85. Stoer Bay

The south-facing coast of Assynt is like a beauty parade of spectacular beaches. Whilst Achmelvich and Clachtoll receive most of the visitors and therefore have the profiles, you only need to follow the coast road north for a few miles to enjoy the smaller and quieter beaches of Stoer and Balchladich. It’s easy to see why geologists flock to this area because even a ‘rock novice’ like me can see there’s something special going on here. In every one of these Precambrian rocks there lies a story. Stoer Bay is a wide, open sandy beach with huge rock formations on either side and with a border of boulders deposited along the back.  I park outside Stoer church, enter a grassy field via a gate and wander down to the stunning beach, where a handily placed bench provides a perfect view over the bay. It’s a beautiful day but the area is deserted, just as it should be.