Knockan Crag

Walk in Sutherland

Rock Art, Knockan Crag
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Gordon Hatton

Knockan Crag – which lies within the North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark – is a globally important geological site. Geologists first learned that rocks can move vast distances when continents collide through studying the rocks of the North West Highlands and geologists have used Knockan Crag to help demonstrate this for more than 100 years. There is stunning sculpture and the evocative poetry of Norman MacCaig carved into the rock. Trails offer you a chance to get higher in this exceptional landscape, enjoy breathtaking scenery and place your hands either side of the Moine Thrust, where older metamorphic rocks lie over the top of younger limestone. The famous survey geologists of the nineteenth century Ben Peach and John Horne, who unravelled the mysteries of the area’s geology are celebrated with statues at Knockan Crag. The unmanned visitor centre has excellent interactive, family-friendly information and displays on the landscape and geology of the area. You can pick up details of the Rock Route, which takes you on a deeper exploration of the North West Highlands Geopark. Good footwear is recommended for the circular walk on the crag.


The Knockan Crag appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Sutherland!

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Visiting Knockan Crag

Duration: 20 minutes

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