Assynt (Scottish Gaelic: Asainn[ˈas̪ɪɲ] or Asainte[ˈas̪ɪɲtʲə]) is a sparsely populated area in the south-west of Sutherland, lying north of Ullapool on the west coast of Scotland. Assynt is known for its landscape and its remarkable mountains, which have led to the area, along with neighbouring Coigach, being designated as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area,[3] one of 40 such areas in Scotland.[4]
The western part of Assynt has many distinctively shaped mountains, including Quinag, Canisp, Suilven and Ben More Assynt, that rise steeply from the surrounding "cnoc and lochan" scenery. These can often appear higher than their actual height would indicate due to their steep sides and the contrast with the moorland from which they rise.[5] Many of the most distinctive peaks such as Suilven were formed during the last Ice Age, when they were left exposed above the ice sheet as nunataks, and they now remain as inselbergs of highly eroded Torridonian sandstone sitting on a bedrock of much older Lewisian gneiss.[6] The Moine Thrust runs through the area, and is most visible at Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, which includes a visitor centre interpreting the geological features of the landscape. In the east of Assynt lies a region of limestone scenery surrounding Ben More Assynt.[5] This part of Assynt hosts the longest cave in Scotland, Uamh an Claonaite, which lies five miles (eight kilometres) south of Inchnadamph.[7] The geological importance of Assynt is reflected in its inclusion in the North West Highlands Geopark.[8][9]
The name Assynt may derive from an Old Norse word meaning 'ridge end'. There is also a tradition that the name comes from a fight between the two brothers Unt and Ass-Unt, (meaning Man of Peace and Man of Discord). The latter having won the tussle gave his name to the parish.[10]
^"Assynt". Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
^"Civil Parish 1930 by Accommodation type by Household tenure by Term-time Address (Indicator)- Table LC4428SC - Assynt". Scotland's Census. National Records of Scotland. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
^"Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^"National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^ ab"The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
^Butler, Rob. "An Essay on the Geology of NW Scotland" (PDF). Leeds University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
^"Peter Glanvill Photography: Claonaite" darkanddeep.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
^"North West Highlands Geopark". Retrieved 2 October 2020.
^"Visit Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve" (PDF). www.nature.scot. Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
^Strang, Tom. (1975) The Northern Highlands. Edinburgh. Scottish Mountaineering Club.
Assynt (Scottish Gaelic: Asainn [ˈas̪ɪɲ] or Asainte [ˈas̪ɪɲtʲə]) is a sparsely populated area in the south-west of Sutherland, lying north of Ullapool...
Assynt Castle was a castle, located on Eilean Assynt located in Loch Assynt, Highland in Scotland. The Murray of Culbin family held lands in Assynt in...
Loch Assynt (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Asaint) is a freshwater loch in Sutherland, Scotland, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north-east of Lochinver. Situated in a spectacular...
Ben More Assynt (Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Mhòr Asaint) is a mountain in Assynt in the far northwest of Scotland, 30 kilometres (19 miles) north-northeast...
tracks, a hydroelectric scheme and the first wind farm in the Highlands. Assynt House is a Georgian country house, built as a dower house for Novar House...
clan. Assynt Castle, also known as Eilean Assynt, four miles north-west of Inchnadamph on the mainland, was built on an island on Loch Assynt but little...
Inverpolly is the name given to a large area of northern Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland, north of Ullapool. The area contains several...
(or Dùthaich 'IcAoidh) (MacAoidh's country) in the northeast, Asainte (Assynt) in the west, and Cataibh in the east. Cataibh is also sometimes used to...
Loch Inver, on the coast in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. A few miles north-east is Loch Assynt which is the source of the River...
in Loch Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland, UK. The structure dates from about 1490 and is associated with the then landowners, the Macleods of Assynt. The castle...
northwestern end of Loch Assynt in Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland. The loch is located in an area along with neighbouring Coigach, as the Assynt-Coigach National...
hamlet in Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland. The name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic name Innis nan Damh meaning "meadow of the stags". Assynt is a remote...
This is a list of listed buildings in the parish of Assynt in the Highland council area of Scotland. Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap Download coordinates...
bought by the local community with the help of the John Muir Trust. The Assynt Foundation aims to create local employment and safeguard the natural and...
shallow loch, located about two miles north-by-north-east of Lochinver in the Assynt district of Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. It is one of three lochs in...
Scotland, in the Assynt area of Sutherland. A flat-topped summit, it is usually climbed from its western flank, where the Bone Caves of Assynt are located...
Assynt and Stoer Party Candidate Votes % Independent D. M. McBain 324 58.1 Independent D. MacDonald 234 41.9 Majority 90 16.2 Turnout 558 88.2 Registered...
had in his mind when building it. Ritchie, B. (1996) Making More of Assynt. Assynt Mountain Rescue "Good Beach Guide". Marine Conservation Society. Retrieved...
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