57°30′N5°0′W/ 57.500°N 5.000°W/57.500; -5.000 TheNorthwest Highlandsare located in the northern third ofScotlandthat is separated from theGrampian Mountainsby theGreat Glen(Glen More). The region comprisesWester Ross,Assynt,Sutherlandand part ofCaithness.TheCaledonian Canal,which extends fromLoch Linnhein the south-west, viaLoch Nessto theMoray Firthin the north-east splits this area from the rest of the country. The city ofInvernessand the town ofFort Williamserve as gateways to the region from the south.

Geology

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Liathachseen fromBeinn Eighe.With the Munro "Top" of Stuc a' Choire Dhuibh Bhig (915 metres) in the foreground and the twoMunrosummits in the background.

The geology of the Highlands is complex. Along the western coastal margin it is characterised byLewisian gneiss,the oldestrockin Scotland.Liathach,Beinn Alligin,Suilven,Cùl Mòr,Cùl Beag,andQuinagare just some of the impressive rock islands of the significantly younger rich brown-colouredTorridonian sandstonewhich rests on the gneiss. Some of the peaks, such asBeinn EigheandCanisp,are topped with later light grey or white Cambrianquartzite.Cambro-Ordovicianlimestoneis also to be found in a narrow outcrop betweenDurnessandSkye.The larger part of the region is formed from rocks of theMoine successionmuch of which ismetamorphosedsandstones(psammites) andschist.These have over-ridden the gneiss and the Cambrian and Ordovician rocks of the northwest margin along theMoine Thrust Belt.The geological understanding ofthrust faultingslowly developed in the 19th century in what became known as the "Highlands Controversy".

View east from Sgurr Mhòr over the "Horns" ofBeinn Alligin

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Climate

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Considering its high northerly latitude of about 57 to 58 degrees north and the mountainous terrain, the climate is mild, moderated by the warming influence of the North Atlantic Drift which is a powerful warm western boundary current within the Atlantic Ocean that extends theGulf Streamnortheastward. At low elevations and near the coast the climate is maritime. The summers are mild and wet with average daytime highs under 17 °C, or 62.6 °F. The winters are cool at low elevation with average night-time lows below 0 °C, or 32 °F, but become colder and snowier inland and at higher elevations with the highest tops exhibiting a tundra climate. The Northwest Highlands are, on average, not as cold as the higher, snowier Cairngorm mountains which lie to the southeast. However, on 30 December 1995, the UK's lowest temperature was recorded at Altnaharra, at −27.2 °C (−17.0 °F). This matched a similar recording at Braemar in the Grampians on 11 February 1895 and on 10 January 1982. Snow does not usually lie for significant periods at the coast or at low elevations but may lie for up to 105 days per year, persisting into the summer months, at the highest elevations. Naturally, the area would be a vast birch, pine andmontane shrubforest, such as those surviving inGlen Affric.

Geography

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The region has steep, glacier-carved mountains, glens and interspersed plains. Many islands (which also vary widely in geography) lie off the coast. Elevations of around 750 metres (2,500 feet) or over are common, as are mountains exceeding 3,000 feet or 914 m (Munros). The highest point is the summit of Càrn Eige at an elevation of 1,183 metres (3,881 feet) above sea level. By comparison, across theGreat Glento the south, the Grampians includesBen Neviswhich is highest point in the British Isles at 1,345 metres.

Theaurora borealisis sometimes visible on winter nights, especially at the climax of the 11-year cycle. Bordering the region to the northeast is the lowland area ofCaithness.There are relatively few roads, and many are single lane (with passing places). The region has a very low population density. Significant settlements areKyle of Lochalsh,Mallaig,Dingwall,Dornoch,andUllapool.The city ofInverness,known as the "Capital of the Highlands", on the eastern margin of the Northwest Highlands, is by far the largest settlement in the region and is the administrative centre for theHighland Council area.

List of places in the Northwest Highlands

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Towns and villages

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Regions and mountain ranges

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Glens and lochs

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See also

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Bibliography

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  • Murray, W.H. (1977).The Companion Guide to the West Highlands of Scotland.London: William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.ISBN0 00 216813 8.