss 2.4 billion years years billion 2.4 Gneiss Lewisian the in fissures vertical north miles six pier, Tarbet from ferry by accessible only is molten material (magma) forced up through extensive extensive through up forced (magma) material molten island The Trust. Wildlife Scottish the with association in The second rock is Dolerite which was injected as hot hot as injected was which Dolerite is rock second The managed is and Estate Scourie by owned is Island Handa THE GEOLOGY OF SCOURIE OF GEOLOGY THE ISLAND HANDA ENJOY SCOTLAND’S OUTDOORS RESPONSIBLY PATHS Everyone has the right to be on most land and inland water providing that they act responsibly. Your access rights and responsibilities are fully explained in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. AROUND Whether you’re in the outdoors or managing the outdoors, the key things are to: • Take responsibility for your own actions SCOURIE • Respect the interests of other people • Care for the environment Cnoc a’ Bhutain` Viewpoint This leaflet is produced by Scourie Community Development Company Ltd in association with Scourie & District Community Council. Geology text by Donald Fisher, Scourie. DURNESS BETTYHILL THURSO Gaelic translations by Ruairidh MacIlleathain and Ian Munro. Photos by Rona Burton, Donald Fisher, Donald Mitchell SCOURIE WICK and Martin Benson. For more information on Scourie visit: LOCHINVER Loch Leathad nan Cruineachd www.scourie.co.uk ︱ www.nwhgeopark.com LAIRG BRORA The Highland Council Countryside Rangers provide guided DORNOCH walks in the area. For details see: ULLAPOOL www.outdoorhighlands.co.uk Registered Office: Scourie Community Hall, Scourie, by Lairg, SUTHERLAND, IV27 4TE Company Registration No : SC415281 Registered as a Charity, Charity Number : SC043558 Print and design by Strath Print, Isle of Skye tel: 01471 822 555 www.strathprint.co.uk The local walks outlined here cover a relatively small area. Each walk has its own distinct character, views, habitats and wildlife to be seen or encountered. The rich mix of plants, birds and animals in the coastal moorland of the Scourie crofting community is waiting to be discovered. Many of the wild flowers are widespread, but certain species will dominate in different areas. Keep your eyes and ears open – LEATHAD WOODLAND CNOC A’ BHUTHAIN` SCOURIE COMMUNITY (COILLTEACH AN LEATHAID) VIEWPOINT BIRD HIDE A rising path network through young native woodland, A side branch leads from Leathad Woodland up to a Located at the near end of the beach road, the Bird skirting Loch Leathad nan Cruineachd (The Slope of panoramic viewpoint at Cnoc a’ Bhuthain` (The Hill of Hide is maintained by Scourie & District Community the Picts Loch) and Lochan Sgeireach (The Rocky the Small Booth) with a superb view over the village Council and the Highland Council Countryside Lochan), with three access points:- and Scourie Bay. To the south lies the Point of Stoer, Ranger. Entry is free and everyone is welcome. and to the north, Handa Island. It’s a fine quiet place to observe the bay, and one The Peat Road on the south approach to of the easiest places to watch the rare red-throated Scourie on the A894 divers which regularly feed in the rich shallow waters. Eider ducks, mallard, shag, common gulls, By the Council Depot, which has oyster catchers and many more species have been ample parking PLAYING FIELD PATH recorded in the visitors’ observation book. This route provides a short village circuit from The former site of the cattle grid on the the centre of Scourie through the old village, the north approach to Scourie on the A894 playing field and back by the roadside footway on the A894. SCOURIE-TARBET PATH Around Loch Leathad nan Cruineachd are the remains of a prehistoric settlement with numerous hut circles, (5.1 KMS/2HRS-2.5HRS ONE WAY) homesteads, field systems, cairns and stone shelters This historic route, formerly used by Tarbet villagers recorded in the area. The hut circles or round houses, to attend church, is not well marked on the ground. dating to the Bronze Age, would each have been SCOURIE HEADLAND Please take appropriate maps and navigation tools, occupied by an extended farming family. Now they (3 KM CIRCULAR WALK/1 HOUR) as well as suitable clothing and footwear for the are reduced to low earthen banks and ditches. rough hill terrain. All dogs must be kept under Can you find any? From the cemetery at the far end of the beach road, proper control when crossing farm and crofting land. Parking is available on the pier road. Follow the path Close to the hut circles, beside a burn, are two a rough path leads out to the Scourie Headland. The route is not a constructed path, but formed through alongside Scourie Lodge walled garden, turning left u-shaped burnt mounds, which were probably used through the farmyard. to heat water for bathing or cooking communal meals.